Refine your search for walks in Saint-Mard (Charente-Maritime)
Saint-Mard (Charente-Maritime) walks
In the footsteps of Hélène de Fonsèque in Surgères
Circular route starting from Surgères Castle. After leaving the town, you ride through the countryside on the border between Aunis and Saintonge. The landscape changes with the seasons; the start of the ride takes you through fields of rapeseed, wheat and maize.In the final section, you follow the banks of the Gères and finish by re-entering the town through 1970s-era neighbourhoods, then past the ancient walls of old mansions, ending up along the castle ramparts.
Val de Gères from the Château de Surgères via Saint-Germain-de-Marencennes
A pleasant walk to discover Surgères and its historical heritage, between the Aunis plains and wooded areas, passing through Saint-Germain-de-Marencennes (in the commune of Saint-Pierre-la-Noue) and following the Val de Gères with its remarkable wildlife.
Nachamps Route
This 13 km route invites you to discover the small rural village of Nachamps, whose name – likely derived from Celtic and Latin – combines lush vegetation with cultivated plains, perfectly reflecting the landscapes you’ll pass through.
From Thou to Les Égaux de Chambon
Short route in the Aunis plain between woods and farmland.
Frace Lake in Aigrefeuille-d'Aunis
A beautiful walk along Frace Lake, which is popular for fishing and walking, and on through the little town of Aigrefeuille-d'Aunis, where you can visit the Ouchettes cheese dairy and goat farm.
Benon North Forest
A walk best enjoyed in autumn for the colours, or in hot weather, in the shade of the oak trees.Moderator’s note added on 23/08/2021: Private property at the start of this route. See the comments at the bottom of this page for an alternative starting point
⚠️ 15 June 2026: description updated to indicate a start from the carpool area (1).
Château du Bois Charmant and the Font de Benon sandpit at Les Nouillers
A circular route that takes you round the Château du Bois Charmant and through a curious sandpit landscape. The route can also be done on a mountain bike. There are a few technical sections.
Le Bois des Touches
During this route, you will discover the village of Vallans and its 11th- and 19th-century Notre-Dame church, the hamlet of Le Petit Village with its fountains, the Château d’Allerit (private) and its dovecote, the hamlet of Fougerit, the Bois des Touches, watered by the Courance, leats, streams, wash houses and fountains.
Circuit of the Canal du Mignon starting from La Névoire
This is an easy walk between the Canal du Mignon and the marshes. Wear good walking or hiking shoes as, depending on the season and how well the banks are maintained, you may encounter tall grass in places or muddy paths.
A walk along the banks of the Mère
A pleasant walk through a marshy area to the east of Épannes. It appears that the Marquis de Cugnac developed the Mère and the Courance. He also donated several marshes, which were then used as communal pasture or cultivated marshes. This route allows you to discover all these developments and the state of this area, which varies greatly between marshes, woods and bocage.
Courçon via the forest
Courçon is situated in the Marais Poitevin Regional Park; its Romanesque-style church was built at the end of the 11th century.
The battlements are merely decorative; they were added at the beginning of the 20th century.
Circular walk starting from Saint-Christophe
Pass through the village of Saint-Christophe, in the hamlet of Cugné. A path through the fields, through a small wood and along a few shaded roads.
In the wet marshland of Saint-Hilaire-la-Palud
As you follow this route through the wet marsh, you will discover its unique features, such as the trous de bris (former clay extraction sites used for tile manufacturing until the 1980s), poplar groves and a wide variety of plants and animals.
Loop around the wild marshes of Monfaucon
Located in the commune of Saint-Hilaire-La-Pallud, the start is at a place called Monfaucon in the small car park near the pier. The route begins with a small paved road to the place called La Roche. This start is not the most interesting, but you will quickly forget it as you discover the wild marshland, first along the Vieux Mignon and then the canals, which you follow on a small white gravel path.
The Tonnay-Charente suspension bridge and the Cèpe bridge
This loop, starting from Tonnay-Charente, will take you across the Charente river twice via two bridges that are completely closed to motor traffic.
You can admire the view from the top of the Tonnay-Charente suspension bridge and explore the quays of its sleepy port.
Marshlands and wash houses of Saint-Georges-de-Rex
This route will allow you to discover the rich flora and fauna of the marshes along the white paths, as well as the small protected and restored rural heritage in the heart of the village of Saint-Georges-de-Rex.
Route des fontaines in Frontenay-Rohan-Rohan
This route through the historic streets of Frontenay-Rohan-Rohan takes you to the11th-century Saint-Pierre Church and the water features – fountains and wash houses – built along the Leat Chabot and the small streams that run through the town. The Logis Municipal Park is home to some remarkable trees, under which you can enjoy a leisurely stroll.
A circular in the woods around Fenioux
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.
More walks in Saint-Mard (Charente-Maritime)
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