BOUCLE N°27 – TOUR DU PAYS DE ST GILLES

1 From the Josephine Tower, take a short stroll along the luminous Bay of Adon. Turn right towards the fishing port. This will take you alongside the quayside, where you can enjoy a privileged view of the fishing boats. On leaving the port, take the roundabout to get back onto the main road. From the Quai des Greniers, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the old town of St Gilles.

2 Cross the river Vie using the Bénéteau footbridge, then after crossing the roundabout, continue along the cycle path on your right, which follows the Quai Port-Fidèle. Then cross the road leading to the Grande Plage, in the direction of Les P'tits Mousses. The next few kilometres will be a pleasant tête à tête with the River Jaunay. Before your eyes, the environment gradually changes, from the town to the dunes of La Sauzaie.

Once you reach the beach at La Sauzaie, the route invites you to contemplate. The Brétignolles sur Mer coastline is renowned for its endless panoramic ocean views. After a short jaunt through the dunes and the Normandelière beach, the route will take you away from the coast towards Brem sur Mer to discover the old port of La Gachère. It's a discreet place with a strikingly authentic feel. After this brief jaunt, the route takes you into the hinterland. Leaving the village of La Gachère, follow rue du Flanc Blanc, rue de la Rivière and rue des Onizières to reach the intersection. Carefully cross the main road and continue straight ahead. Follow the road for 200 m, then turn left at the first junction and go straight on for 1.2 km. Follow the Chemin du Champs de Marais for 800 m. When you reach La Corde, after the first good climb, things get a little tougher as you cross a stretch of road strewn with stones. There are lovely windows between the trees where you can enjoy pleasant views of the surrounding countryside. After another steep climb, follow a path that takes you on a pleasant tour of agricultural fields.

4 After passing the hamlets of La Frémière and La Mignotière, cross the D40 and continue straight on to follow the Chemin de la Chaize. After a pleasant descent, a short climb quickly invites you to turn right. Gravel and VTC cyclists should be careful, as the 20% descent is accompanied by a few rocks. It's best to put your foot down. This is your chance to take full advantage of the bucolic setting of this stretch.

5 Continue along the route de la Goronnière for 500 m. At the junction, turn right towards the footpath. On the edge of the D40A, follow the cycle path. At the next roundabout, continue along the main road. At the next junction, turn right. You are now in Landevieille.

6 Take the first turning on the right and drive along a housing estate, then follow the rue des chênes for 400 m before turning right to go down a small footpath. Watch your speed, as many local residents use this path. At the end of the descent, turn left to go back up along the chemin de Cognac. Before the crossroads, take the narrow path on your right that leads under a small stone bridge. Continue along this path towards Chemin Borgne. After passing through a housing estate, return to the open spaces until you reach the D12. At the junction, turn right and follow the D12 for 400 m, then turn left. A charming wooded road leads you towards Lac de Jaunay. After 1 km, turn left towards the Domaine de la Roche-Guillaume.

Before reaching the lake, enjoy a pleasant descent to admire the unusual estate of Château de la Roche - Guillaume. Then things get tough. Your calves will be put to the test as you negotiate a series of particularly steep and technical climbs. Pedestrians are strongly advised. After skirting the shoreline, cross the road to take the path on the left, which gives you another view of the lake. At the end of the path, turn left to rejoin the road. Follow the Chemin de la Galésière for almost 2 km.

8 At the junction, cross the D42 and continue straight ahead along a quiet road for almost 3 km to Coëx. You'll be greeted by a charming little wood. At the crossroads, turn right into rue Pasteur, then take the first turning on the left and continue along rue de la Clergerie for 500 m. Once again, go straight ahead for 400 m. Take the first left. Follow the cycle path. Cross the D40 to continue towards the old railway line, now used by Vélo Rail's draisines. After 400 m, turn right. Stay on this course for 2.5 km. Once you have passed the château de l'Audardière estate (private property, not open to visitors), follow the route de l'Audardière for 1.5 km.

9 At the crossroads, turn left and head for impasse des Maisons, the first on the right. Before reaching Apremont, there is a 15% downhill section. It is recommended for gravel and VTC cyclists. You enter Apremont via Rue des Bretons. Go down to Rue de Corbeil and reach the intersection with Rue de Saint Simon. Continue straight on towards the Château d'Apremont. Once you have passed the castle towers, turn left and drive along the high walls of the fortress, enjoying a pleasant climb. Once you reach the roundabout, take the 3rd left onto rue de Saint-Père, which rewards you with a pleasant descent. After the small hill, take the first left and continue along rue Saint Philibert. From here, continue straight on for 4 km.

Then turn right onto the Chemin de la Jouère, and a few metres further on, take the first path on your left. This long, stony path will take you past wide fields and pastures. Back on the road, follow the D94 for almost 1 km, in the direction of Commequiers. At the junction, head towards Commequiers and follow the Rue du Château for 400 m. Directly after the cemetery, turn left and follow rue de l'Aumonerie for 450 m.

11 After following the Rue des Quatre Charruies, continue straight ahead, taking the path ahead of you. You'll then enjoy a beautiful pasture crossing. There will be plenty of female spectators. Then turn left back onto the road. Follow the route des Borgnères for 2 km. Then turn right, following the route de la Gare for 300 m. Fork left, and the Chemin des Cordes will take you through the countryside for 2 km. After the small wood, turn right to take the Chemin du Bois Durand for 1 km. Follow the Chemin des Papinières as far as the crossroads. Turn right onto route du Soullandeau and continue for 2 km. Carefully cross the D69 and continue straight ahead. There's an instant change. Enjoy the characteristic environment of the gentle marshes of St Hilaire de Riez, for 3 km. Continue along the Chemin de la Tisonnière for just over 1km. Then turn left to go straight on for 2 km. Then turn left and follow the chemin de la Belle étoile for 3 km.

Take the D59 and take the first turning on the left, following the Chemin du Grand Virgourd for 300 m. Turn right to follow the Chemin des Pins for 400 m. At the end of the road, turn left, then right, and follow the Chemin du Bois Juquaud for 1.6 km. Carefully cross the D69 to continue along the Chemin du Bois Rortheau for 800 m. Turn right onto the Chemin de la Buette aux Rigonneries for 800 m. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead to leave the wooded areas behind and return to the gentle marshland. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit and follow the Chemin du Matron for 1.5 km. Turn left and follow the path for 900 m, giving you a whole new perspective on the marshes and their rich biodiversity.

13 Then turn left and continue for 1.3 km along chemin des 4 Barres and rue des Loriots. At the next roundabout, take the second exit on the right and follow the cycle path to the coast. Enjoy a pleasant ride along the edge of the forest, following the Avenue des Mimosas for just over 3 km. Then continue for 800 m along Avenue de la Forêt.

For the last 4 kilometres, finish in style with a stroll along the Corniche Vendéenne and the Boisvinet district, before reaching the elegant Tour Joséphine.