Randonnée Mauzé – Au fil du Mignon
Route details
Description
Happy hiking and remember that you are not alone on the trails you are about to travel. We therefore invite you to respect nature: avoid picking flowers and plants, do not leave any trash behind, respect inhabited places, stay on the trails, keep dogs on a leash.
Your itinerary
Step 1: Mauzé-sur-le-Mignon
The capital of the canton of Deux-Sèvres, the old fortified place of Mauzé is located, under the Ancien Régime, on the border of Aunis and Saintonge. It is not possible to talk about its history without mentioning the name of the discoverer of Timbuktu, René Caillié (1799-1838). His bust adorns the Pont du Mignon, near his birthplace.
Step 2: Bandstand
The bandstand is located in the center of the fairgrounds. Devoid of roofing, lighting and acoustics, it was rehabilitated thanks to five municipal councilors, all members of Harmony. Its inauguration took place in 1928, during the celebration of the centenary of the arrival in Timbuktu of René Caillié, the native son.
For the record, the Mauzé musical society was created before 1870 by the parish priest, then disbanded shortly after. In 1877, Harmony was founded.
Step 3: Saint-Pierre Church
The church was built around 1080 in the Poitevin Romanesque style. Of the four priories and churches of Mauzé devastated during the Wars of Religion, only the Saint-Pierre church has stood the test of time.
Step 4: Path of the King's Gardens
Path which formerly ran alongside the royal nursery “the gardens of the king”. It follows the route of the moat of the old castle. The stone walls enclose private gardens.
Step 5: Path of Tapes
Its name comes from the noise made by the washerwomen's beaters.
Step 6: Le Breuil Barabin
At No. 26 rue du Doué, the porch hides a 1684th century house. having belonged to Jean Migault, the teacher persecuted by the dragonnades who chased him from this neighborhood in XNUMX.
Step 7: Place des Halles
On this square stand some remarkable buildings including an old shop.
Step 8: Dauphin Bridge
Did you notice a milestone in the wall that marked the royal road approximately every 2 km?
Step 9: Bronze bust of René Caillié
This bust was inaugurated in 1842, four years after the death of the most illustrious of Mauzé's children. Behind the walls, the castle built around the 1225th century, rebuilt at great expense around XNUMX by Hugues de Lusignan.
Step 10: Birthplace of Claude Durand
At No. 152 Grand'Rue, the birthplace of Claude Durand, the Chansonnier Rouge and on the other side of the street, the location of that of René Caillié.
Step 11: René Caillié Monument
Work of the sculptor Vinet built before the Second World War and inaugurated in 1949 in homage to René Caillié. Born in Mauzé in 1799, he was the first European explorer to bear witness to the existence of Timbuktu, a secret city on the edge of the desert, known before him only through vague fanciful stories.