Châteaumeillant - La Croix Cordeau (Sidiailles)

Yellow and red GRP® markings in the footsteps of the Master Bell Ringers

(S) From Châteaumeillant Town Hall, take Rue de la Promenade, then^{the first} right (Rue des Remparts), following the GRP® Tour de Pays des Maîtres Sonneurs. Leave Châteaumeillant by taking the street on the left (after No. 17). After the small bridge over the stream, take the road on the right. Cross the D3, pass under the D943 bridge (following the stream).

(1) At the crossroads, take a path on the right, crossing the stream. Follow this path for about 100 metres, then continue to a crossroads. Turn left, cross the Goutte Noire stream again and climb up to the D105 road.

(2) Follow it to the right, then take the first small path on the right. You will reach the hamlet of Beau Merle. Turn left, leave the next street on your left and take the next one. When you reach the D105, follow it to the right and take the small road on the left. Cross a stream, leave a path on your left and you will reach a crossroads.

(3) Take the road on the right and cross the Mariten Forest, continuing straight ahead until you reach the Manoir de Maritet.

(4) Turn left (ignore the first path on the left). Pass an electricity pylon and, 500 m further on, join the tarmac road that leads to the D3.

(5) Take the road on the right and, a few dozen metres further on, turn left onto a path. After about 200 m, turn right (the path is not very visible) and continue along a path between two rows of trees.

(6) You will come out onto the D3 again and follow it to the left. After the bridge over the Portefeuille, go up a road on the right to reach the hamlet of Vinabineau.

(7) Turn right onto a path. When you see a pond, turn left onto a grassy path. Continue for about 600 m and turn left to return to the D3, which enters Saint-Saturnin on the right.

(8) Turn left, passing the old Saint-Saturnin post office, and go down the small Rue de la Poste. Follow the D162 to the left for a few metres until you reach a three-way junction (cross). Turn right onto a grassy path, ignore two paths on the right and continue until you reach a crossroads. Turn right and continue along a small road to rejoin the D111.

(9) Take this road to the left and take the road on the right at the next three-way junction.

(10) Take the first path on the left and head towards the woods. Follow the path on the right at the edge of the woods and continue straight ahead. At the Étang de Bombardon (picnic area with covered area), take the tarmac road on the right.

(11) Follow the road eastwards. At the next crossroads, cross the D111 and take the small road opposite on the left.

(12) You are now at a place called Rancier. The GRP® continues along the path on the right.You can reach the campsite and Chezelles accommodation (bed and breakfast) by continuing along the road opposite and taking the road on the left to the Gîte l'essentiel

(13) At Estondes, cross the paved road and take the path opposite, following it for about 500 metres.

(14) Take the grassy path on the right (straight ahead, take the detour around Lac de Sidiailles) which descends to the Ruisseau du Jot. Cross it and go up the path to a tarmac road (transformer on the right).

(15) Take the road on the left, passing the ruins of the Abbaye des Pierres. Follow the path down to the Ruisseau de La Joyeuse. Cross it via a small bridge and climb up opposite.

(16) At the top of the hill, take the path on the right and join the D997 road and the Croix Cordeau. (E)

From this point, either continue along the Maîtres Sonneurs trail towards Mesples and Huriel or take the La Croix Cordeau (Sidiailles) - Prévreranges link (Berry Loop or Marche Berrichonne)

Accommodation: Chateaumeillant, Sidiailles.
Provisions: Chateaumeillant, Saint-Saturnin, Sidiailles (water sports centre in summer)
Water points: Chateaumeillant, Saint-Saturnin, Sidiailles

St Saturnin: " As he predicted, the weather cleared on one side and clouded over on the other, and as we crossed a flat heath between Saint Saturnin and Sidiailles, it suddenly became very windy and a strong wind blew us. The countryside became wild, and I was overcome with sadness. Brulette also found the place very barren and noted that there was not a single tree for shelter." Les Maîtres Sonneurs, George Sand.
Saint Saturnin was the bishop of Toulouse, martyred in 257.
Saint-Saturnin has an 11th-12th century church. It is characteristic of the Berry Romanesque style, inspired by the Poitevin style and, to a lesser extent, by the Auvergne and Burgundy styles
lesser extent, by the Romanesque style of Auvergne and Burgundy. Its bell tower is built on stilts and was restored in the 20th century.
This village, which had more than 1,500 inhabitants at the beginning of the 20th century, with many shops, including nine inns, is now mainly
main activity in the area today is agriculture. The development of the Bombardon lake, a remarkable site, attracts
fishermen and lovers of the great outdoors, with shelters for picnics, hikers and festivals.

Sidiailles " As he led us in a straight line, knowing like the back of his hand all the paths and shortcuts that a mule could take to shorten the journey, he made us leave Sidiailles on our left and descend straight down to the banks of the little river Joyeuse, a poor little stream that did not look dangerous, and yet he seemed in a hurry to cross it. ", Les Maîtres Sonneurs, George Sand.
A Gallic oppidum transformed into a rest camp by Caesar? This commune is unusual in that it has a village with only three houses but 33 hamlets. In 1976, a dam was built on its territory to hold a drinking water reserve covering an area
90 hectares and five million cubic metres. This place is one of the most beautiful sites in the region with tourist facilities (hiking, beaches, tree climbing, etc.). The church is distinguished by its orientation, with a choir facing west. Its choir features a mosaic created by Italian artists who worked at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Built in 1877, it has one of the oldest bells in Europe. Along the way, you will pass the ruins of the Abbey of Notre Dame des Pierres (the porch is still visible), a 12th-century Cistercian abbey.