Beneath the ramparts of Touffou in Bonnes

Undergrowth, fields, banks of the Vienne, ramparts of Touffou, arboretum... There is plenty of variety on this pleasant little route, which is best done in dry weather.

Details

1118845
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.99 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 57 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 55 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 113 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 62 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Bonnes esplanade car park.

(S/E) Take the Allée du Souvenir, the small path between the Maison Pour Tous (MPT) and the Monument pour la Paix. It leads to the Place du Monument, which you must cross

(1) Take the Venelle des Bambous.
When you reach the D6, turn right, stay on the right-hand side of the road and, just after the village exit sign, take the small path that climbs up to the right and runs along the D6 through the undergrowth (it does not appear on the map).
At the Quatre Vallées crossroads, stay on the path by turning right and continue to the end of the road.

(2) At the junction with the road (there is a bus stop on the left), follow the road to the right, pass the waste collection centre and, at the Croix des Six Chemins, continue on the road opposite. Then turn into the first path on the left (just before the house on the left) and then turn onto the first path on the right.

(3) At the three-way junction, turn right and at the next fork, turn right again.

(4) At the crossroads, turn left and follow the stone wall.
Just before the entrance to the woods, turn right onto the road that descends towards Château de Touffou.
Take the path that descends to the left into the woods.
Once you reach the bottom of the descent and after a bend, continue to the right.
When you reach a fork in the road, follow the path that descends to the right. Then turn right onto a small bridge.
Continue towards the ramparts of Château de Touffou.

(5) Walk along the ramparts. Just before you reach the end of the ramparts, take the path that descends to the left and leads to the castle car park. Cross the car park and continue along the road towards the village to reach the Rochefort district.

Leave the road to pass through the arboretum (you can just walk along the road, or you can take the time to stroll through it).
Then return to the road. At Croix Saint-André, turn left and continue along Rue de la Limousinerie on the left.
At the school car park, take the lane opposite and cross the road (between the café des sports and the school) to return to the esplanade car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 63 m - Esplanade de Bonnes car park
  2. 1 : km 0.15 - alt. 66 m - Alleyway
  3. 2 : km 1.57 - alt. 102 m - Bus stop
  4. 3 : km 2.44 - alt. 113 m - Road junction
  5. 4 : km 3.21 - alt. 108 m - Turn left at a place called Fossé Rôti.
  6. 5 : km 4.47 - alt. 72 m - Touffou Castle - Bord de Vienne
  7. 6 : km 5.21 - alt. 65 m - Arboretum
  8. S/E : km 5.99 - alt. 63 m - Esplanade de Bonnes car park

Notes

For this walk, it is best to cover your legs and arms as there are some sections that are not very well maintained, with brambles and nettles encroaching slightly on the path.
Just before reaching the ramparts of Touffou Castle, there is a slightly tricky section that could be slippery (and dangerous) in wet weather.

Worth a visit

Touffou Castle. It is possible to visit part of the castle and the gardens.

The arboretum. Feel free to stroll through the arboretum (taking care to stay on the mowed paths). The rest is deliberately left untouched for the well-being of insects and flora, particularly orchids.

In summer, you can also enjoy the municipal swimming pool (open only in summer) located near the campsite.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
FOURNYMICHELLE1
FOURNYMICHELLE1

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The stretch through open fields and... strong winds is not particularly interesting, but the remaining three-quarters of the route reward walkers, especially on these beautiful autumn days!

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LeChillou
LeChillou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A few difficulties finding the way at the start, but then well signposted.
A very beautiful walk around the magnificent and impressive Touffou Castle.
I highly recommend this route.

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thigou
thigou

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The start is difficult because the alley is hard to find. After that, the route is easy to follow.

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Kihon
Kihon

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The starting point is essential and often difficult to find.
Then, the information is good, but there is rarely any indication of the distance between two directions... There are no signposts.

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Fombeur Annick
Fombeur Annick

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A short but very pleasant walk. You can see the castle ramparts, but unfortunately only the roof of one wing is visible.

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fabienlacaze
fabienlacaze

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk with varied landscapes
Magnificent banks of the Vienne river and Touffou castle as a bonus
I highly recommend it

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Sir Hillary
Sir Hillary

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short, pleasant walk with no particular difficulties. The only downside is that you have to walk along the road at the beginning, albeit on a forest path.

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Odeladetout
Odeladetout
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very good walk, with varied landscapes.
We really enjoyed it.
There isn't much shade near the water, so be careful if it's very hot. Especially as there's a whole section in the fields, in full sun.

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Sylvibruno
Sylvibruno

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This was our first Visorando route and we are very pleased with it.
A superb hike. The entire walk is beautiful.
We would love to do it again!

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arnoplante
arnoplante

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Lovely castle.

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AYRAULT DANIELLE
AYRAULT DANIELLE

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The slight problem is finding the bamboo alley, which is not visible from the war memorial; you could say to head left and then immediately right. Apart from that, it's not bad...

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PETITJULES41
PETITJULES41

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

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