Route of Fountains and Washhouses – Purple-marked variant

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This route allows you to discover the area’s small-scale rural heritage (fountains, wash houses). Each water point features a historical and/or anecdotal description. The route also incorporates architectural and historical heritage (the 13th-century Saint-Projet Church, Place Jacquaire, Ségeville Castle and the scattered hamlets of the commune).
Exploring this route also allows you to appreciate the area’s scenic, floral and wildlife attractions.

Details

n°413354
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.80 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 147 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 156 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 141 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 54 m
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Photos

Puymerle
Trail
Church of Saint Preuil

Description of the walk

Purple markings.

(S/E) Start from the hikers’ rest area next to the church.

Follow the white path straight ahead for about 800m. Turn left at the first stop, "La Fuie", and continue to follow the white path.

(1) At the three-way junction, take the left-hand path.

(2) When you reach the second stop, “Font qui Bouille”, turn right into the walnut grove. Walk straight through it, skirting the edge of the woods, then head up to your right.

(3) Enter the woods via the first path on your left, cross part of it (200m) then follow the path on your left to discover the “Font Loubat” spring. Follow the path uphill above the fountain. As you leave the woods, take the path on the right for a few metres.

(4) At the crossroads, take the sharp left-hand bend and continue. Go straight on, ignoring the first path on the right and then a second one on the left.

(5) At the junction at the edge of the woods, turn right. Walk past the “Font de Gours” fountain, then turn left and follow the path alongside the woods.

(6) At the corner, head down to the left to rejoin the country lane. Once on the lane, turn right, cross a small road and continue straight ahead towards the woods to reach the D404.

(7) Cross with care and continue straight ahead.

(8) At the top of the hill, turn right and head towards the hamlet of Puymerle. At the crossroads at the entrance to the hamlet, take the second right (Rue du Lavoir). At the next fork, turn left.

(9) Take the vineyard path on the right and continue straight on until you reach the D90.

(10) Cross the road carefully and continue almost straight ahead towards Ségéville. At the entrance to the hamlet, turn right at a 90° angle and continue.

(11) A few metres past a lovely oak tree, turn left onto the path between the vines, then left again at the first junction.

(12) At the “Font Combe Raine” fountain, go round the woods by heading up to the right, then turn immediately left at the edge of the woods. Go straight on to the viewpoint with the orientation table.

(13) Continue to the junction. Turn left onto the road, then right at the next junction, about 500m further on. At the fork (elevation 1298m), continue straight on towards the houses at Puybert.

At the junction, turn left and continue to the main road. Follow the main road, turning right towards the village. Turn left into Rue de l’Ancienne Épicerie to reach the village centre and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 92 m - Hikers’ rest area
  2. 1 : km 1.21 - alt. 107 m - At the three-way junction, take the left-hand path
  3. 2 : km 1.46 - alt. 112 m - To the right in the walnut grove
  4. 3 : km 1.65 - alt. 119 m - Entrance to the woods on the left
  5. 4 : km 2.55 - alt. 131 m - At the crossroads, turn left
  6. 5 : km 4.08 - alt. 108 m - As you leave the woods, turn right as you head downhill
  7. 6 : km 4.41 - alt. 103 m - Head back down to the left
  8. 7 : km 5.44 - alt. 99 m - D404, cross the road and take the path opposite
  9. 8 : km 5.71 - alt. 119 m - Crossroads, viewpoint, turn right
  10. 9 : km 6.7 - alt. 82 m - Take the vineyard path on the right
  11. 10 : km 7.64 - alt. 68 m - D90, cross with caution
  12. 11 : km 8.78 - alt. 54 m - After the lovely oak tree, turn left
  13. 12 : km 9.72 - alt. 93 m - Font de Combe Raine
  14. 13 : km 10.07 - alt. 130 m - Orientation table
  15. S/E : km 12.8 - alt. 92 m - Hikers’ rest area

Notes

At the start, a shelter for hikers is available. For groups, please contact the town hall to collect the keys to the facility, subject to a contribution towards costs, on 05 45 83 41 49.

A picnic table, a map of the route with its variations and public toilets are available on site.

Worth a visit

At the start, discover the 13th-century Saint-Projet Church and the magnificent rolling views that greet every visitor, as well as Place Jacquaire, which bears witness to the ancient pilgrimage routes towards Santiago de Compostela.

This route offers three possible variations:

22 km route, marked in red. This route also takes in the architectural and historical heritage (the 13th-century Saint-Projet Church, Place Jacquaire, the Protestant memorial, Ségeville Castle and the scattered hamlets of the commune).
Exploring this route also allows you to appreciate the area’s scenic, floral and wildlife attractions.

10 km route, marked in yellow. A route with little shade, offering panoramic views from the ridge and an orientation table. From the hikers’ rest area, follow the small road below the church car park to reach Font de Gours.

6 km alternative route, marked in orange. A wooded and shaded route.

All this information can be found on the map at the start point near the hikers’ rest area.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.7 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Mimette
Mimette

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The walk is very pleasant, but whatever you do, don’t follow the trail through the undergrowth!! It takes you right into the middle of the woods, with no path at all… you’ll then have to navigate your way back to the marked trail! So follow the purple markers to get through this section.
After this first section, it’s plain sailing! A beautiful view awaits you...

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Pollock
Pollock

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk in the area around Matha. The route is very flat and very well signposted, apart from a few spots.

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Christopher-McCandless
Christopher-McCandless

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk through the rolling countryside of the Grande Champagne region. For the first section (the part where the yellow and purple routes diverge), you shouldn’t use the app as it will show you as being ‘off the trail’. However, all the routes are very well signposted, and certain points of interest are clearly described. It’s impossible to get lost. The first section is through woodland, but after that there’s no shade, so bear that in mind when the heat is on. A walk suitable for everyone, and very pleasant.

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jean-maxime
jean-maxime

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk through woods and vineyards around St Preui, dotted with points of interest here and there, complete with information boards.
Purple markings are present throughout the route; you just need to read the map carefully and keep your eyes open at junctions to make sure you don’t go astray.

We really enjoyed this lovely route at the start of this winter.

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matmarlulu
matmarlulu

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, undulating and varied route. Note: the section beyond Font Loubat is no longer accessible (the path is impassable). Follow the purple route, which rejoins the main route further on.

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Babeth RAYMONDEAU
Babeth RAYMONDEAU

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The purple markings are not consistent and sometimes blend in with the red markings. You need to be very careful in certain places.

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sm16
sm16

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk, well signposted, with sunshine over the vineyards and the woodland paths
A warm welcome from the Mayor of St Preuil
Perhaps the booking arrangements for the village hall could be reviewed in case of rain for a group of walkers,

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