Auzances - La Mérodie

Departure from Place du Marché - Parking available on site.

(S/E) Leaving the Tourist Office, cross the Place du Marché and take Rue de la Mairie, which descends to the right of the church.

(1) Turn right onto Rue de l'Église, then left onto Rue de l'Étang and continue to the end of this street, until you reach the stop sign. Cross Rue de l'Abattoir and continue straight ahead.

(2) Cross the small Gothic bridge over the Noisette river and head towards the Sainte-Anne Chapel. Keep left at the chapel and take the road that goes uphill and past the cemetery. At the bend, turn right onto Chemin de l'Échalou and continue to the end, where you will come out onto a tarmac road.

(3) Take this road on the left, leaving Puy Fayolle on your right, and continue to the junction with the D92.

(4) Turn right onto this road towards Monsenergue, pass the Grandes Farges farm and continue towards La Rolline.

(5) Leave the return road on your left and continue straight ahead. Continue to Monsenergue.

(6) Cross the hamlet, continuing on the D92 towards La Mérodie. Leave this road and turn right at the entrance to the hamlet, rejoining it further on.

(7) Follow it to the left to return to the entrance to the hamlet and take the road (D92) in the opposite direction to the outward journey, until you reach La Rolline.

(5) Just after the farm, turn right onto Chemin des Pantoufles. Continue along this grassy path, cross La Noisette at Moulin Pointu and join the D988 departmental road (Rue des Tanneries).

(8) Cross it carefully and take the steep path opposite, Chemin du Moulin Cagnolle. When you reach the first house, follow the path on the right to Rue des Jardins. Turn right and then left to Rue Pasteur.

(9) Continue to the right, then turn left onto Rue Saint-Jacques to reach the Place du Marché car park (S/E).

Public toilets next to the church (1).

Water point at the Auzances Tourist Office (S/E).

(1) Saint-Jacques le Majeur Church.

Byzantine-inspired frescoes give the building a striking appearance. Also noteworthy are the portal with its sculpted capitals (13th century) and the Descent from the Cross (late 16th/early 17th century), which has been recently restored and listed as a historic monument.

(2) Chapel of Saint Anne.

Next to the Gothic bridge spanning the Noisette, Sainte-Anne Chapel was once the burial place of the parish priests; some gravestones are still visible on the ground. The small bell tower is covered with chestnut shingles.

Bridge over the Noisette

(9) Ancient ramparts.

During the Hundred Years' War, Auzances was attacked by English troops. It was probably during this period that the castle was destroyed. Today, Rue des Jardins marks the boundary of the ramparts, of which a turret remains.