Thanks to the natural beauty of its location and the richness of its heritage, Saint-Brice is one of the most picturesque areas of Cognac region. At the heart of the Charente and Soloire rivers valley, man has erected many symbolic buildings: dolmens, churches, abbeys, castles and manors, all expertly crafted.
Calculated time: 3h20[?] 
Distance : 10.67km
Vertical gain : 88m
Vertical drop : 86m
Highest point : 56m
Lowest point : 9m 
Difficulty : Average
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Location : Saint-Brice
(16100)
Starting point : N 45.687445° / W 0.27746° (D) Starting point from Saint-Brice church. Prior to departing, walk down Rue de l’Eglise towards the Charente River and Saint-Brice castle. Turn back and return to the church.
Facing the church, walk up Rue de l’Eglise to your left and walk past Rue Jacques Delamain.
(1) Carry straight on to Rue des Tilleuls. Walk past the cemetery to your right then take Chemin du Chêne Vert on your right. Once you get to Route de Gardépée (D157)(2), go to your left. Before the logis de Gardépée (manor house) on the left (3), follow the little white path on the right and turn on to the 2nd path to the left (4).
Go straight on for 600m, go left on Chemin des Cotes (cote 36) and after 50m, left again on to Chemin de Belair. Follow this path for 1km until you ragain Route de Gardépée (D157). Turn right and then promptly left on to Route de Julienne (5).
Take the white path on the left going through the vines and at the bend (cote 23), turn left towards Châtre Abbey (6).
Walk past the abbey and onto the path leading away from it. Follow the forest trail until you reach the mountain bike track on the left. Take the little path on the left which leads deep into the forest. Follow that path until you get out of the forest on to Chemin de Gassouillis. Turn right (7) , cross Nercillac road (D15) taking the little white path opposite (Chemin de Chez Bernet).
At the crossroads (8), turn left. Follow that track until Route de la Soloire then turn right. Walk for around 1km until Rue du Port de l’Echassier which you will follow as well.
After passing the last house (9), turn left. Follow that path for 1km, cross the D15 (Route de Nercillac) very carefully and walk straight on to Chemin du Moulin.
(10) Take "allée Catherine de Médicis" to your right then promptly turn left before the great gate of Saint-Brice castle. Walk straight on to rue Jacques Delamain. At the end of the street, turn right returning to your starting point in front of the church.
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 21m
1 : km 0.15 - alt. 28m - Rue Jacques Delamain junction , straight on
2 : km 1.3 - alt. 49m - D157: turn left
3 : km 1.87 - alt. 56m - Logis de Gardépée: turn right
4 : km 2.15 - alt. 47m - Second path, turn left
5 : km 3.81 - alt. 45m - Route de Julienne, turn left
6 : km 4.97 - alt. 20m - Old Châtres Abbey
7 : km 6.65 - alt. 41m - Chez Bernet Path
8 : km 7.07 - alt. 18m - Junction, turn left
9 : km 8.93 - alt. 12m - Turn left
10 : km 10.15 - alt. 15m - Take Allée Catherine de Médicis on the right - Charente (fleuve)
D/A : km 10.67 - alt. 21m
Follow the yellow waymarks. Path also suitable for mountain bikes.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
(D) :Saint-Brice church (12th century)
(3) : Logis de Gardépée (Manor house), built in the 16th century and remodelled in the 19th century. Nearby, a little bit further down route de Gardépée (away from the hiking trail), a dolmen from the Neolithic era.
(6) : Old Châtres Abbey where only the 12th century church still stands as well as the remains of the convent buildings.
(10) :Saint-Brice castle where the tower and part of the bailey are all that remain from the 14th century castle. The manor house dates back to the 16th century but was remodelled in the 19th century.
14.36km
+142m
-140m
4h30
Average
Starting point in Segonzac - 16 - Charente Segonzac: the root of its name means 'strength, courage' in Gaulish.
Archaeological digs have revealed a Neolithic inhabitation (approx. 5000 B.C)
The Hundred Years' War persuaded the construction of numerous underground passages, which enabled the inhabitants to take refuge from extreme violence.
Protestantism has, without a doubt, left its mark in the area, particularly with the Segonzacais. The first Reformed church was founded in 1558. Troubles occurred in 1562 and the parish church was burnt down. Today's Temple is the third constructed since the Edict of Nantes.
According to a legend at the start of the 17th century, it was at Segonzac that a vintner named Chevalier de la Croix Maron invented double distillation.
9.79km
+99m
-104m
3h05
Average
Starting point in Segonzac - 16 - Charente The Gaul root of its name means 'strength, courage'. The Hundred Years War persuaded the construction of numerous underground passages, which enabled the inhabitants to take refuge from extreme violence. Without a doubt Protestantism has left its mark in the area, particularly with the Segonzacais. The first Reformed church was founded in 1558. Troubles occurred in 1562 and the parish church was burnt down. Today's Temple church is the third constructed since the Edict of Nantes.
9.14km
+23m
-20m
2h40
Easy
Starting point in Merpins - 16 - Charente Located at the confluence of the Né and Charente rivers, the Merpins commune has been permanently occupied by men from very early times: arrowheads, pottery shards, and later an imposing medieval fortress, an 11th century church and an abbey dating back to the 12th century are the living proof. These fertile lands are home to meadows, cereal fields and a Grande-Champagne listed vineyard.
10.37km
+94m
-85m
3h15
Easy
Starting point in Gimeux - 16 - Charente Gimeux was built on a hillside overlooking the valley and marshlands of the river Né and enjoys a flourishing farming activity: meadows and cereal fields in the valley, vineyards on the hills. Ancient burial sites and the outline of the old Roman road called ‘Chemin Boisné’ are revealing of the ancestral occupation of the land. The parish church dates back to the 12th century. Also marking the landscape are an old chapel as well as the remains of a windmill on the Fanaud hillside.
9.5km
+36m
-36m
2h50
Easy
Starting point in Angeac-Champagne - 16 - Charente A lovely walk through the Charentais vineyards, passing beautiful buildings and around the village of Roissac.
Angeac- Champagne counts numerous prosperous-looking Charentais houses, witness to the wealth which lies in the local economy producing cognac, its principal occupation. The entrances to the estates are marked by a gate or porch way: there are at least 50. They are unique and typical of our local heritage. At Roissac village they embellish the main street.
9.66km
+125m
-122m
3h05
Average
Starting point in Saint-Laurent-de-Cognac - 16 - Charente Bordered to the South by the Charente river, theSaint-Laurent area consists of a small town gathered around its church and its 11th century portal, several villages spread across the valleys and the hills as well as farms and secluded dwellings.
11.99km
+135m
-130m
3h50
Average
Starting point in Saint-Sulpice-de-Cognac - 16 - Charente Saint-Sulpice-de-Cognac is pleasantly located between the marshlands of the Antenne River and limestone hillsides. There, are hidden the remains of the Agrippa Roman road as well as forgotten local railroad.
Cherves-Richemont is graced with the Antenne River and offers an unexpected diversity of landscapes. Its historic heritage is particularly rich: Romanesque churches, Château Chesnel, watermills, manor houses….
11.59km
+51m
-50m
3h25
Average
Starting point in Saint-Fort-sur-le-Né - 16 - Charente Situated at 25m altitude - the river Né and the Motte stream are the principal water courses which cross the locality.
In certain places there are excellent views towards and from the village, the Dolmen, of the vineyards, the landscape of the Grande Champagne and surrounding villages. In every season you can discover a certain charm and appeal in St. Fort.
For more walks, use our search engine.
The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
