Randonné "La coulée verte"

In Chemillé-en-Anjou, the Coulée Verte trail offers a 5-kilometre loop that follows the meandering course of the Hyrôme. It's an accessible walk that blends the history of the town with its unspoilt natural surroundings.

The walk starts near the Jardin Camifolia, a transition point between the bustle of the city and the calm of the valley. The walker soon reaches the banks of the river. The path winds under the trees, offering a constant coolness, even in summer. The omnipresent water accompanies the walker and reflects the surrounding vegetation.

As you make your way along the path, you'll come across a number of buildings, including the Camifolia Garden, which bears witness to the medicinal plant tradition for which Chemillé is renowned. Further along, you'll come across the remains of past activities: the 16th-century Greneau bridge, the Tour du Pendu, a vestige of the old castle, and the Quatre Moulins, a former seigniorial mill and now disused factory. The silhouette of the Romanesque church of Notre-Dame and the ruins of the medieval castle are reminders of the historic importance of this former stronghold of the Mauges.

The relief of the valley adds rhythm to the walk without presenting any major difficulties. The route alternates between steep passages, where the schist outcrops, and openings onto hedged meadows. The silence is only interrupted by the flow of the Hyrôme and the song of the birds nesting in the willow and ash hedges.