Shadows and lights in the forest of Chizé - Trail Station
OTNMP
Discover the Niort - Marais Poitevin Trail Station, its most beautiful landscapes and its best routes for a day, a weekend or a week of sport!
BEAUVOIR-SUR-NIORT
Trail
Panneau carré blanc et noir avec intitulé Station de Trail
Nature (faune, flore)
This trail is part of the Niort - Marais Poitevin Trail Station.
A forest course for trail runners who want to work on their endurance. This course will give you the chance to do technical sessions such as Fartleck, threshold blocks and much more!
-> Trail Station signposted route
Shadows and lights in the forest of Chizé - Trail Station
Situated on the highest point in the commune (90 m. high) and on the edge of the Chizé forest, it is the only working windmill-tower in the south of the Deux-Sévres region.
Mentioned as early as 1482, this former common mill was owned by the Raimbault seigneury until the French Revolution. The last miller, Louis Royer, died in the 1970s. In 1973, Les Amis du Moulin de Raimbault began restoring the roof, the wings, one of the three millstones and the internal mechanism (Berton system). The mill was listed in 1975, and its conservation association was awarded the "Chef-d'œuvre en péril" prize. It has been turning and making flour since 1989. The municipality acquired it in 2004.
The site now comes alive for events and can also be hired out for festivities.
Step 2: Aire de pique-nique Moulin de Raimbault
Step 3: Forêt domaniale de Chizé
Covering 3,435 hectares, the Chizé state forest is mainly made up of deciduous trees (beech predominating). It is home to a scientific laboratory (Centre d'Etude Biologique de Chizé), a 2,600-hectare Biological Reserve created by the Office National des Forêts to implement France's commitments at the Helsinki conference (no human intervention in this enclosed wooded area), and Zoodyssée, a European wildlife park.
Step 4: Parc animalier Zoodyssée
At Zoodyssée, 800 animals invite you into their world!
30 minutes from Niort and the Marais Poitevin, in a 30-hectare park in the heart of unspoilt countryside, discover over 90 European animal species (wolves, lynxes, magots, bison) on a walk that will fascinate young and old alike.
In 2021, there will be the opening of the Mountain Odyssey and its valley of scavengers. Will you dare to venture there?
Mini-farm, picnic area, shop and restaurant on site. Guided horse-drawn carriage rides, human-animal encounters every day in July and August, Soigneur for a day or birthday party in the park (booking required).
Open from February to November. Free for children under 3.
+ Further information on 05 49 77 17 17 or www.zoodyssee.fr
Open on public holidays and during school holidays.
Annual closure from November to early February.
