Loop of Marcillac

The start is from the crossroads located northeast of the place called Vignolles. There is no materialized car park, you can park along the paths, taking care not to obstruct traffic. From this place, you can see the Marcillac distillery and its tall chimney on one side, and the vineyards and the forest in the background on the other. to the intersection. Leaving the cemetery on your right, you take the tarmacked road which heads off to the left to reach the town of Marcillac. The hiking loop starts immediately on the right, as indicated by the beacon at the corner, but we recommend a detour through the village, which adds about 2 km there and back. If you wish to stay on the route, you can quite plan this visit at the end of your hike by approaching the village by car. Continuing on this road, you travel about 300 meters and come out on the church square on your right. A little before, at the entrance to the town, you passed the old distillery and the former residence of the then director on your left. The entrance to the current distillery is about a hundred meters on the left, taking the direction of St Aubin de Blaye. You will be able to observe, behind large bay windows, the 4 large copper stills. This distillery represents an interesting local gastronomic heritage in Marcillac.

Retrace your steps to find the place of the church and the Cross of the cemetery which marks the crossroads.

Around this place remain old buildings, as so many testimonies of the past of Marcillac. For example, on the other side of the D23, behind gates, take a look at one of the oldest farmhouses in the village. Leave this place by continuing on the D23 road towards Montendre. While crossing the town take the time to observe the various buildings, formerly a grocery store, dance hall, bar... On your left, you pass the war memorial and the current town hall, which took place in a building inaugurated in 1958, and built originally to accommodate a wheelwright (person who builds and repairs cart wheels). The old town hall was then at the old schools that you will see a little further. On your right, behind the gates, the old presbytery dating from the 300th century awaits its rehabilitation. Just after, the old post office, recognizable by the inscription “Post, telephone, telegraph”, accommodated all the postal workers who succeeded one another there. Finally, still on the right, the last building of historical interest housed the town hall and the old schools. The word "Town Hall" can be guessed above the entrance. Continue for about XNUMX meters more, until you find the Vignerons de Tutiac cooperative on your left.

Turn around to pick up the marked path just before the cemetery on your left. Take the track that winds between the vines. At the highest point of the path, you can see the village of Marcillac on the left and, on the right, the water tower of Reignac, a neighboring town. Continue the path until you reach the paved road. Turn right and go down towards the place called Reguignon. A cross, bearing the date 1892 on its base, is raised in front of you and marks the crossing. Before turning left to follow the route, go down opposite to the old mill located a hundred meters below. Located on the Livenne river or on diversion canals, a large number of mills once operated using water power. Among the most important are that of Reguignon in front of you and that of Vignolles which you will see when you finish the hike.

Return to the crossroads of the Reguignon cross and continue on the right on the D115, until the next intersection where you will turn left. Go up the road to the next house, at a place called Chez Guibert. At the intersection, turn right to continue the marked path of this loop. Before that, you can make a round trip from this intersection towards the Domaine de Tout l'y Faut to discover the local flavors. The opportunity to visit the farm and benefit from tastings around asparagus, wines, grape juice and homemade jams (Domaine Tout l'y faut, Lieudit Lardière, 33860 Marcillac – Information and reservations: 05 57 32 48 30 or 06 07 89 75 75 and www.blaye-asperges-vins.com). This detour will lengthen your route by approximately 2.5 km (45 min). It is also possible to access the locality Lardière directly by vehicle from the center of the village of Marcillac.

The marked route continues on a stone path that descends to join the D115. At the crossroads, turn left and cross the hamlet called "Menanteau" until the next crossroads. At the corner of this intersection, under a heap of brambles, hides an old bread oven. Do not hesitate to circumvent it in order to observe its “mouth”.

At the intersection, turn right towards Les Chiches. This small road descends to cross the Livenne river. You are now walking through the town of Reignac, under a small humid deciduous forest. A little further on, you pass near a ruin, the vestige of an old house destroyed by fire. Then leave the road to turn right, on a DFCI (Forest Defense Against Fire) track, constituting a firewall path. These tracks were laid out in the forests of Gironde following the great fires of 1949 in order to improve surveillance and facilitate the passage of fire and rescue service vehicles. Traffic is regulated by the installation of signposts near the roads. At the next intersection, turn left, then quickly right. You will pass a small body of water on your left and continue into the forest. You can stop at the next crossroads, in the heart of the mixed forest.

Continue on the DFCI track, opposite. At the next crossroads, continue straight, after crossing with vigilance. A background sound tells you that you are approaching the A10 motorway. A yellow and green beacon invites you to continue the path on the right. This path leads to the paved road D254, near the place called Vignolles, which you reach by going to the right. On your right, a few dozen meters from the road, you can see the remains of an old corn mill.

Continue and at the next crossroads take the limestone path on the right to reach the starting point.