Les Méandres de la Vrille

The start of this hike is on Avenue de la Gare, close to the Tourist Office. (D/A) Head towards the château, cross the Grande Rue (protected passage) and enter the grounds. Drive around the building to the right. At the end of the gable, turn right and continue through the wooded area towards the buildings at the far end (retirement home). After the pond on your right, turn left downstream of the parking lot and then right at the stairs. Access to the parking lot ends at Allée des Amours, which leads up to Route des Thus. (1) Turn left onto Route des Thus. Follow it past the Thus wash-house, then leave it at the crossroads indicating Les Rats. (2) Follow this road to the left. At the last houses, the road takes over as an undergrowth path. Oak trees that are probably several hundred years old and magnificent pollards guide the way. Occasionally, a few rusks cross this path, which leads to a curve in the road described by the Vrille. (3) Turn left and follow the meandering river to the right. Cross the bridge over the river. Continue along the path between the fences separating the fields on either side. Reach the D955 road. (4) First cross the road with care, then turn right, keeping to the left-hand shoulder and remaining vigilant. After about 150 m, you'll come to a footpath entrance on your left. Enter and climb this path, which soon becomes a wider track. At the top, turn left (a field entrance can give the impression of an emerging path). Arrive at a place called Les Plançons. (5) At the pond and well on your right, turn left down the road serving this hamlet. It soon turns south, and you reach the left-hand bend in the road. Turn right onto a wide track. Continue, passing a stream at the bottom of the valley. (6) On the right, pass between trognes and climb a sunken path with a small, unobtrusive fountain on the right (see explanations in Practical info). At the end of the path, you'll come to Les Moreaux, with its colourful gated properties. Opposite an entrance to a property, let the path run off to the right (small parking area) and continue along this road (which in places is more of a greenway in the middle). Pass the former kiln on the current site of the pottery training school (CNIFOP). (7) At the fork, go down Faubourg des Potiers. Pass the Écomusée de la Mémoire potière on your right. Continue downhill to Carrefour Carriès. Cross carefully at the pedestrian crossing and head towards the town center on Grande Rue. Cross the two bridges over the branches of the Vrille and return to the starting point (D/A).