Walk or run: the choice is yours.

A distinctive territory between the Loire and Loir rivers

Nestled in the Escotais Valley, between the Loire and Loir rivers, at the crossroads of three departments (Indre-et-Loire, Sarthe, and Maine-et-Loire), Saint-Paterne-Racan is a charming village surrounded by orchards and woods. It was the home of the poet Racan (1589–1670), a founding member of the French Academy, who built the Château de la Roche-Racan there. Three officially marked trails starting from the village center are accessible from the Château d’Hodebert. Each trail reveals a different facet of the area: the Cistercian heritage of Clarté-Dieu, the springs and wetlands of Eaux Vives, and Racan's poetic legacy.

Three nature hikes starting from Hodebert Castle.

Duie and Clarté-Dieu Circuit

This route offers a true immersion into the Cistercian history of the Gâtine-Racan region. Starting from the Espace Multimédia parking lot, the trail heads towards La Bernettière before passing upstream from the Château du Breuil. It then runs alongside the Moulin de la Clarté-Dieu and skirts the Abbaye de la Clarté-Dieu, founded in 1239 by the Cistercians—now a private residence, though an exceptional original building for the lay brothers remains. The route then offers a beautiful view over the Tertre Poirier valley before reaching the source of the Duie, a haven of coolness and a highlight of the walk.

DISTANCE
11,9 km

DURÉE
3h00

DÉNIVELÉ +
+ 145 m

BALISAGE
● Rouge

Points of interest
• Abbaye cistercienne de la Clarté-Dieu (1239) — visite guidée sur réservation
• Moulin de la Clarté-Dieu
• Vue sur la vallée du Tertre Poirier
• Source de la Duie
• Château du Breuil

Whitewater course 

The most ambitious of the three circuits, the Eaux Vives (Living Waters) trail is a grand tour of the area. Starting near the Water Tower via Rue Velpeau, the path leads to the source of the Duie River at Chauchy, then winds its way through the countryside towards evocative hamlets: La Laudraye, La Fontaine, and La Gillotière. The circuit passes near the Grange Saint-Martin, the former home of Julie Bouchaud des Hérettes, Lamartine's muse whom he immortalized as Elvire in his Poetic Meditations. Further on, the Pierre Levée (Standing Stone) and La Glandée (Granary) mark this grand tour before the return via Les Belles Caves (The Beautiful Cellars). A 400-meter variant is available at the Vallées (Valleys) intersection to shorten the route.

DISTANCE
19,1 km

DURÉE
5h30

DÉNIVELÉ +
+ 182 m

BALISAGE
● Bleu

Points of interest
Source de la Duie (Chauchy)
Grange Saint-Martin — demeure de la muse de Lamartine (Elvire)
Pierre Levée (mégalithe)
La Gillotière et La Laudraye (hameaux anciens)
Via Sancti Martini (chemin de pèlerinage historique)

Following in Racan's footsteps

Circuit overview
This route is the most historically significant and the most rural of the three, with the lowest proportion of paved roads (only 20%). It takes hikers in the footsteps of the poet Honorat de Bueil, Lord of Racan (1589–1670), a founding member of the French Academy. From the Saint-Gilles chapel, the path leads towards Vigneau before descending to the Moulin de Terchey in La Pellerie. The highlight of the route: walking alongside the Escotais River with a view of the majestic Château de la Roche-Racan, a 17th-century masterpiece designed by Jacques II Gabriel, architect to the king. The return journey takes you via Les Belles Caves and Rue Rabelais.

DISTANCE
11,9 km

DURÉE
3h00

DÉNIVELÉ +
+ 126 m

BALISAGE
● Jaune

points of interest
• Chapelle Saint-Gilles
• Château de la Roche-Racan (XVIIe s., Jacques II Gabriel) — visites privées en été sur RDV
• Moulin de Terchey
• Vallée de l’Escotais
• Église paroissiale (orgue remarquable, groupe sculpté Adoration des Mages) ✦ À noter
• Le moins bitumé des 3 circuits (20 % seulement)
• Traversée de la D54 au Vigneau : bonne visibilité requise
• Sens horaire
• Idéal en toutes saisons, magnifique en automne
• Combine parfaitement avec le circuit 1 sur 2 jours