A ‘Vines and Villages’ route in La Haie-Fouassière

For parking, use the car park at La Haie-Fouassière station.

(S/E) From the car park, go under the tracks via the underpass and take the path on the right until you reach the road (D 74). Cross the road and continue along the path opposite. After the bend to the left, head uphill to join the path that runs alongside the copse and turn right onto it.
Continue along this path, which runs alongside the railway line, until you reach a road in the village of Le Brétaud.

(1) Take this road to the left until you reach the village outskirts. After the last house, take the path on the right through the vineyards (the Louée radio mast is opposite). At the junction of the six paths, carry on straight ahead and join the road at a house. Take the road to the left for about 100 m, then take the path on the right between the last two houses. You will arrive at La Caillaudière.

(2) Walk alongside the vineyards for 300 m and turn right again onto the path between the houses, then take the road on the left to the riding centre.
Follow the road to the left for 500 m to reach the hamlet of La Verrie.

(3) Ignore the first path on the right, and as the road curves, turn onto the small road on the right.
Cross the railway line at the level crossing and turn right onto the path running alongside the track until you reach a road.
Cross this road and continue straight ahead, passing the stone-walled hamlet of Le Hallay.

(4) Turn right onto the path through the vineyards. Continue until you reach a road. Follow this road to the right for 50 m, then turn left onto the Chemin de la Pléïade. At the last house, take the path on the right to reach the Mondelez factory car park.

(5) Walk alongside the car parks on your right until you reach the pedestrian crossing, then cross the road and take Rue du Patis opposite, continuing until the left-hand bend. At the bend, take the path that runs alongside the company’s perimeter wall and join the road (D 74).
Cross the road and continue straight ahead along Rue de la Caillerie. Walk through the village and carry on until you reach the Gillières vineyard, on the left at the end of the road.

(6) Take the path on the right (leaving the buildings behind you). Then take the small road on the right and, after the two bends, turn left into the vineyards alongside the copse. After about 200 m, turn right onto the path, then immediately left, and head towards another copse.
Walk along the right-hand side of this woodland, and continue past the hamlet until you reach the road at Le Petit Bois.

(7) Take the road to the right, then turn left at the junction, then left again, and then turn right to go under the railway line.

(8) Immediately turn right onto the path running alongside the railway line, carry on, cross the D 149, and continue for 300 m. Before the road (D 359), turn right onto the farm track to reach the Moulin des Ratelles.

(9) Turn right towards the Sansonnière lodge, and at the end turn left to return to the starting point at the station (S/E).

You can reach this route by tram-train from La Haie-Fouassière station on the Nantes–Clisson line.

There are numerous wine cellars along the route (please book in advance for tours).
The Mondelez biscuit factory (formerly LU), situated on the route, may at certain times give off the very pleasant smell of biscuits.