From La Bartillatte to the church at Quinsaines

(S/E) From the village square, take Rue du Ruisseau to leave the village (towards the communal well, visible 100m away). Leave the village. The road turns into a wide stony track and then, after a slight bend to the right and crossing a stream, into a narrower tree-lined path. Continue along this main path, which gradually widens, until you reach a tarmac road. Take this tarmac road on the right and enter the village of Jailles.

(1) Turn right onto the road (Rue des Chiez de Jailles). Note: the first road you come to on the right leads only to a farm... ignore it and continue along the “Chiez de Jailles” path, crossing a small tarmac road. Head straight on, cross the small bridge over the Bartillatte and continue along the path, which takes a sharp right-hand bend. At the end of the path, turn right onto the lovely stony track and enter the village of Courtioux. Continue to the left until you reach a small square about 200m away.

(2) Follow the signposted direction for “Pont Romain de Courtioux” and cross the bridge.

(3) After crossing the bridge, follow the lovely track that branches off to the right. Continue, ignoring the paths to the right and left. Cross a tarmac road (Route des Boueix) and continue straight ahead along the lovely ascending track.

(4) At the end of the track, turn left until you come to a tarmac road, which you should take on the right. Pass in front of the water tower and then the mobile phone masts and continue.

(5) Just past the masts and after skirting a small copse on the right, leave the main track that runs alongside a large meadow and take a small path leading down to the left.
Shortcut available (see practical information).
At the end of the path, take the small tarmac road on the left. Walk through the village of Boisdijoux to reach a larger tarmac road.

(6) Turn right and continue along this uphill road to enter the village of Quinssaines. Take the first road on the right at the village entrance (Rue du Signat Long), then immediately the one on the left, Rue de la Source. Finally, turn right onto Rue du Lavoir and walk a few dozen metres.

(7) Cross Route de Saint-Martinien to join the small path that climbs to the left towards the church, running alongside the children’s playground.

(8) Quinssaines Church. Climb up onto the rocks to admire the view, then leave the site via Rue des Petites Croix until you reach a major junction.

(9) Turn right onto the pretty, uphill track (Chemin de Bartillat).

(10) At the end of the track, turn onto the second path on the left. This is a wide, straight track that runs alongside the wind turbines.

(11) At the foot of the first wind turbine, take the first path on the right. Continue along this path, cross a tarmac road (D242) and carry on straight ahead onto a wide sandy track.

(12) The path begins a wide left-hand bend. Continue along the edge of the fir plantation until you come to a wide stony path on the right.

(13) Continue straight on to reach Place du Prénat, the finish point (S/E).

Shortcut: from (5), turn right to reach (13).

(3) The “Roman Bridge” at Courtioux: although called the Roman Bridge, it actually dates from the 13th century. Consisting of two pointed arches of different heights, it has no parapet and appears to have been built at a ford and a crossroads of great importance.

(8) Saint-Marcel Church in Quinssaines: this church is mentioned in the 12th century in various texts, the most important of which is a papal bull issued by Pope Adrian IV. In the 19th century, the west façade was fitted with a tower topped by a spire, in other words, a pointed ‘beautiful bell tower’ replacing the modest arcaded bell tower of the Romanesque period.
A church with a longitudinal plan, a non-projecting transept, and a flat chevet. A bell-tower porch topped with a slate spire is situated at the west façade. The church was built in the 12th century and has undergone few alterations, apart from a restoration of the building in 1900. The church was part of the former diocese of Bourges. Situated 418 metres above sea level on a hill, which suggests that the church may have been a castle chapel.
From the church site, there is a magnificent view of the town of Montluçon and the Cher valley.

(11) In fine weather, looking south (to the left), one can see the Chaîne des Puys and the Puy de Dôme.

(12) View of Montluçon and the church of Quinssaines. To the east, in the distance, the Tronçais Forest. To the south, the Combrailles; further on, the Chaîne des Puys and the Puy de Dôme (in good weather).