The Millers' Path
des Etrebières to Mouillerons
Walk along the crest of the mill hill with magnificent views over the bocage. Walk in the footsteps of the millers and explore the windmills. Admire the hundred-year-old oak trees and the biodiversity of this ZNIEFF zone. Visit the charming village of Mouillerons-Saint-Germain (formerly Mouillerons-en-Pareds) with its wash-house and church.
For children, the Geocaching application points out hiding places where small treasures are hidden.
1- Leave the Moulin des Etrebières on the white track and at the crossroads, turn right to go uphill. After 300m, turn left.
2- Cross the car park to take the path at the bottom.
3- Turn left onto the path that climbs into the undergrowth.
4- At the crossroads, first turn right to admire the panorama from the top of the Dent Gaudin (statue of the Virgin Mary).
5- Then return to the crossroads to turn left this time (or straight on now that you are coming from the right) towards the mills. You will soon come to the heart-shaped stone where Clémenceau is said to have rested.
6- You will soon pass the old windmill at Les Etrebières, which used to operate in summer when there was not enough water in the stream to turn the water mill. Roger Sionnet was the last miller at Les Etrebières, ceasing his activity on 31 December 1987. At that time, the Etrebières mill was powered by electricity.
7- Continue straight ahead and then turn right, following the signposts.
8- When you reach the road, turn right. In the car park, there's a watering hole on the right to quench your thirst, and shaded picnic tables behind if you want to take a break.
9- Continue along the gravel path to the mills.
10- Keep going straight ahead.
12- You will come to an open space with a beautiful renovated Vendée barn on your right and the memorial to Jean de Lattre de Tassigny in front of you. Walk past the memorial and take the narrow path. You will soon pass some remarkable trees.
13- Cross the road and continue along the path.
14- You will see a little Virgin Mary on the right before you reach the village of Mouillerons-en-Pareds. When you reach the road, turn left and then take the street that goes down to the right.
15- Turn left to reach the wash-house, then right to reach the church square.
16- For the return journey, you can take the same route or take some of the alternative routes shown on the map.
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