Walk in Mallievre

Superb walk along paths beside the Sèvre Nantaise, which you cross via two unusual crossings, and visit the pretty village of Mallièvre.

Details

39206211
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.73 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 289 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 272 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 620 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 394 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Mallièvre (85590)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 46.912433° / W 0.865291°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1425E
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the start of Rue Demoiselle Genovette.

(S/E) Go up Rue Demoiselle Genovette and continue right onto Rue de Baillarge until you reach the bend where the path begins.

(1) After 50 metres, take the left path and continue straight ahead. Cross a road, continue straight ahead (due north), and after 50 metres you will find yourself back on the path and arrive near the Le Vault farm, which you will pass on your right.

(2) Continue north to approach the Sèvre Nantaise and cross the hamlet of Chambon.

(3) Turn left to reach the boat. Cross using the chains.

(4) Then turn left and follow the river to the hamlet of Poupet.

(5) Cross the river at the water mill using the blocks on the dyke, then take the path on the right. Continue on the other bank. Leave the riverbank to reach a wash house.

(6) Visit the wash house and continue along the path, passing at the foot of the tower, until you reach the D11.

(7) Cross it carefully and follow the path for 250 metres until you reach the Sèvre Nantaise.

(8) Turn left, then take thefirst road on the left. Go around the large Salle de la Cité building on the left and find the Chemin de la Cité alleyway that crosses the gardens.

(9) Visit the botanical gardens, pass through the Place Centrale de Mallièvre, turn left into Rue du Château, then right into Rue des Puits to reach Saint-Gilles Church (open to visitors).

(10) Turn right onto Rue de la Mothe, then left onto Chemin Neuf/Beauregard until you reach the D11.

(11) Cross it carefully, then cross the stream and turn left. After about 200 metres, cross the stream again to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 440 ft - Car park on Rue Demoiselle Genovette.
  2. 1 : mi 0.25 - alt. 492 ft - Start of the trail
  3. 2 : mi 1.09 - alt. 541 ft - Le Vault farm
  4. 3 : mi 1.61 - alt. 420 ft - Chambon
  5. 4 : mi 1.68 - alt. 394 ft - Chain boat - La Sèvre nantaise
  6. 5 : mi 2.77 - alt. 404 ft - Hamlet of Poupet
  7. 6 : mi 3.63 - alt. 427 ft - Wash house
  8. 7 : mi 3.76 - alt. 420 ft - Route D11
  9. 8 : mi 3.94 - alt. 410 ft - Fork in the road
  10. 9 : mi 4.16 - alt. 495 ft - Public garden
  11. 10 : mi 4.27 - alt. 492 ft - Église Saint-Gilles (Mallièvre)
  12. 11 : mi 4.53 - alt. 443 ft - Route D11
  13. S/E : mi 4.73 - alt. 440 ft - Car park on Rue Demoiselle Genovette.

Notes

Not accessible for pushchairs.
Crossing the Sèvre Nantaise via granite blocks on the dyke requires a certain level of agility. Children love it... the only risk is wet shoes!

Worth a visit

Riverbank landscapes.
The hamlet of Poupet.
Visit Mallievre and its narrow streets, gardens and alleys.
Visit to Saint-Gilles Church.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 22535063

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It’s hard to find the starting point of the walk.

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User 17148902

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A varied route (fields, a stone village, a river) with two lovely crossings over the stream. The children (aged 10 and 14) were delighted
So were we

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viaud jean
viaud jean

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 31, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The passage along the Sèvre river can be difficult in heavy rain. The passage is not very busy outside of weekends.

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User 12156156

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk. Signposting is adequate, but sometimes difficult to see
Ah! The chain ferry... the chain was stuck in the middle of the river, impossible to unhook!
Picnic at this spot
Too bad, had to turn back!
We picked up the route again by car at the Poupet mill, a very pretty spot where you cross over the stone dyke
The town of Mallievre is small, but there are quite a few things to see

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User 4953642

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk with unobstructed views of the Vendée countryside and two unique ways to cross the Sèvre River (a footbridge with bollards and a chain ferry).

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User 7624581

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent hike. Thank you, Visorando.

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jobijojo
jobijojo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route is much busier in the summer. Crossing the Sèvre was impossible, forcing us to walk over slippery rocks, but it was a beautiful hike.

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Rémy Poncelet
Rémy Poncelet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike alternating between countryside, the banks of the Sèvre and villages. The chain boat was there and the markers were visible and out of the water, but they require a minimum of attention.

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Braud
Braud
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

super smooth

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Damiana
Damiana

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

At this time of year, it is impossible to cross the Sèvre by walking on the stones. The chain ferry was also absent.

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