Chalais is, apart from Brossac, the largest town to La Giraudiere. There is a castle offering guided tours, and a market on Monday mornings (9am-12), which is well worth a visit. There is a great scenic route which takes you through Yviers before arriving in Chalais. You may also be interested in the flying school en route... The way back takes you along the old railway line.

Things to See: Yviers; Aviation School; Parroquet Vert /Chateau/Market in Chalais; Pineau Distillery; Resto in Bardenac; Old Train Route to                                        Brossac Gare
Circuit Difficulty: Medium, some tough hills, more so on the way back

Take a left out of La Giraudiere, and then a herpin right onto the D191 where the road forks. A minute or so along here you will see a left turn to Yviers - take it. This is one of the designated cycle paths around Brossac and its a lot of fun.

After 10-15mins you will come to a cross-roads with a main road, the D89. Go straight over, taking you through some stunning countryside and down into Yviers.

Go right through the centre of Yviers once you get there (if you fancy a rest there is a secluded pond with a few benches opposite the Mairie. Also, the bar, which was closed when I went through in October, may well have reopened by next summer). Take the left onto the D134 to Chalais, and left again at the main road (D20), where you will see the aviation school.

Follow signs for Chalais  -Centre Ville, and you will be taken right into the middle where you will see the Perroquet Vert (see left) and a water fountain. This little english coffee shop is a nice stop-off (they do very good cake), selling books and clothes, and with an local art exhibition upstairs. If you fancy looking at the castle, there is a short-cut going up from this same square (see right).

You actually need to visit the chateau in order to discover the return route, which is a fabulous one. You take the road north (past the chateau car park and through the little village) to take you along the hill top out of Chalais. Continue along here and admire the views until you come into an enclosed wooded area. A little further on and you will come to a cross-roads, where chez le Gourdin is marked straight ahead. Make a left here. This takes you onto a lovely winding road (D89) down to another cross-roads. Go straight over and keep following signs to Bardenac. After chez Texier, which you will pass on the right, the road bears left and there is a bit of a climb. The good news is, there is a Pineau degustation sign-posted on the left shortly after. Feel free to stop in. But mind the cows... (ask Paul about this, he will happily tell the story).  


The D89 takes you up to the main road. You will see Bardenac straight ahead of you, so if you fancy stopping in for a look around (there is a nice church) and a cup of tea in the restaurant (go here on Sundays for an 8 course meal wine included for 20 euros - probably not by bike, though!). Otherwise, take a right onto the D20 for only a few minutes until you reach a right turn to Chatignac and La Moulinasse. Continue down past a timber factory on the right and you will see a place called Viveron on the left. Take the next left turn after this, which is a stony track. You are now on the old rail route... 


Stay on this track for around 2k until the track turns into a road and you pass a house on the right hand side. Take a left at the crossroads (you will see Brossac). Go straight over the main road and the tough climb into Brossac will take you straight past the church. Continue back to LG... 

"Thank you to Tom Quayle who put together both the cycle route and the web page whilst staying at La Giraudiere as part of the working group of 2009."