
Stories of bridges, and therefore of rivers, and therefore of links between people…Retrace your steps. Leave the Lagarde road on the right and turn left.Follow this road for 1.5 km, ignoring several paths on your left.When you see Les Bourrandes, take a path to the left. Turn left at the next crossroads; The path gradually becomes a trail (follow the markings carefully) and then forks to the right: it is not very clear to see in the woodland undergrowth. It joins a path, which you take to the right. Turn right onto the road.At the crossroads, turn left towards "Aire du Chavanon" for 200 m, then take the path on the right. Turn left at the Y-junction: continue on the main path; turn right at the crossroads when you reach the meadow; ignore a path on your right a little further on.Take the road to the left; go over the railway bridge. Continue. Turn left at the next crossroads and cross the railway line again.After the bridge, follow the track to the right. Turn left at the next crossroads.At the pond, take the track on the right. This becomes a path. Go straight down to the Roman bridge.Go up for 100 m and take a trail (difficult to spot) on the right that crosses a small stream. Continue through the woodland undergrowth. Turn left at the next crossroads. At the end, turn right and go back to the Barricade stream. Go up to a point where the tracks cross.Turn right: stay on this gravelled track leaving several paths on your right. Take the road on the right for 200 m. then follow the tarmac track on the left towards Lespinat. Go through the village; 400 m further on, take the path on the right. Follow the trails to the left and then the path to the right, and the route you took at the start.Follow the road straight ahead to reach the starting point.
Belvedere of Chavanon, Merlines
Please note, the circuit does not start from the village of Merlines but from the belvedere of Chavanon. This circuit is a shorter version of a longer circuit (21 km) which is the subject of a special description sheet.
Coming from Ussel, follow the RD 1089 towards Clermont-Ferrand; in Merlines, turn right and follow the signs for "belvédère du Chavanon".
From the starting point, you can see the magnificent Chavanon motorway viaduct. Much more modest, the so-called "Roman" bridge allows you to cross the Barricade stream. Although the exact date of its construction is not known, a crossing structure already existed in 1818. Its recent restoration (2019) has enhanced this bridge. Shortly afterwards, a short return trip reveals the remains of a mill.
Belvedere of Chavanon, Merlines
Belvedere of Chavanon, Merlines