On the slopes of Savennières

From hillsides to valleys to the banks of the Loire. A beautiful walk punctuated by a rich landscape, natural and architectural heritage.

Details

2934086
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.23 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 70 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 71 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 67 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 15 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at Place du Mail.

(S/E) Take the pedestrian crossing between the town hall and the school. Go to the Saint-Pierre church and walk down Rue de la Motte opposite.

(1) Take the second staircase on the left, towards stream (for trains...), and follow the railway line.

(2) Turn left and go under the railway line to take a sunken lane that climbs towards Épiré.
If the passage is flooded, continue and take the road on the left, which also leads to Épiré.

(3) Turn left, then right onto the path that leads to the old church. Join Rue de l'Ancienne Église, turn right then left onto Rue des Platanes. At the stop sign, turn left until you reach the crossroads indicating Chemin de Pitrouillet, which branches off to the right.

(4) Turn right and continue to a four-way intersection.

(5) Follow the path on the left that runs alongside the vineyards. You will come to a small road; continue straight ahead until you reach the D111.

(6) Turn right carefully and continue for about 60 metres, then turn left onto a path. Continue straight ahead, ignoring the paths on either side.

(7) Once at the fork, enjoy the beautiful view of the Loire and the vineyards, near a very pretty building.
Continue straight ahead to rejoin the D111.

(8) Cross carefully and take the path slightly to the right that follows the GR®3Eand runs parallel to the road (Chemin des Petites Coulées). Head uphill, following the stream that winds to the right.

(9) At the crossroads, turn left towards Moulin du Gué.

(10) Cross the road and take Chemin des Perrières opposite. Turn left onto the path heading south and join Rue Montsallier in Savennières. Turn left and continue to the junction with Rue Duboys d'Angers.

Turn left towards the church. Go around it on the right, taking Rue René Benoist to return to the car park at Place du Mail (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 24 m - Place du Mail
  2. 1 : km 0.4 - alt. 15 m - Second staircase on the left
  3. 2 : km 2.97 - alt. 17 m - Turn left towards Epiré - La Loire
  4. 3 : km 3.34 - alt. 49 m - Épiré
  5. 4 : km 3.59 - alt. 55 m - Chemin du Pitrouillet
  6. 5 : km 4.62 - alt. 62 m - Crossroads, path on the left
  7. 6 : km 5.45 - alt. 64 m - D111, on the right
  8. 7 : km 5.98 - alt. 58 m - Viewpoint over the vineyards and the Loire.
  9. 8 : km 6.26 - alt. 27 m - D111, junction °°GR®°°
  10. 9 : km 7.36 - alt. 44 m - Crossroads, on the left
  11. 10 : km 8.02 - alt. 61 m - Moulin du Gué
  12. S/E : km 9.23 - alt. 24 m - Place du Mail

Worth a visit

The Pierre Bécherelle stone is visible before leaving the banks of the Loire to reach Epiré.

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 20 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 2754209

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
After setting off, there is a long straight stretch along the railway line, then a left turn under the first bridge. We checked to see if there were any signs, but unless we were mistaken, we didn't see anything... Then we realised there was a mistake!!!!, so it would be a good idea to note on the sheet that you have to turn left at the second bridge to get to the village of Épiré. I am a former signposting expert trained by CD49. It is absurd to use "purple" markings on wooden supports and other materials... What comes naturally to the local signpost installer does not come naturally to people from outside the area.
Kind regards
C. Millet

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User 26971625

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Most of the route is on tarmac, which is a bit of a shame. The end is quite pleasant in the hills of Savennieres

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C54
C54

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route through woods and open paths.
Very pleasant when the weather is warm.
Interesting information boards explaining vine cultivation.

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Le barbu en marche
Le barbu en marche

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This route is very well marked.
I did the circuit in reverse order and would recommend this as the difficult sections are in the first half and the end along the banks of the Loire is pleasant.

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raphbo49
raphbo49

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A parish-specific, beautiful route through vineyards on the slopes of the Loire Valley

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Fouché
Fouché

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We didn't use the description. We looked for the right direction from Savennières, then it was quite easy to follow the route.

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antiage
antiage

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

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andré07
andré07

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

We did the route with a GPS with the track entered, so we didn't use the map. The route is marked, but seems to be missing at some intersections. We did this route in the morning before the intense heat of the afternoon. There is a lot of tarmac, but the section along the Guillemette is nice. We met some cyclists and don't forget to take a look at the Pierre Béchelle before heading back up to Epiré. The information boards along the route are very interesting, particularly those about the vineyards.

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claudie35
claudie35

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Avoid in rainy weather.
Tarmac road may be flooded when the Loire is in spate. Slippery stones.
Pleasant walk through the vineyards, beautiful panoramic views.

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godillot49
godillot49

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The blue markings at the start turn green in places, perhaps the route is being redesigned...
There are very few markings on the alternative route, so bring a paper map or use one on your smartphone, which is very useful for adapting the route if you encounter hunters
A very pleasant route

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Phil.Cormier
Phil.Cormier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

With sunshine, shaded sections, some pleasant views between vineyards and the Loire, very well signposted.

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Claudine 49
Claudine 49

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant walk through the vineyards

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Gerard273
Gerard273

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very interesting hike between the banks of the Loire and the vineyard slopes of Savenières.
Best avoided in wet weather

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superyoda86
superyoda86
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with stunning views of the Loire and the Savennières vineyards (be sure to visit the charming village). However, although the trail is marked (blue/purple), it is not always easy to spot the markings. You need to pay close attention or use GPS tracking. The written description is not always accurate (at the start, you have to go under the railway line and then turn left towards Stream)

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djclb
djclb

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Here is a suggestion for families and young walkers: you can shorten the loop (5 km). We like to do the hike in the opposite direction: we park in the station car park (number 1 on the map) and walk up to the church in Savennières. We pass by 10/9/8, which gives us a good view of the signs telling the history of wine. Then, once you reach number 8 on the map (crossing the main road), rather than taking the path directly opposite, you can go down to the right for about 60 metres towards the railway line before crossing the road to rejoin the GR, which will take you back under the railway line, which you can follow on the way back (to the right) towards the station car park.
On Sundays there is a market in Savennières, which is very local and very friendly, well worth a visit.

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