Circular Cluniac route between Sauxillanges and Saint-Quentin-sur-Sauxillanges

Park in one of the spaces near the Sauxillanges Post Office.

Blue-marked route

(S/E) From the start sign, climb the steps on the left and cross the tree-lined square. At the end of the square, turn right onto the grassy area, then follow the tarmac road downhill and, after 30 m, leave it to pass in front of the wash house. Continue along the path and, at the gravel track, turn left.

(1) Turn left and follow the leat of the monks. At the “waterfall”, continue to the right, crossing the wooden footbridge. Then, at the top of the steps, go left until you reach the next concrete footbridge. Cross it, turn right and immediately left, and continue to the D49. Cross the main road to go almost directly opposite.

(2) At the last house in the hamlet of La Croierie, climb the stony, steep path to the left. Continue straight on and, further on, ignore the path on your left, which will be the return route.

(3) At the top of this steep climb, just below the church of Saint-Quentin-sur-Sauxillanges, turn left and follow the tarmac road uphill. At the top, take the grassy path on the right and go round the hillock. Stop at the information board, then set off again to the left. About twenty metres further on, head down to the right and continue along this steep, winding path. Back on the stony path, turn right and head down to the main road.

When you reach the D49, turn right and, 5 metres further on, immediately left. Cross the concrete footbridge and turn right onto the grassy path.

(4) Go down the steps, continue and cross the footbridge to the “waterfall”. From there, head towards the village along the leat and reach the first houses. Turn right, pass the wash houses and head up towards the primary school.

(5) Turn left, walk past the primary school and join Avenue Girod Pouzol. Follow it to the left until you reach the post office (S/E).

- In the village of Sauxillanges, you will find bakeries, bars, restaurants, a hotel, a campsite, lodges, a delicatessen and butchers, doctors and a pharmacy, a mini-market with petrol pumps and other shops, including a cash machine. On Rue du Stade, there is a charging point for electric vehicles. On Chemin des Prairies, there is a leisure area with a fishing pond and picnic tables, a swimming pool open in summer and a playground for young children.
- In Saint-Quentin-sur-Sauxillanges, behind the church, there is a fountain with drinking water. You can take shelter under the church porch.

After setting off, a few metres from the^first junction, you can visit the Place du Marchédial, a Renaissance quarter featuring the Bailli’s house.

- At La Croierie, on the boundary between Sauxillanges and Saint-Quentin-sur-Sauxillanges, in addition to the flour mill which is still in operation, you will find other old mills on the right, including one made of granite.

- In Saint-Quentin-sur-Sauxillanges, take the time to admire the church (the former chapel of the Sauxillanges priory), the château (the white town house), and the view from the church forecourt.

- At the information board, as well as the view, there is a sign explaining the village.

- Before reaching Sauxillanges, on the footbridge you’ll see the confluence of two rivers forming the Eau-Mère, which flows into the Allier at Parentignat. Then there’s the ‘waterfall’, built around 927 with a system of sluice gates to regulate the monks’ leat. Just before you arrive, you’ll see the restored old communal wash house and the remains of a private wash house, a dovecote, then the primary school (the former boys’ school) and the nursery school (the former girls’ school).

- Near the post office, you’ll find the Pierre le Vénérable Museum, the cloister and the fountain with its four ducks.

- From the post office, there are other marked walks in Blue, Yellow and Green. From the town hall, there are three walks of around 1 hour that allow you to discover Sauxillanges’ heritage.