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Park in the car park between the nursery school and the village hall in Melle.
(S/E) With your back to the town hall, head for the path at the end of the nursery school car park and turn left towards the water tower. Follow the green signs for “Chemin de la découverte, arboretum”. Walk past the Lycée Desfontaines and then past the Temple.
(1) Cross Rue de la Foucaudrie. Continue straight ahead along the Chemin de la découverte, which slopes down slightly. You will see the Romanesque Church of Saint-Pierre on your left below. Further on, cross Rue de la Béronne at the pedestrian crossing and continue along the path. Cross Rue de Villiers at the pedestrian crossing and head straight ahead.
(2) Cross Rue de la Croix Casselin: just after crossing, a short detour to the left takes you over a small wooden bridge over the Béronne to a beautiful wash house, the Fontaine de Villiers (detour not marked). Continue straight on towards the silver mines, passing an arboretum which is open to the public. A short climb with a wooden handrail leads you onto Avenue de la Gare.
(3) Follow the avenue to the left. Cross Rue de la Goure, then Avenue Roger Aubin at the pedestrian crossings, to reach the path opposite at the stopover lodge. Continue south.
(4) Cross Rue du Pont Saint-Hilaire: you can turn left here to visit Saint-Hilaire Church and its famous equestrian statue. Continue straight ahead (south).
(5) Head downhill to the left, following the green sign carefully. On the descent, you’ll see Saint-Hilaire Church. First turn right then left to take a wooden footbridge over the Béronne and reach the Loubeau wash house. You’ll come out onto a road; turn left towards the silver mines.
(6) Turn right up a small flight of steps towards the Musée des Mines d’Argent des Rois Francs (the oldest silver mines open to the public in the world). Head up the marked path and follow the green sign towards the dovecote. Cross Rue de Beausoleil and continue along the path opposite: clearings offer views of Saint-Savinien Church.
(7) Turn right, still heading towards the dovecote, then immediately left (the dovecote is on the right). Join the Chemin de la Reine and take a right-left turn (green sign). Pass close to the Fontaine aux Lépreux, accessible to the right of the path.
(8) At the end of the path, follow Rue de la Bretagne to the right. Cross Avenue de Limoges, walk along the right-hand pavement of Rue du Simplot, then cross it by turning left. Walk past the primary school, then cross Rue de Saint-Léger and continue straight ahead.
(9) Turn left onto the path, following the green signs, and walk along Chemin de la Fosse aux Chevaux. Cross Chemin des Perruquiers and continue straight ahead. Cross Rue du Tapis Vert, head towards the water tower and return to the starting point (S/E).
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