Champdeniers / Parthenay

Riding from Champdeniers to Parthenay, you’ll cross the beautiful village of Saint-Marc-la-Lande which boasts a magnificent collegiate church, a commandery (once owned by a military religious order), a medieval-inspired garden and a conservation orchard. As you cycle on further, note how granite stone gives way to limestone as you enter an area known as the Gâtine Poitevine. Riding merrily along, you’ll be delighted to encounter a charming village or two, a mysterious river, a legendary centaur, a ford, old landscapes composed of hedge-divided fields, a medieval town... Arriving at Saint-Pierre-de-Parthenay-le-Vieux, admire the sublime church, its construction even attributed by legend to the Fairy Mélusine… Reaching the outdoor leisure centre, or Base de Loisirs, at Parthenay, dismount to enjoy a picnic on the banks of the Thouet River before heading into town to discover its historic centre and fine heritage.

The route

Signposting is shared with La Vélo Francette. This stage is mainly on roads shared with motorized traffic, with two stretches on segregated paths: one stretch of greenway around Mazières-en-Gâtine; and one around Parthenay, along the Thouet River.

Practical information

• Office de tourisme Parthenay-Gâtine Palais des Congrès 22 boulevard de la Meilleraye 79200 Parthenay - 05 49 64 24 24
  https://www.osezlagatine.com/accueil.html 
• Syndicat mixte de la vallée du Thouet
  https://www.valleeduthouet.fr/

SNCF - Car

Gare SNCF de Parthenay railway station: many bus lines go from here: line 10 Thouars <> Parthenay / line 12 Thouars <> Parthenay <> Niort / line 32 Thouars <> Poitiers. For further details : https://transports.nouvelle-aquitaine.fr/cars-regionaux/reseau-et-horaires

Don't miss

• Saint-Marc-La-Lande: the collegiate church; the commandery; the medieval garden plus the conservation orchard 
• Soutiers: the Jardin du Val de Flore 
• Pompaire: the Gué du Rézard, a ford 
• Saint-Pierre de Parthenay-le-Vieux: the church
• Parthenay: the Base de Loisirs (or outdoor leisure centre); the medieval town, the historic quarter featuring two medieval gateways, the medieval-inspired Jardin Férolle and Rue de la Vau St-Jacques, the last boasting 100 timberframe houses; the Musée Georges Turpin (on art and history); the CIAP (exhibiting on local heritage and architecture).