Route details
Description
Loop of Marcillac
Distance:10,5 km
Your itinerary
Step 1
The departure is from the crossroads located to the north-east of the place called Vignolles. There is no designated parking lot; you can park along the paths, taking care not to block traffic. From this location, you observe the Marcillac distillery and its high chimney on one side, and the vineyards and the forest in the background on the other.
Take the path which goes towards the cemetery, which you will follow until the intersection. Leaving the cemetery on your right, you take the asphalt road which goes to the left to reach the town of Marcillac. The hiking loop starts immediately on the right, as indicated by the marker at the corner, but we recommend a detour through the village, which adds about 2 km round trip. If you want to stay on the route, you can definitely plan this visit at the end of your hike by approaching the village by car.
Continuing on this road, you travel approximately 300 meters and arrive at the church square on your right. A little before, at the entrance to the village, you passed on your left the old distillery and the former home of the director at the time.
The entrance to the current distillery is about a hundred meters on the left, heading towards St Aubin de Blaye. You will be able to observe, behind large bay windows, the 4 large copper stills. This distillery represents an interesting local gastronomic heritage in Marcillac.
Step 2
Retrace your steps to find the place of the church and the Cross of the cemetery which marks the crossroads.
Step 3
Around this square there remain old buildings, as so many testimonies of Marcillac's past. For example, on the other side of the D23, behind gates, take a look at one of the oldest farmhouses in the village. Leave this place by continuing on the D23 road towards Montendre. As you cross the town, take the time to observe the different buildings, formerly a grocery store, dance hall, bar... On your left, you pass the war memorial and the current town hall, which took place in a building inaugurated in 1958, and built originally to accommodate a wheelwright (person who builds and repairs cart wheels). The old town hall was then located near the old schools which you will see a little further on. On your right behind gates, the old presbytery dating from the 300th century awaits its rehabilitation. Just after, the old post office, recognizable by the inscription “Post, telephone, telegraph”, housed all the postmen who succeeded one another there. Finally, still on the right, the last building of historical interest housed the town hall and the old schools. The word “Town Hall” can be seen above the entrance. Continue for around XNUMX meters until you discover the Vignerons de Tutiac cooperative on your left.
Step 4
Turn around to pick up the marked path a little before the cemetery on your left. Take the track that winds between the vines. At the highest point of the trail, you can see the village of Marcillac on the left and, on the right, the water tower of Reignac, a neighboring town. Continue the path until you reach the asphalt road. Turn right and go down towards the place called Reguignon.
A cross, bearing the date 1892 on its base, is raised in front of you and marks the crossing. Before turning left to follow the route, go down opposite to the old mill located about a hundred meters below. Located on the River Livenne or on diversion canals, a large number of mills once operated using water energy. Among the most important are that of Reguignon in front of you and that of Vignolles which you will see at the end of the hike.
Step 5
Return to the crossroads of the Croix de Reguignon and continue to the right on the D115, until the next intersection where you will turn left. Go back up the road to the next house, at Chez Guibert. At the intersection, turn right to continue the marked trail of this loop.
Before that, you can take a round trip from this intersection towards Domaine de Tout l'y Faut to discover the local flavors. The opportunity to visit the farm and benefit from tastings around asparagus, wines, grape juice and homemade jams (Domaine Tout l'y avoir, Lieudit Lardière, 33860 Marcillac – Information and reservation: 05 57 32 48 30 or 06 07 89 75 75 and www.blaye-asperges-vins.com). This detour will extend your journey by approximately 2.5 km (or 45 min). It is also possible to directly access the place called Lardière by vehicle from the center of the village of Marcillac.
Step 6
The marked route continues on a stone path that descends to join the D115. At the crossroads, turn left and cross the hamlet called "Menanteau" until the next crossroads. At the corner of this intersection, under a heap of brambles, hides an old bread oven. Do not hesitate to circumvent it in order to observe its “mouth”.
Step 7
At the intersection, turn right towards the place called Les Chiches. This small road goes down to cross the Livenne river. You are now walking in the town of Reignac, under a small humid deciduous forest. A little further on, you pass near a ruin, the remains of an old dwelling destroyed by fire. Then leave the road to turn right, onto a DFCI (Forest Defense Against Fire) track, constituting a firebreak path. These trails were built in the forests of Gironde following the major fires of 1949 in order to improve surveillance and facilitate the passage of fire and rescue service vehicles. Traffic is regulated by the installation of signage along the roads. At the next intersection, turn left, then quickly right. You will leave a small body of water on your left and continue into the forest. You can stop at the next crossroads, in the heart of the mixed forest.
Step 8
Continue on the DFCI track, opposite. At the next crossroads, continue straight, after crossing with vigilance. A background sound tells you that you are approaching the A10 motorway. A yellow and green beacon invites you to continue the path on the right. This path leads to the paved road D254, near the place called Vignolles, which you reach by going to the right. On your right, a few dozen meters from the road, you can see the remains of an old corn mill.
Step 9
Continue and at the next crossroads take the limestone path on the right to reach the starting point.
Blayais wine distillery
Cemetery cross
Saint Vincent Church
Saint Vincent Church
Tutiac Winegrowers Cooperative
The Reguignon mill
Land use fauna and flora
The bread oven
The mixed forest
The mill of Vignolles
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