Montaigu-le-Blin circular heritage loop

Start at the car park directly in front of Montaigu-le-Blin Town Hall.

(S/E) Walk past the Town Hall to the left and take the Route de Cindre to the wash house on the left below, accessible from the right.

(1) Retrace your steps slightly and head up the grassy path on the left, which climbs steeply towards the fortified castle. Don’t be put off by the hedge at the end of the path. Follow it to the left until you reach the end of the meadow, which opens out at the foot of the fortified castle. The castle was closed at the start of March, but its summer restoration site can be visited during the warmer months.

(2) Head back down Rue Albert Grellet Dumazeau to Rue de Cindre, turn left onto it for a few metres, then turn left onto the D32 towards the town hall. Turn right to cross the magnificent 2-hectare tree-lined square and emerge onto Rue Jo Moutet.

(3) Follow this street to the left, then take Rue Grégoire Beurier. Cross the D32 and continue along Rue Michel Virotte, which becomes Route de Lapalisse. This is a fairly busy stretch with narrow verges, but it allows you to see other little gems of Montaigu-le Blin’s heritage. Continue straight on, leaving the sign for La Sabotière on your right and the sign for Les Morets on your left.

(4) Turn right up towards Puy Digon, then left towards Château de Presles. Pass the château to reach the Roman road, which is a very flat, stony track.

(5) Follow it to the right. It runs along a ridge overlooking the landscape of meadows and local hamlets on both sides. At the^first crossroads, on the right, a small, squat Celtic cross, magnificent despite its wear and tear, catches the eye for a moment. Continue straight on along the Roman road until you reach a fork.

(6) Then turn right onto the grassy path that descends gently towards the Douable, where you turn right, then left towards Puy Digon.

(7) Cross the hamlet and, as you leave, turn left towards La Mirabelle. Head up to the right towards La Sabotière on the D172 until you reach Rue du Cimetière (cross).

(8) Take this street on the left to the magnificent little Church of Sainte-Anne.

(9) Turn right onto Rue de l’Église and walk alongside the gates of the Château de Montaigu-le-Blin to the large tree-lined village square.

(3) Turn left and head back to the car park in front of the town hall (S/E).

On the tree-lined square by the town hall:

• Easy parking out of season,
• Tourist information, heritage and walking,
• Public toilets.

We have included several heritage sites in this varied itinerary: the village’s large tree-lined square, the large U-shaped wash house, the medieval castle currently undergoing restoration, Presles Castle, the Roman road, the Celtic cross and St Anne’s Church.