Via Le Broc from Issoire

Start from the car park at the Abbey Church of Saint-Austremoine in Issoire.

Yellow-red markings (^GRP® Autour d'Issoire)

(S/E) Facing the botanical garden (with your back to the abbey church), turn right onto the boulevard and follow it to the first bridge over the Couze Pavin. Cross the Couze.

(1) Leave Rue de Brioude by turning right at the first junction. At the fork, head left up Rue de l’Ancienne Caserne against the flow of traffic. Cross Avenue de la Libération. Opposite, Rue Notre-Dame des Filles curves sharply before reaching a roundabout.

(2) At the roundabout, take the second street on the right, Chemin des Quinze (ignore Route de Solignat, which veers slightly to the right). Cross Boulevard du Mont Mouchet and continue straight ahead until you reach a fork.

(3) At the fork, keep to the right, passing the entrance to the Equestrian Centre, and stay on Chemin des Quinze until you approach the forest.

(4) Turn left before entering the Quinze estate. The road soon gives way to a wide, compacted track. Pass the first side track on your right.

No signposting

(5) At the crossroads, ignore the track on the right (^GRP®) and continue straight ahead along the wide track, the Clos de la Chaux, which eventually joins a small road just before reaching the chapel and the ruins of the Château du Broc.

(6) From the chapel, it would be a shame to miss out on a short detour down the steps leading to the castle ruins. Once the short visit is over, head back towards Bergonne along the same route taken on the way there, Rue du Clos de la Chaux.

Yellow-red markings (^GRP® Autour d'Issoire)

(7) When you reach the D718, cross the road with care. Opposite, the path forks. Keep left and pass under a power line.

(8) At the crossroads, cross the wide cross-road. Opposite, the path is narrow. Keep to the right at the fork shortly after the crossroads. The path begins a fairly steep descent, then meets Rue Les Tuiles.

(9) Turn right onto Rue des Tuiles, heading uphill towards Bergonne, then ignore the side paths. The street bends left to become Chemin de Roze, then turns right towards the north, taking the name Rue de la Buge. Pass Bergonne Castle on your right.

No signposting

(10) Let the^GR® head off to the left and keep heading north. The road widens to become Avenue du Bard. About a hundred metres past the last house, keep right at the fork, leaving the avenue for a downhill forest track.

(11) As you approach Malbattu, cross the D32. Opposite, the path veers left then turns sharply right to descend towards Hauterive Castle. It becomes tarmac as you approach the castle, forming an S-bend.

(12) The road then runs straight on until the entrance to Issoire. Cross Boulevard du Commandant Fayolle with care. Pass the first turn-off on the left.

(13) At the fork, take the left-hand path onto the footbridge running alongside Avenue Ernest d'Hauterive. Cross Avenue de Libération with care. Opposite, Rue du Moulin Charrier meets Rue de l'Ancienne Caserne, which you took on the way out.

(1) At the crossroads, turn left onto Rue de Brioude, cross the Couze Pavin, then turn right onto Boulevard Triozon Bayle to reach the Abbey Church, the starting point of the walk (S/E).

Good walking shoes are recommended for tackling some of the rough, stony paths.

Places to visit:

• In Issoire,the 12th-centuryAbbey Church of Saint Austremoine
• In Le Broc, the ruins of the castle built between the 11th and 13th centuries. Opposite, on the square beneath the chestnut trees, ancient carved stones of uncertain origin are on display.
• Beautiful views of the Livradois and Forez mountains from the Chemin des Quinze.
• the 17th- and 18th-century gardens of Hauterive Castle, featuring a terraced kitchen garden, groves with gazebos and arboured walkways