This walking path starts at a parking area situated 200 m from Soutiers on the Parthenay road, facing the Jardin du Val de Flore.

On exiting the parking lot, turn left and continue 300 m past the entry to the garden.  A small road to the left will take you upward until you reach the village of la Russelière with its traditional buildings and pond (parking is available on the grassy area facing the pond).

The route continues upward to the right on a wide stone path and stays to the right at the junction.  

Pass La Giraudière (the highest point on the route) and continue straight on the wide path.  The landscape will open up before you revealing farmland.   These plots of land were expanded in recent years as farming methods have evolved. 

The landscape will change when you reach la Lière as the path again crosses through grazing meadows typical of the “Gâtine” region. 

Turn right at the entry to the village of “les Vignes” and cross the road at the junction.

The small road descends into the valley of La Viette.  After the bridge, the old farm of La Borde is showcased against the backdrop of its flowering fields.   100 metres further up, turn right towards la Mornière where the actor Daniel Gelin spent childhood holidays visiting his aunt. 

Turn right and pass between the newer houses; follow the grassy path which descends to the banks of the river.   Walk along the river Viette until you reach the boardwalk over the river Mordet, constructed in 2003 by the municipal children’s council of Beaulieu-sous-Parthenay.

This spot is called “the bridge of wood” because the concrete bridge that crossed la Viette was originally a real wood bridge.  In 1972, the locals poured a concrete slab on the original bridge to serve as a casing.  This is the spot where the three communes of Soutiers, Vouhé and Beaulieu-sous-Parthenay meet; further upstream they are separated by the river Viette. 

Turn left when you reach the end of the pathway (do not cross the Bridge of Wood) and take the elevated path.  This path was designed to cope with rising waters of the Viette and Mordet rivers.  

Follow a magnificent sunken path which was used by farmers in the 19th century to move livestock to market in Parthenay.   Pass by the village of Puyravault on your left (view of the Viette valley) and continue ahead.  In 200 m, turn right on a small footpath to descend toward another small bridge over the Viette.  Note the magnificent oak tree here.  This path led the schoolchildren of Puyavault to school in Soutiers.  

The footpath will become a sunken path, and you will pass a lovely chestnut tree while you circle the farm “la Proutière.”  The route passes in front of the old Soutiers school and crosses the village of “la Pigeolière” where it veers to the right.  The long pebbly path narrows and rises ahead of you.  

Turn left when you exit onto the large road and return via your outgoing route to la Giraudière, la Russelière and Soutiers.