Description from the AF3V website of the Thouet Valley Cycle Path from St Martin to Parthenay (alopogies in advance for any clumsiness of style!)
As the towns are situated on the crests, and as the route often goes away from the river, there are frequent climbs. That makes the route a bit difficult for beginners or well-laden trippers, who should think about short stages.
The route is described in the published brochure in 8 sections. It starts at the edge of the department, at 2 km to the N of the lake “La Ballastière” at St Martin.
The first section between this lake and Thouars, 22 km long, is easy for families as it is perfectly flat. It follows for a long time the River Thouet, on a little sheltered road which, at the entry to Thouars, borders family gardens. After a very steep climb (the only one!), you cross the center of Thouars, go down on foot from the castle and cross the Thouet by the Romanesque bridge from where you get a beautiful view of the town.
The second section from Thouars to St Généroux (18.5 km) presents some climbs but you run alongside the Thouet many times (eg at Missé and before Boué) and you follow a wild 'almost-greenway' of 3 km before St G. In this town, the Romanesque bridge and the church are magnificent.
The third section, from St G to Airvault (11 km) often goes far from the valley onto a plateau (to where it climbs!) but the arrival at Airvault by the meadow of Soulièvres and the crossing of this pretty town pay off.
The 4th section (8.5 km) links Airvault with St Loup, a pretty village with houses with dovecotes.
The 5th section (8.5 km) passes by the Cébron Lake, a nature reserve and agreeable site, then descends to Gourgé where it crosses the Thouet on the Romanesque bridge.
The 6th section from Gourgé to Parthenay (22.6 km) is the most hilly of all, for the route climbs up to Lhoumois, then continues, far from the valley, into the hills. On the other hand, the entry into Parthenay has been made safe by the creation of cycle paths which lead to the crossing of the town which is achieved by means of a beautiful greenway running alongside the Thouet for 4 km, up to the leisure center and the Green Wood campsite. You have to climb into the town by small roads. Note: when you find yourself in the lower town, in the St James quarter, you can cross the Thouet at the old port, in order to join the start of the Parthenay – Bressuire greenway 1 km away.
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Brilliant, Clyde. Interestingly, you have translated it as a French person would have (eg l’itinéraire doit souvent s’éloigner de la rivière comes out as "It follows for a long time the River Thouet" where we would say "It follows the River Thouet for a long time". N'est-ce pas?)
ReplyDeleteWhile there may be no maps under the heading "Carte" more info can be got from the section "Infos pratiques".
In that section the link :www.valleeduthouet.fr/cote-tourisme/le-thouet-a-velo/le-guide-decouverte
brings up a brochure where the 8 sections previously mentioned in Clyde's translation are shown in sketch map format with detailed descriptions. If only I could read them!!!!
There are descriptions on the website you mention, Pierre - I haven't read them all - of some very beautiful towns, bridges, mills and so on. This could be one of our best days, and definitely worth it! And "it, for a long time, follows the R Thouet" is yet another possibilty, showing the variability of where to position an adverb (in English and in French), altho some sound better than others!
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