Saint-Laurent-de-Cognac / Louzac-Saint-André - Sentier des Combes

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.

Technical sheet

107506
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.66 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 100 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 97 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 77 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 16 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S) Starting point from the salle polyvalente (village hall).
From the carpark, turn right on to Rue des Borderies, then right again on to Rue du Port du Lys (1), then left on to Rue Maurice Sellal and left again on to Rue de Kerbach. You are now facing the church (2). Walk down Rue de l’Eglise to your right.
At the end of the street, veer right on to Rue des Jardins then left on Rue du Port du Lys. Walking up the slope, turn right at the 2nd junction into Prés Biron housing estate. At the end of the road, follow the grass path and turn right to enter the woods (3). Follow this path until you reach the road and turn right. Walk past the great gate and follow the white path on your left (4).
Walk straight on for 1.2km and when you reach the woods at the end of the vines, turn left walking around the woods to the right (5). Walk straight ahead until you reach the road, turn right and before Louzac village, take the little dirt track on the right to come up facing the Saint-Martin church by Rue de l’Ancienne Mairie (6).
Turn right on to Rue du Marronnier, cross the D144 and keek walking straight on. Leave Rue des Chaumes to your left and take the path on the right (7).
Walk straight on. At the junction, turn right while keeping to the path to your left. This path forks out in two: follow the path to the right for 1km keeping in a straight line. When you reach the corner of the woods, take the path to the left.
At the crossing, turn right (8) then take the path to the right going into the woods. Follow that path straight on for 1.3km until you reach the location called ‘Chez Roulin’. Once you get to Rue des Pradelles, walk straight on then turn right on to Rue de Chez Roullin (9).
Follow that street over 700m then turn left at a right angle into the path going through the vines (10). Carry straight on along Rue du Bois du Prieur until you regain Saint-Laurent-de-Cognac. At the end of that street, turn right on to Rue des Borderies to return to your starting point.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 20 m - Parking Salle Polyvalente, Rue des Borderies
  2. 1 : km 0.24 - alt. 24 m - Turn right
  3. 2 : km 0.4 - alt. 18 m - Church of Saint-Maclou
  4. 3 : km 1.18 - alt. 52 m - At the crossroads, turn right into the woods
  5. 4 : km 1.97 - alt. 24 m - Turn left
  6. 5 : km 3.41 - alt. 70 m - Turn right
  7. 6 : km 4.55 - alt. 58 m - Eglise Saint-Martin, turn right
  8. 7 : km 4.73 - alt. 62 m - At the start of Rue des Chaumes, turn right
  9. 8 : km 6.33 - alt. 51 m - Intersection, turn right
  10. 9 : km 7.74 - alt. 26 m - Rue de Chez Roullin, turn right
  11. 10 : km 8.42 - alt. 59 m - Cross the vineyards, turn left
  12. S/E : km 9.66 - alt. 20 m - Parking Salle Polyvalente, Rue des Borderies

Practical information

Starting point : Salle Polyvalente (village hall), rue des Borderies, Saint-Laurent-de-Cognac
Follow the yellow waymarks. Path also suitable for mountain bikes.

In the nearby area

(1) Saint-Laurent Church where pilgrims and travelling tradesmen have carved graffiti into the stone and wash-house on the Saint-Laurent River.
(6) :Saint-Martin Church: dates back to the 12th century, recovered in the 14th and 16th century, restored in the 19th century and lately in 2011. Many examples of carved graffiti can be found on this church as well.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 18 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
chipie33290
chipie33290

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

The path was indeed flooded between 3 and 4: a free footbath, but nothing too embarrassing for walkers.
Otherwise, a very beautiful undulating route, with magnificent views.
A varied heritage and landscape.
There were a few climbs for those who prefer the flat.
Many thanks to GrandCognac for putting these routes on visorando.

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Pilatus50
Pilatus50

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk with varied landscapes

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poisson87
poisson87

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

The village hall is not actually signposted, so I didn't see it, but the signposting allowed me to follow the route without any problems.

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L_Guillet
L_Guillet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

In October with an early morning start on a calm, sunny day ... an infinite pleasure

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lap
lap

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Very good signposting. I recommend using the GPS tracks as soon as you enter the vineyards, as the markers are further apart. And start the walk at 8 a.m. in case of scorching temperatures.

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chemin 16
chemin 16

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Lovely walk, with a variety of landscapes, vineyards, woods and valleys.
The pretty village of Louzac St André.

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vivreenvillage
vivreenvillage
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

I walk this route several times a year.
Like other regular users, I find it regrettable that this route does not include the most beautiful rural path in the area, recognised as an emblematic example of the natural heritage of the Borderies: the Panteneau path in the canton of Saint-Martin located in the Vallée de la Croix, an alternative also long known to followers of the GR4.
It's about time this was addressed, because for years it has been the target of attempts to appropriate it by a local resident whose actions are reprehensible.
If we don't take care, all the paths in the area will soon be condemned by this strategy, which we owe to a person who claims the right to enjoy them alone.
Walkers and hikers be vigilant...

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nanette17
nanette17

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 23, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

This hike, undertaken on a Sunday afternoon in ideal sunshine and temperatures by 2 people in their seventies, was a very pleasant experience.
very pleasant. The description of the walk is very well written and full of detail. Excellent.

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phili1615
phili1615

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Beware of the occasional unpleasant wind in the upper section after marker 8 on the map.
A section of the path between markers 3 and 4 is flooded, "it just goes by".
The information and GPX points loaded onto my Sunnto proved very useful.
So, thank you to the creator of this route.
Happy hiking to you all.

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phil 17
phil 17

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 03, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

It's a fairly easy walk, moving from undergrowth to sun exposure, but not too much. We did it in less time than indicated (around 2h30), while taking the time to quench our thirst and eat blackberries. A bit of a climb, but perfect for getting your heart rate up...

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9capitainerie
9capitainerie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 23, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant walk with some interesting sights along the way. A little hilly.

Beware of hot weather as there is little shade.

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ginar17
ginar17

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 01, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

nice route but not much shade so avoid it in the heat

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Sarita J
Sarita J

Thanks for the feedback on this walk. Could you please let me which sentence in the description you are referring to (go straight on and left at the wood) so I can make any changes if needed? Many thanks Sarita

Terentius
Terentius

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 05, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

At one point the path was totally flooded,but to be fair it has rained a lot here. At another point the direction said straight on and then left at the wood. It should have said go straight on leaving the metalled road and going on to a grass path. Thanks.

BriceD
BriceD

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 30, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very pleasant little hike. Easy to complete.

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