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The starting point is located on the left bank of the Creuse, just after the bridge that crosses it at Fontgombault.
The trail is marked in yellow: this is route no. 14 of the Brenne walking trails, entitled "rive gauche, rive droite" (left bank, right bank) (signpost).
(S/E) Take the path along the river towards the north-west.
(1) When you reach the site of the Saint-Julien Chapel and the caves, take the path downhill in front of the chapel entrance to follow the Creuse again.
The path is flanked by cliffs on the left and the river on the right. Ignore a path going uphill on the left and continue straight ahead across a meadow. Continue straight ahead at the next intersection; the path is now on the edge of the woods, between cliffs and fields.
(2) At the intersection, turn right and walk along the Creuse river, then turn left and head back up towards the Village du Bois.
(3) At the crossroads, turn right (signposted) and continue straight ahead at the next intersection.
At the crossroads by the Grange Neuve rural lodge, continue straight ahead towards Lurais.
(4) After the cemetery, turn right onto Chemin du Moulin, which leads to Lurais beach, where you can stop for a picnic.
(5) Turn right to cross the metal bridge.
(6) Initially, leave the D50E road going up to Sançais and turn right onto the D950 for 50 metres. Cross the road carefully and follow a small path running alongside a low wall on the left. Continue straight ahead along the path, crossing the D50E, then follow this road north-east into Sançais. Leave the access road to Jartraux on your right, then the road to La Dubellerie on your left, to reach a T-junction. Take the road on the right and follow the yellow cross markings (signpost) until you reach a Y-junction.
(7) Leave the road and turn right onto a forest path that joins the old railway line.
(8) Turn left to join the greenway, which is better maintained further along.
When you reach a road, turn right towards Preuilly-la-Ville and continue to the church.
(9) Turn left onto Chemin des Roches, then at the end of the bend, take the grassy path on the right.
(10) Turn right at the cross (newGRP®® route, contrary to the current map). The path branches off to the left to reach an old railway bridge. Pass under it and then, 200 metres further on, turn right.
(11) Turn right at a new cross (yellow andGRP®® markings). The path becomes a small street in the hamlet of Les Cloîtres. Turn left towards the bridge of the old railway line.
(12) Just before the bridge, take the small staircase made of wooden logs to reach the Voie Verte, which you should follow to the left. Reach the water treatment plant, then take the D62 on the right, which descends towards the abbey.
(13) Once you reach the D950, cross it carefully and continue straight ahead to admire the abbey site, then retrace your steps along the surrounding wall. Take the D950 on the right to cross the village of Fontgombault and reach the crossroads leading back to the right towards the bridge. Cross it and then descend to the right to return to the starting point (S/E).
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