Historic Trail of the Vallée des Rois from Viglain

Park in the car parks around the church or near the various local shops.

(S/E) From the church, head east (away from the Caquetoire) via the Place de l’Église or Rue Romaine, both of which lead to the Route de Saint-Aignan or D320.

(1) Take the first street on the left, Rue du Cormier, towards the cemetery. Turn right opposite the cemetery. The tarmac soon gives way to a gravel track skirting the sewage treatment plant.

(2) At the fork in the road, keep left onto a new gravel track.

Yellow and red markings (^GR® de Pays)

(3) At the fork in the road, turn left again onto a forest track. Keep to the busiest track as you head north. The forest track is followed by a gravel track as it crosses a side track leading to the Villiers estate.

(4) At the junction with the Route de Sully, continue straight ahead along the narrow road towards La Retruère and Le Rozouer. Pass Baffou Castle and then La Retruère farm.

(5) At the crossroads, 200 metres after La Retruère, turn onto the gravelled track furthest to the right. This eventually joins another gravelled track just before intersecting with the Route de Sully.

(6) Head left onto the small Route de Sully, then right, at a place called Le Prateau, onto a narrow road towards Le Cormier and the golf course. Pass Chamon.

(7) Leave the tarmac at the Fork in the road, keeping to the left onto the gravel track.

(8) At the junction after crossing the golf course, carry on straight ahead, ignoring the turn-off to the right towards Lousseau (golf course facilities). The gravel track heads south until it runs alongside a body of water on both sides, just before a Fork in the road.

(9) Keep left at the Fork in the road to stay on the gravel track, which ends at a crossroads.

End of signposting

(10) Take the sharp right-hand bend onto the signposted forest track: Viglain and rural track No. 16. Stay on the busiest track, covered in white sand, until you come to a cross track.

(11) Turn right and cross the Béon. The track eventually joins another track which you took on the way there.

(2) Carry on straight ahead, then turn left as soon as you’ve passed the cemetery.

(1) Turn right at the junction with the Route de Saint-Aignan to return to the church, the starting point of the walk (S/E).

The walk can be enjoyed in all seasons.

An alternative route that shortens the walk (8.6 km) by linking (3) to (7).

(3) Keep to the right at the fork in the road, then turn left opposite the Cormier gate, and finally keep to the right at the next fork. Follow the path until you reach the small road that continues along the lane past the golf course (Lousseau).

(7) Take the hairpin bend to the right onto the first track.

The Church of Saint-André in Viglain, rebuilt under Henry IV, with its old-fashioned pews.

Sully Castle, a medieval fortress and former residence of the Dukes of Sully.