Rétaud walks

Discover Saintes, a town steeped in history, cradled by the waves of the Charente.

This route allows you to discover Sablonceaux Abbey in the middle of the fields from several angles. The route passes through woods, fields, vineyards and horse farms, giving you an insight into the diversity of agricultural activities around Sablonceaux.

The old Crazannes quarries offer a surprising landscape of steep stone cliffs and narrow gorges. The resistant white stone has been used to build or restore monuments such as Fort Boyard. Les Lapidiales offers visitors a free, open-air museum, where the excavations left by the quarrymen give the impression of being in the middle of a giant labyrinth, and where the sculptures are a delight to discover.

"Muddy waters"! With its muddy waters, the Gironde estuary is every bit as impressive as the Mississippi. On the edge of this austere expanse sits one of the most beautiful villages in France, Talmont-sur-Gironde.

A very refreshing hike along the Gironde estuary.

A very pleasant walk with magnificent scenery. You will pass along fine sandy beaches, close to magnificent fishing huts and sumptuous limestone cliffs in which real troglodyte cities have been carved out (Regulus and Matata caves). A visit to the seaside resort of Meschers will precede your return through the Suzac forest.⚠️ 16/04/2025: Route modified on the hike sheet due to passage through private property.

A walk along four beaches and cliffs between Meschers and Saint-Georges de Didonne. It can be shortened by almost 6 km by not making the round trip to the Vallières lighthouse on Saint-Georges beach. The walk will be easier if the tide is not too high, as the route follows the beaches.

Hike under the holm oaks of the coastal path, at the top of the cliffs overlooking the mouth of the Gironde estuary, through the Suzac Forest and the beaches of Meschers-sur-Gironde or Saint-Georges-de-Didonne. Along the way, you'll see the remains of the Atlantic Wall, and offshore, the famous Cordouan lighthouse, known as the Versailles of the sea. To the right, looking towards the mouth of the river, you'll see Royan and Saint-Georges-de-Didonne.

The Vallières and Suzac headlands mark the ends of the long beach at Saint-Georges-de-Didonne. First skirting the former, you pass by the lighthouse that makes the place so photogenic. Then, after a long walk from one end of Saint-Georges-de-Didonne beach to the other, you reach Suzac Point, which is much wilder. The destination of the walk is Suzac beach, a little gem nestled between two points.

The vine-covered hillsides of the Gironde are dotted with small hills planted with various crops and vines. The landscapes open up along the paths leading to the estuary. The marshes can be seen from the Beaumont hill. There you will discover a cone-shaped tower dating from the 19th century, but whose first constructions probably date back to the Middle Ages. Even today, the Beaumont Tower still serves as a navigation landmark.

A hike through the rolling, wooded landscape of Saintonge. Upon arrival, you can admire the lantern of the dead and the Romanesque portal of the church of Fenioux. Information panels provide details about these two monuments. You will follow part of theGR®655(a route to Santiago de Compostela, via Tours) and theGR®360, but there are no reliable markings along the route.

A circular starting from Trizay Abbey towards the cave and the Creux Nègre rock passage. This geological curiosity in the region is carved into the ancient cliffs that line the Arnoult valley. Half of the route is on tarmac, on very quiet roads, allowing you to discover the market gardens on the rich lands of the Arnoult valley (home of the Pont l'Abbé bean).

A pleasant hike starting from Antignac, winding its way through vineyards and woods. This route allows you to discover a peaceful and very natural corner of Saintonge. You may see wild animals such as deer at the edge of the woods.

A pleasant hike west of Saint-Sigismond-de-Clermont, around the River Tort, through countryside with varied landscapes, consisting of diverse crops, vineyards and woods. Along the route, you will pass by the Château de la Tenaille and its chapel, which is the only remaining part of the Abbey of Tenaille.

A pleasant hike in a natural setting crossed by the Rochette and Maine rivers. The landscapes are varied, with vineyards, woods such as those of Le Plantis and various crops, as well as orchards (apples and pears). Along the route, you can see beautiful farms in this pretty corner of the Saintonge countryside.

A pleasant route through woods and vineyards around the Maine River in the Guitinières plain. In addition to peaceful landscapes, this hike offers the chance to discover the characteristic architecture of Saintonge and several mills.