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Depart from the centre of Bourg-Argental from Place des Noyers, opposite the former weaving mills, now a multi-purpose hall and cinema, on the road to Graix.
(1) Head towards the village centre via Boulevard Henri Sénéclauze, cross the road leading up to Saint-Etienne. Continue opposite Rue des Fossés, Place de la Liberté towards the Tourist Office. Turn right onto the road leading to Saint-Sauveur-en-Rue via Rue Docteur Moulin, Place De Sablon and Rue Du Puy.
(2) At the end of the continuous buildings on the left, turn left onto Rue de la Madeleine. Cross the river, go around a house on the left and take a very steep path on the right with wooden sleepers to slow down erosion. Ignore the paths on the left or right to arrive near the old railway line on the left.
(3) Climb to the right and take the bridge over the railway line. Follow the very stony but clearly visible path uphill. On the slope, turn sharply left to reach a less steep and much less stony section that leads to a flat area at the edge of the forest at an elevation of 843 metres.
(4) Take a hairpin turn to the right onto a very good path. Further on, on a slight incline, continue straight ahead, ignoring a path to the right, and arrive at the D22 road. Cross and continue straight ahead on a slightly sloping path. 200 metres further on, take a yellow and white marked path on the left, which is sometimes faint, through the forest. Walk along the left-hand edge of a meadow and arrive at the hamlet of Montpénan above Burdignes.
(5) Cross the hamlet and follow the tarmac road which joins another road coming from the left.
Continue along the tarmac road to the right, pass a farm on your left and, near the crossroads, follow the road on the right leading to Montchal. Cross the hamlet and climb up to the castle, heading for its ruined wall.
(6) Descend the castle hill on the north side to reach a path, then follow it to the right towards the east.
Shortly afterwards, at a crossroads, take theGR®42trail, marked in white and red, which descends steeply to the north-northwest. Cross the D22 road opposite, go around Les Olagnières farm on the right and descend to Le Cognet farm.
(7) At the crossroads, ignore the path straight ahead and turn left, walking alongside the farm. Follow the tarmac road downhill to a flat section where you will reach theGR®65 trail, marked in white and red. Turn right and follow the well-marked path curving to the left (on the right you will see the closed entrance to an old tunnel).
This well-marked path leads to a tarmac road at "Mounes". Follow the road downhill to the left, still marked in white and red. You will arrive at a major road, the D503.
(8) Be careful of traffic.
Follow the edge of this road to the right towards Bourg-Argental. When you reach the retaining wall below the road, follow the path below the wall. Walk along the edge of the road, cross the river and reach the pavements.
(2) Take the reverse route to return to the starting point: Rue du Puy, Place Sablon, Rue Docteur Moulin, Place de la Liberté, Rue des Fossés, Boulevard Henri Sénéclauze.
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Difficult 
Easy 
