FLAT STONE TRAIL (AUBIGNY-LES CLOUZEAUX)

Departure from the parking lot of the Aubigny sports hall.

Remarkable dwelling located near the chemin d'Aubigny in Bourbon (La Roche-sur-Yon) in 1823. This estate then included a master's dwelling and a smallholding. This land, partly acquired by the municipality in the 1980s, allowed the creation of the leisure park and the construction of the EHPAD.

Means "small mill" because it appears on the old cadastres (1823 and 1842) near the mill of Bourbes completely disappeared since.

Mentioned in 1469, then belongs to Guillaume du Bourg, lord of La Routière, was sold as national property on 25 brumaire year 5.

This term refers to fallow land, in Poitevin we always say "dégatae" to clear land.

As its name suggests, La Routière, where traces of Gallo-Roman ruins have been found, is at a crossroads. It is a village located on the Gallo-Roman road from Saintes to Beauvoir, coming from the Domangère going to the Soulinière des Clouzeaux by crossing the Yon near the Frelatière. There are very old writings from 1395 relating to this place. This dwelling was the refuge of the priest Chabot during the Vendée wars, from where he could watch the arrival of the Republican troops. This area was sold as national property on 20 germinal year 6. In 1900-1910, you could still see the double porch characteristic of old Vendée houses.

Small bridge made of a really impressive flat stone, which gave its name to the path. It would be in "micashist" not widespread in the region and its origin is enigmatic. It seems to have been there since the Middle Ages and served as a bridge for people on foot to avoid the ford which was crossed by horses and even carts. It probably had a wooden railing which has disappeared over the years and makes it possible to cross the Jarrie stream which constitutes the demarcation with the commune of Nesmy.

The variant continues by the ancient path from Aubigny to Bourbon which first crosses the Ornay (a tributary of the Yon and waters the south of the agglomeration of La Roche-sur-Yon) then the Yon to Moulin Nine.

The path runs along the Yon to the crossing of Brancaire (La Branquère according to the Cassini map) where there was a water mill (cadastre of 1811).