The ‘Route des Violettes’ around Cressensac

Start at the car park of the Cressensac multi-purpose hall, 1 Rue de la Résistance, 46600 Cressensac-Sarrazac.

Yellow signposting

(S/E) Take the path opposite the community hall and follow it to the Chaumont Fountain.

(1) Head off to the right until you reach the D820. You’ll see the 1865 Mission cross opposite. Turn left, continue for 50 metres, and carefully cross the road to join Rue de la Paternerie. Walk down this street until you reach the isolated house.

(2) Turn left onto Chemin des Bergeries. At the end, take the road on the right, then, at the end of that, turn right towards the hamlet of La Belès.

(3) At the entrance to the hamlet, by the stone cross, take the path on the left until you reach a road. Take the path on the left, pass under the A20 L’Occitane motorway, turn right and, immediately on the left, take the Chemin de la Rochette.

(4) On this path, you’ll pass the Chausseneige Castle estate on your right (not visible) and, further on, the Rochette truffle fields on your left. Follow this path until you reach the tarmac road from Cressensac to Turenne. Note the Lot/Corrèze inter-departmental boundary marker.

(5) Take the path opposite, until you reach the next road, where you turn left, heading towards the Chaffol Haut farm. Take the path on the right and follow it to the Chaffol Bas farm.

(6) Continue along the Route de la Teulière, to the left.

(7) At the end, turn right, then left before the motorway, onto the Route de la Fouillade, which runs alongside the motorway.

(8) Turn right onto the Chemin de Naudière and pass under the motorway. Take the first track on the left, until you reach the tarmac road. Follow this road until you come to a Fork in the road.

(9) Turn left at the hairpin bend, noting the telecoms tower on your left.

(10) After 300 m, before the bridge over the motorway, turn right onto the track and follow it for about 300 m, then take the hairpin bend to the right onto the track and follow it for about 650 m, then take the track on the left until you reach the D840, which you follow to the left for a few metres.

(11) Cross the road carefullyand continue to the right along the Route du Batut. In the middle of the hamlet, admire the dovecote on your left (private). You’ll reach the D820.

(12) First turn left then right, and cross the road carefully to take the Chemin des Fournels opposite, for about 50 metres, then turn right onto the Chemin du Moulin à Vent. Follow this path until you reach the path known as the Moulin à Vent, on your right (signposts for route routes are located here).

(13) Walk down the path – the second half of which is particularly picturesque – until you reach the Route de Meyrignac.

(14) Follow this road to the right, pass Les Planes, and arrive at the D820 roundabout.

(15) Go straight through the roundabout and turn left to reach the car park at the community hall (S/E). 

Health Centre, 7 Rue de la Résistance 05 65 37 75 06.

Restaurant d’Ici et d’Ailleurs, 31 Avenue d’Occitanie.

L’Optimiste Restaurant, 48 Avenue d’Occitanie.

Carrefour Express, 1 Rue de la Victoire.