Tour de Garat

Park in the car park at Touvre Town Hall.

(S/E) Head towards the town hall overlooking the car park and turn left onto Rue des Gauchons. Leave this street after about 200 m to take Chemin des Vignes on the left and go through the tunnel under the railway line.

(1) Follow the path to the right, which runs parallel to the railway line at first before veering away from it. Walk uphill for 800 m, ignoring two paths branching off to the right.

(2) At the top of the hill, turn right onto Chemin des Chaumes, which descends back to Rue des Gauchons after crossing the railway line.

(3) Head left. Pass through the hamlet of Les Varennes. At the next junction, take Rue des Varennes on the left, which then turns right, then immediately take Route de Trotte-Renard on the left.

(4) Leave this road and follow Chemin des Écureuils to the right. Turn left before the quarries and head up towards the hamlet of Trotte-Renard. Leave the hamlet via the path leading off to the right.

(5) On the descent, turn left into the woods. Follow the white track at the edge of the woods which runs alongside the quarry for about 700 m.

(6) In the valley, leave the white path and take the lovely path lined with maple trees on the right, which climbs towards the hamlet of Peu Sec.

(7) Turn left into the hamlet, then turn left again. At the next junction, first turn left then right, then continue straight on for 1 km, passing the Logis des Bournis (misspelled on IGN maps).

(8) Turn left onto the RD106, then right after 200 m. Continue straight on to the hamlet of Grand Arsac.

(9) At the crossroads, turn right onto Impasse du Grand Arsac. Cross the woods, head up towards Chemin de la Fauconnière and continue left to cross Bas Arsac. Note the remains of a chapel on the left as you descend towards the RD410.

(10) Cross with care and take the path opposite that runs alongside the old mill. Cross the Échelle leat and continue straight up to the old Denat tile works.

(11) Cross the RD4 very carefully, head to the right and immediately take the Lacroix tileworks road. Turn left after the houses and climb towards the village of Bragette: see the Bragette hermitage, the birthplace of Doctor Bouillaud, on the left.

(12) At the junction, take the Bragette road on the left, ignore the next crossroads and continue until you reach the white track on the right. Turn right, pass the hunters’ lodge, turn right at the bottom of the track and arrive at the RD939.

(13) Cross carefully at the pedestrian crossing and enter the village of Le Boisseau. At Place des Fatigués, follow Rue du Centre to the left.

(14) Cross the Chemin des Abeilles and take the path opposite. Keep to the right at the fork, then turn left about fifty metres further on.

(15) Turn right, ignoring the path branching off to the right, and head up towards the village of Puyrajoux. At the edge of the woods, take the village road opposite. At the T-junction, continue to the right and head downhill.

(16) At the bend, head down to the left onto the small path. Follow Route des Étangs to the left and cross over to take the path on the right before the wash house: Château de Dirac is on the left. Cross the source of the Anguienne and continue along the path to the RD101.

(17) Carefully follow the road to the left. At the bend, head up to the right into the woods. After 100 m, turn right again onto the^GR®4and 36, which follow the same route as far as Touvre. Reach the hamlet of Moulin Barret.

(18) Turn left at the corner of the building before the RD101. After about 200 m, take a short detour to the left to see the two wash houses. Return to the path, follow it to the left, then immediately turn right onto the path leading up towards Garat (don’t miss the viewpoint over the Château de la Tranchade). Walk alongside the housing estate. Cross Rue de la Gravelle to take the path opposite. At the crossroads, take Rue des Moulins to reach the RD939.

(19) Cross very carefully (no pedestrian crossing). Continue straight ahead onto Rue de Ladoux: look to your right at the start of Rue de la Statuette for the remains of the former Church of Sainte-Catherine. At the four-way junction, turn left onto Chemin de l’Écrevisse. Continue straight on for about 1 km.

(20) Turn right before the road. After 400 m, you’ll come out onto the road on the right and immediately turn right at the bend. Head down to Route Paul Gauguin. Follow it to the right for 50 m before turning left onto the white track. Continue straight on for 500 m: at the junction where the track climbs to the left, you will see the Font Belle wash house on the right. Continue to Le Petit Grelet.

(21) Head up to the left. Continue straight on until the^4th junction.

(22) Follow the path on the right down towards Touvre. Cross the D23 at the pedestrian crossing and continue straight ahead to the Route du Pontil. Turn right to reach the town hall car park (S/E).

Contact the Tourist Office: 05 45 95 16 85

Between (2) and (3), turn around to enjoy the panoramic view of Touvre

(18) Moulin Barret and Moulin de la Tranchade.

(22) Panoramic view of Touvre.

Don’t leave without visiting the sources of the Touvre, located 500 m away, the second largest resurgence in France.