Circular loop from the Church of Saint-Ange

Saint-Ange-et-Torçay Town Hall N 48.64023° / E 1.227873° -

Saint-Ange-et-Torçay via the D928, then the D113. Parking along Rue de la Blaise. Start point in front of the Nicole and Jean-Louis Descours public garden near the pond (picnic table).

Yellow and red markings of the GRP® Vallées de la Blaise et de l'Avre.

(S/E) With your back to the pond, head left along Rue de la Blaise until the junction with Rue du Château. Turn right and follow the road out of the village for about 1 km until you reach the start of a path on the right, after a wood.

(1) Turn right, pass between fields and reach a second wood. Walk alongside it, then go round it to the left. Ignore the path leading off to the right. After the wood, go straight on to the hamlet of Le Tartre.

(2) On leaving, take the D134.5 on the right, which descends towards the valley. Pass in front of the cemetery, then cross the Blaise via the bridge, near the old dairy. At the crossroads, head up the path opposite leading to the Church of Saint-Ange. (The “du Prieur” house is 50 m to the left).

(3) Walk along the wall of the old cemetery, continue to the last houses, then take the path opposite along a hedge. Continue to the bottom of the descent, then walk back up the small road for a few metres.

(4) Take the path on the right at the edge of the woods, cross the Blaise again via a wooden bridge, and continue to the T-junction.

(5) Turn left, following the water’s edge.

(6) Continue to the junction and the bridge over the Blaise, past the Moulin de Torçay.

(7) After taking in the view, return to the previous junction.

No signposting

(6) Leave the GRP® and take the sunken path that climbs opposite, joining the D310.2. Follow it to the right. Pass the crossroads and go straight on to reach the garden near the Torçay pond (S/E).

Make sure you wear good waterproof shoes.

During the hunting season, follow the instructions given by the hunters.

The Church of Saint-Michel in Saint-Ange, restored in 2006, is dedicated to the archangel who, with the help of the angels, slew the Dragon of the Apocalypse. It was originally the chapel of a priory situated in a neighbouring house. It became the sole church for the parishes of Torçay and Saint-Ange, which were merged following the destruction of Torçay Church during the Wars of Religion.
A detailed description is provided in the booklet published by the Town Hall and available during opening hours. It also covers the mills operating along the Blaise and many other fascinating topics on local history.

The Torçais Mill. An earlier mill, destroyed during the Hundred Years’ War, had been rebuilt as early as 1374. Linked to the Moulin de la Forge in 1640 (downstream), it is recorded as a fulling mill by the end of the 18th century. Sold as national property after the Revolution, the two mills were converted into factories and a workers’ settlement is said to have been established there, linked to the village by the “Chemin des Vieilles Rues”. At the start of the 21st century, it became a holiday home which has changed hands several times. The water channels, still visible today, originate from the nearby Saulnières foundry.