The château
Description
This circuit wends its way through granite villages, woods and meadows and offers magnificent panoramic views over the Plateau de MillevachesDeparture from the esplanade in front of the church. Take the uphill path to the transformer; continue through the woodland.At the crossroads, take the road on the left towards Imbort. At the entrance of the village, you can take a short round trip of 500 metres to visit the spring. Go through the hamlet and turn left in the middle of the village. The alleyway becomes a path; turn right at the crossroads to go down on the RD 104.Take the departmental road on the right for about 100 metres and then take the trail on the left which runs alongside a small stream. Take a path on the left and then go up to the right as far as the village of "La Bachellerie".When you arrive at the esplanade, turn left and follow the road for one kilometre to the spring. Turn right again to rejoin the D 104, which you follow on the right.After the meadow, when you reach the remains of an old mill, take the track on the left. At the next intersection, turn right to go up to the track that you follow to the right.Ahead of you, take the slightly hidden downward path you took on the outward journey and go back down to the starting point.
Technical Information
Altimetric profile
Starting point
Steps
Le château
S’il est fait mention dès le XVème siècle d’un château, cet édifice a connu une histoire tumultueuse : le bâtiment s’agrandit au cours des siècles mais l’infortune des propriétaires conduit au morcellement du domaine agricole ; le château devient par la suite un débit de boissons puis le réfectoire scolaire. Menaçant ruine, il faut attendre 1990 et un nouveau propriétaire qui engage des travaux de restauration. Privé, ce château ne se visite que virtuellement : mapage.noos.fr/lavolps/
La vallée de la Diège
Au retour du circuit, belle vue sur le Plateau de Millevaches et, en contrebas, le château de Saint-Germain qui domine la vallée de la Diège. Domination ou protection, la rivière paisible serpente en effet au milieu de magnifiques prairies au pied du château avant de reprendre sa fuite dans des gorges sauvages. Née quelques kilomètres en amont vers St-Setiers, elle se jette dans la Dordogne au niveau de la retenue du barrage de Marèges.
La fontaine d’Imbort
Les villages du Limousin avaient tous une vocation agricole. La traversée de ces hameaux constitue toujours un moment de découverte unique lors d’une randonnée : granges, maisons de maître, croix, petit patrimoine... Ne manquez le court aller-retour vers la fontaine d’Imbort.
Le Massif du Sancy
Après le village d’Imbort, à droite dans la descente, ne manquez un point de vue remarquable sur le plus haut volcan de France métropolitaine, le Puy de Sancy. Du haut de ses 1885 mètres d’altitude, ce sommet est le point culminant du Massif Central. Les deux ruisseaux, la Dore et la Dogne, y prennent naissance et leur confluence forme la Dordogne.
La fontaine de la Bachellerie
Au-delà d’un usage domestique, l’eau s’est vu attribuer des valeurs symboliques et spirituelles ; on imagine les interrogations que suscitent les sources : l’eau semble sortir de terre sans raison. De nombreuses sources sont liées à des vertus de guérison appelées en Limousin les Bonnes Fontaines. Peu d’informations sur la fontaine de la Bachellerie : la croix permet peut-être de la classer parmi ces Bonnes Fontaines. Faisait-elle l’objet d’un pèlerinage ? Quelles vertus lui étaient attribuées ?
La plaque commémorative
Avant Imbort, sur la porte d’une grange isolée sur la droite, remarquez la plaque en hommage à Paul Sirieix. Cette grange fut investie par des Résistants durant la Seconde Guerre, et servant de base de repli et camp d’entraînement à un détachement de la 236ème Compagnie des Francs Tireurs et Partisans (qui participa notamment à la libération d’Ussel).Au cours d’un entrainement au fusil mitrailleur, une erreur de manipulation de l’arme entraîna la mort accidentelle du résistant Paul Sirieix.
Points of interest
The Diège Valley
On the way back from the circuit, there is a beautiful view of the Plateau de Millevaches and, below, the château of Saint-Germain which dominates the Diège valley. Domination or protection, the peaceful river indeed meanders through magnificent meadows at the foot of the château before taking flight again through wild gorges. Rising a few kilometres upstream towards St-Setiers, it flows into the Dordogne at the Marèges dam reservoir.
The Fountain of Imbort
The villages of Limousin were all heavily involved in agriculture. Walking through these hamlets always produces interesting discoveries during a hike: barns, mansions, crosses and monuments, traditional local architecture... Don't miss the short round trip to the Fountain of Imbort.
Le Massif du Sancy
After the village of Imbort, on the right in the descent, don't miss a remarkable viewpoint overlooking the highest volcano in mainland France, the Puy de Sancy. At 1885 metres above sea level, this summit is the highest point of the Massif Central. The two streams, the Dore and the Dogne, originate there, and their confluence forms the Dordogne.
The Fountain of La Bachellerie
Beyond its domestic use, water has had symbolic and spiritual values attributed to it. You can imagine the questions that the sources raise: the water seems to come out of the ground for no reason. Many sources are linked to healing virtues and are called in Limousin the Good Fountains. There is little information about the La Bachellerie spring: the cross perhaps allows us to classify it among these Good Fountains. Was it the object of a pilgrimage? What virtues were attributed to it?
The commemorative plaque
Before Imbort, on the door of an isolated barn on the right, notice the plaque in homage to Paul Sirieix. Resistance fighters took over this barn during the Second World War, and it was used as a withdrawal base and training camp for a detachment of the 236th Company of the Francs Tireurs et Partisans (who participated in the liberation of Ussel).During training with a machine gun, a mistake in handling the weapon led to the accidental death of the resistance fighter Paul Sirieix.
Additional information
Advised parking
Church, Saint-Germain
Access
From Sornac, follow the D 21 towards Millevaches then at the exit of the village follow the D172 and the D.30 towards St. Germain. From Ussel, take the D982 towards La Courtine then the 104 towards St. Germain.
Ambiance
Mentioned since the 15th century, the imposing château of Saint-Germain Lavolps should delight lovers of old stones and historical heritage (private - cannot be visited). While the spring and fountain at Imbort is more discreet, the one in La Bachellerie is one of the prettiest "Good Fountains of the Limousin", these Christianised water sources, placed under the protection of a saint, to which virtues were ascribed, notably healing and protection.
Arrival
Church, Saint-Germain
Departure
Church, Saint-Germain
