Le Marais

Guidebook with maps/step-by-step

Step 1 : Departure : Take Boulevard de la Magdeleine to cross the D2009 (15th-century Ste-Chapelle 200 m on right). Turn left at the 4th street, allée de la chapelle. At the crossroads on the right, head for Montpensier (you’ll pass under the bridge). After the dovecote, take chemin des Acacias, then rue du Paqueret.

Step 2 : Variant : top of hillock, orientation board and rest area on right. Join the Place de la Forge (well and rest area). At the end of Rue du Pré Chatelain, cross the D2009 and take the left-hand path. Go straight ahead and cross the D439. Pass the rest area (viewpoint) and fork right (old limestone quarry area).

Step 3 : Go around the water tower and a few hundred metres further on, turn left at the crossroads to reach Chaptuzat Haut. Cross the D12 and take the track opposite. After leaving two crossroads, discover two crosses set into a wall, go straight ahead (viewpoint) towards Château de la Roche (11th & 14th centuries) and turn left at the first crossroads. At the transformer, turn right into Bens. Leave the village and head for Glénas (shortcut towards Aigueperse). As you leave the village, you’ll see a panoramic view of the Château de St-Cirgue.

Step 4 : Enter Artonne on the Chemin des Puys and turn left at the fountain (winegrowers’ houses). Go down the boulevard, turn left onto the chemin du Billaudou, then right onto the route de Combronde for around 100 metres. Turn left onto the chemin des jardiniers. This descends to a cross, where you turn right. Cross the bridge over the Morge and take the left-hand path through the fields. Turn left at the large crossroads, then cross the Morge again.