Vernoux-sur-Boutonne walks

A short walk across the plain between Vernoux-sur-Boutonne and Périgné. It offers the chance to discover the traditional architectural heritage of Vernoux-sur-Boutonne and the natural heritage, such as the Foncoubert wash house and fountain, and the landscapes of the plain.

This pleasant route will take you through several charming little villages that have retained their character. The first part of the route follows quiet, little-used roads, ideal for enjoying the peaceful landscape. The second part mainly follows dirt tracks, closer to nature. Throughout the hike, you will regularly follow the Belle and the Béronne, two rivers that bring freshness and gentleness to the route. You will also discover some traces of the local heritage, such as mills, wash houses and other water-related structures, which bear witness to the rural history of the region. A varied route, combining villages, nature and heritage, perfect for a rejuvenating walk.

A lovely walk on the Mellois plateau. Very little elevation gain. An easy route offering a glimpse of the countryside surrounding the town of Périgné. This walk follows good farm tracks, often shaded, and offers a lovely glimpse of a still-wooded area of the Mellois plateau. The quality of the paths also makes this hike suitable for mountain biking.

A route designed to help you discover springs and wash houses located near the River Belle between Périgné and Montigné. The route alternates between farm tracks and quiet country lanes (as evidenced by the grass growing there). The walk passes close to the Château de la Forge and alongside the Château de la Guittonnière

This walk offers the chance to explore the varied hedgerow landscape around Périgné between the rivers Belle and Béronne. It is also an opportunity to see Saint-Martin’s Church in Périgné, the wash houses at La Fontaine, Paillette and La Grésolle, the Belle Valley, the Prérault Pond, and the châteaux of La Guittonnière and La Grésolle. The route mainly follows farm tracks, with a few sections along quiet roads.

A pleasant route in a little-known corner of the Mellois plateau. It allows you to discover varied landscapes, partly by following an old railway line converted into a path, crossing hamlets (Le Petit Beauvais, La Rorserie, Etrochon) with traditional buildings, sometimes running alongside the Berlande with its Moulin de Génebrie mill, and ending at the Cure du Prieuré de Mazières sur Béronne and its wash house. This walk follows part of theGR®655, one of the routes to Santiago de Compostela.

A pleasant walk around the River Belle between the villages of Montigné and Verrines-sous-Celles. Along this route, you’ll find beautiful views of the Belle Valley, wash houses and traditional buildings. But also river crossings over stone bridges, wash houses and wells, the church at Verrines and, next to it, a bread oven.

A very pleasant walk with little elevation gain across the plain around the villages of Lusseray, Chérigné and Luché-sur-Brioux, offering views of beautiful wash houses and fountains flowing into the River Dauphin. The quality of the paths (over 50% of the route) and the quiet country lanes (over 30% of the route) make for a peaceful walk, allowing you to enjoy the shade and the scenery throughout the journey.

A pleasant walk combining heritage discoveries with a chance to enjoy nature.

A pleasant walk on the Mellois plateau, starting from the beautiful Romanesque church of Saint-Romans-lès-Melle. The route takes in varied landscapes, passing through Négressauve and Mortefond and following lovely farm tracks. One section runs along a quiet country lane. This walk also takes you along a narrow alleyway in Négressauve.

A pleasant walk around the River Belle, exploring unspoilt countryside and significant built heritage (the church and cemetery at Verrines, family cemeteries, old houses, etc.). The fairly undulating route offers beautiful scenery with varied colours depending on the crops and small woodlands.

At the edge of the Aulnay Forest, the history of the Knights Templar, pilgrims, salt workers and winegrowers comes to life through the old paths, vineyard plots and the Commandery. This walk takes you past the rest areas at La Chaume and La Chauvière, the church at Ensigné, the Chemin de Contré and the Chemin Saunier, the Templar Commandery, the oaks of Fief-Louis, the stork well at Le Lac and the Trou de l’Ormeau.

A lovely walk on the Mellois plateau. Varied landscapes with a mix of fields and wooded areas. Passing through the villages of Negresauve and Le Luc de Verrines, in particular, offers a good view of traditional architecture.

A pleasant walk through a little-visited part of the Mellois plateau, starting from Saint-Génard. Along the route, you’ll discover the Berlande springs at Puyberland, as well as a lovely view of Melzéar Castle beyond Paizay-le-Tort.

This walking route focuses on exploring Melle’s narrow streets and ends with a very pleasant stroll along the River Argentière. However, this walk also allows you to discover the main monuments of the town of Melle (see the section ‘During the walk or nearby’).

A beautiful walk that takes you across three rivers: the Coudrières stream, the Berlande and the Marseillaise. The route offers varied landscapes, combining the Mellois plateau with its diverse crops and the valley floors as you cross the three rivers that cut through the plateau in this area.

A walk with little elevation gain on the Mellois plateau in the Sainte-Blandine area. This route alternates between farm tracks and quiet country lanes used only by local residents. This walk offers the chance to see Poitou donkeys when they are out in the pastures or grey mares (at several points along the route).

A pleasant walk in the Boutonne Valley near Fontenille-Saint-Martin-d’Entraigues. Its moderate length and very gentle gradient make it a family-friendly walk. This route passes through an area of significant biodiversity, particularly at the Chaumes Pelés, which is a nature reserve home to a diverse range of wildlife and several species of orchids.

A circular walk offering varied scenery with little elevation gain. This hike alternates between footpaths and a few sections on minor roads. It offers views of the Château des Ouches, the Moulin des Ouches and the Chapelle de Saint-Faziol.

A pleasant hike to discover the southern part of the Chizé forest. This route offers a peaceful and shaded moment in nature in a forest with remarkable trees.

A pleasant walk offering a variety of scenery around Paizay-le-Chapt. This route offers beautiful views of the countryside as you approach the Forest of Aulnay further south, the lovely Bois de la Griffière, the hamlet of Les Rompis – a remnant of 15th-century land clearing – the Chemin de la Rochelle, which follows the route of an ancient major thoroughfare, and the Puits de Pouffond.

This route follows part of the Sentier de la Découverte and then the Ruban Vert (Melle–Celles-sur-Belle), which follows the route of the old single-track railway line. A lovely, easy walk along wide paths, shaded for most of the way. Suitable for all weathers.

A walk around Melle offering views of its trio of Romanesque churches, a chance to explore two wash houses and the Frankish kings’ silver mines. You’ll walk along the discovery trail through a unique arboretum.

A pleasant walk, with plenty of shade, along varied paths and small tarmac roads. (9) Possible alternative route to significantly reduce the distance

This walk takes you on a route through the Bois de Celles. The route allows you to discover varied landscapes of woodland and farmland, as well as traditional local architecture as you pass through the hamlet of La Garzelle.

A long walk across the Niort-Brioux plain, taking in open fields and hillsides. The landscape varies greatly, from the plateau at the start of the route to the Guirande valley, ending near L’Abîme after passing at the foot of Le Peu.

A pleasant hike leading to the Métairie aux Moines, the Bois d'Enfiré, the hamlet of La Carte and the Fontaine de la Belle. Discover a beautiful fountain nestled in the valley after the hamlet of La Carte. The hike is mostly shaded and, in the second half, runs along the La Belle river for a while.

Be extremely careful when walking along the D124 road (approximately 180 to 200 m) as vehicles travel very fast. This is the only "negative" part of this short walk, but it is important to note it. To avoid missing them, pay attention to points (3) and (4), which are not field/meadow entrances but grassy paths. No difficulty.

A lovely walk around the Guirande in the plain to the south-west of Prahecq. This easy route winds through a hedgerow-lined countryside where the paths meander between the Guirande and intermittent streams.