The Saint-Denis reservoir holds back the waters of the Alzeau, creating a reserve for irrigation. Off the beaten track : Going up the Alzeau, you can reach the Prise d’Alzeau, source of the Canal du Midi. The village of Saint Denis is a bastide town. Founded in the 13th century, they were designed to accommodate a farming population and most were built on a regular grid plan, centred on the Place du Marché.
This walk takes you along ancient paths that run alongside agricultural plots, where you’ll come across wash-houses, drinking troughs, wells and waterholes. At the bend in the lanes of Villaret, water troughs, fountains and a lake provide a welcome break halfway along the route. You’ll reach Fontiers-Cabardès, whose place name is another reminder of the presence of water and fountains. The Bosquet ‘Le Nôtre’, designed by King Louis XIV’s famous gardener, the Clock Tower and the church of Saint Clément set the tone for this village, founded in 1203.
