Vendeuvre-du-Poitou walks

After climbing a hill offering sweeping views, the route takes you through former marshes now used for market gardening. A few castles dot the route, the highlight of which is the Gallo-Roman site, whose ruins, whilst not spectacular, are moving.

Set amongst market gardens and private castles, the Montfaucon route takes you to explore, in particular, the castle of the same name, a fine example of a small medieval keep. Built inthe 14th century, Montfaucon is the oldest civil building in the commune. It was remodelled inthe 15th century, at which point it lost some of its defensive character in favour of a more residential function.

Route proposed by the municipality of Jaunay-Marigny and certified by the Vienne Departmental Hiking Committee. A route exploring the troglodytic landscapes, created by the exploitation of the Tuffeau quarries, with beautiful views over the Envigne valley. The route is marked in green, starting from the Marigny-Brizay town hall.

An easy hike that mainly takes place amongst cultivated fields and vineyard plots on the hillsides. The church in Lencloître adds a superb touch of heritage. Route designed and signposted by the Grand Châtellerault Tourist Office, under the name "Entre Vignes et Jardins" and number 24.

A lovely walk, partly through the forest. There are also beautiful views over the Ouzilly plain, with the chance to see tuffeau stone dwellings and a few cave dwellings.

Take a break in nature along these beautiful wooded paths.

A lovely family walk through the woods with beautiful views over the Envigne valley and Haut-Clairvaux.

An easy walk. It climbs slightly from the Chemin des Ribatons; there is very little road and the paths are well-maintained. Must-sees: the castle, a lovely view over the Clain Valley and Futuroscope.

A walk through the fields. Route suggested by the municipality of Dissay and the Les Randonneurs Pédestrians association.

A walk through the fields, with panoramic views. Route recommended by the Dissay local council and the Les Randonneurs Pédestrians association.

As you walk through Ambigaria (the former name of the commune of Saint-Genest), you’ll pass through market gardens and fields of asparagus. Along the way, you’ll come across Puygareau Castle, fortified from 1434 onwards, with its two towers and 15th-century residential quarters. At the Château d’Abin, you’ll see an old hemp kiln; the hemp-growing industry was a major part of the local economy in the 19th century.

With a very manageable 170 m of elevation gain, this route allows you to explore the old stagecoach route linking Ligugé to Fontevrault, La Motte de Gironde, the former hemp mill at Ouzilly, the Château des Roches in Marigny, the mill at Aubes de Feneau, the Château de Clairvaux, the granary and the church in Scorbé, and the carillon in the centre of Scorbé. Keep your eyes peeled and take your time.

A nature walk between fields and the banks of the Auxance. A short, easy walk. Route developed by the Greater Poitiers Urban Community and the Departmental Hiking Committee.

This walk takes you through the Moulin Pochas falun site, which was used as a sandpit, and then continues with a short stroll across the plain through the fields. The site is not really a mill in the usual sense (such as a flour mill), but rather an ancient natural geological site consisting of falunières – quarries of ancient marine deposits (clay-sand cliffs known as faluns) – dating back some 15 million years. It is a unique testament in Poitou to the era when a shallow sea (the Mer des Faluns) covered the region. The site consists of ancient shell sand quarries containing marine fossils such as shells, corals, etc.

You start your walk at the foot of the Haut-Clairvaux keep, built in the 11th and 12th centuries, where you can admire the many panoramic views stretching as far as the eye can see! You will then descend towards Bas-Clairvaux, where your path will cross the famous greenway cycle route, the ‘Ligne Verte’, a former railway line linking Châtellerault to Loudun, before heading back up towards your destination.

Magnificent views of Moussais Castle and Colombiers Forest. This route has it all, from botany to built heritage, from the arboretum along the green corridor to the Beaumont Tower and the Madeleine Chapel. You'll be amazed!

A heritage hike in the countryside and woods of Haut Poitou with two Renaissance-style castles up close and a Romanesque church. Route designed and marked by the Vienne departmental committee of the FFRP.

Short hike through woods and fields in the Auxance valley.

A mainly shaded walk through woodland, though with a large number of tarmac roads. A ‘nature walk’ organised by the Greater Poitiers Urban Community, the town of Montamisé and the CDRP.

A hike mainly through woodland with a few sections through fields. Two beautiful châteaux mark the route: the Château de la Barbelinière, visible from a distance, and the Château de la Massardière, which you pass right by. The ruins of the Tour de Pouillé and the church in Thuré add to the heritage appeal of this hike. Hike designed and signposted by the Vienne departmental committee of the FFRP.

Beautiful panoramic views, from Barbelinière Castle to Masssardière Castle, passing through pretty hamlets. This route will also take you past the former home of Maurice Bedel, La Genauraye.

This lovely route winds its way through the countryside and follows sections of the Ligne Verte, a former railway line converted into a 37km path for pedestrians and cyclists, between Châtellerault and Loudun. It also takes you along some lovely sunken lanes and leads to the rich heritage of Scorbé-Clairvaux: the keep and chapel of Haut Clairvaux, the wash house, the old market halls, the castle which houses the chess museum (over 150 sets from 70 countries), and the old station.

A short walk along field paths, forest trails and small roads, taking in a Neolithic polishing stone, a few cave dwellings and a beautiful church. This hike partly follows a route designed and marked out by the Grand Châtellerault Tourist Office.

With its many panoramic views of the villages, the pretty surrounding hamlets and its paths that are by turns wooded and undulating, this route certainly lives up to its name.

A walk of moderate difficulty, with a slight climb. There are a few sections on roads, but the forest paths are well-maintained. There is some beautiful architectural heritage to be seen in Château Fromage.