L’Échappée Belle – Route Violet – P2

Start from the Plateau d’Argentine.

(S/E) Head south-west along the small road. At the start of the descent, keep to the right of the sheep farm fence. Take the small, steep path which, after crossing the old railway line, will lead you to the old Seguignas wash house.

(1) Join the tarmac road and cross the D12 towards Fontaine. Follow the small road uphill to the Fork in the road after the stone cross.

(2) Turn left towards the hamlets of Seguignas and then Lutardias.

(3) At Lutardias, turn left, cross the road and head towards the edge of the woods.

(4) Turn right at the edge of the small wood of Les Gros Chênes, then right again, heading due west, towards the heights of Les Masdonnaux, and continue straight on until you reach the tarmac road.

(5) Turn left and carry on for 1 km towards Fontaine until you reach the next junction.

(6) You are now on the boundary between the municipalities of La Rochebeaucourt and Fontaine.
Take the path on the right, walk alongside the truffle oak plantation, then follow the path straight on. 

(7) Turn slightly to the right into the Péricaud Forest. A little further on, pass the Violet P0 route on your right and head into the undergrowth opposite. Join the ridge path, which is still bordered in places by a low stone wall.

(8) Turn left across the Combe du Prieur, walk past an imposing pidgeon hunting hut and continue to the Chaussade bridge.

(9) Leave the bridge on your left and follow the tarmac road to the right along the upper reaches of the Lizonne or Nizonne to the village of Nadaillac.

(10) Pass the Violet P1 route, which heads up to the right, and walk through the village. Follow the Nizonne for 1 km until you come to a forest track on the right.

(11) Leave the tarmac road and take this lovely forest track on the right, heading towards the hamlet of Chez Favier and then on to Beauvais.

(12) Walk straight through the hamlet of Beauvais and head for the next road.

(13) Continue left towards the Plateau d’Argentine.

(2) Carry on straight ahead along the route you have already taken, cross the D12 and follow the path opposite.

(14) On the final climb up to the plateau, walk alongside the old quarry, which has been converted into an educational mushroom farm, then reach the Plateau d’Argentine (S/E).

This route is signposted in purple with the ‘Gardiens du Patrimoine’ logo.
Dry toilets and picnic tables at the Plateau d’Argentine.
Enjoy the cool, refreshing atmosphere for several kilometres as you walk alongside the Lizonne.

A small drainage structure beneath the old Angoulême–Mussidan railway line.
Processional cross at the entrance to Seguignas.
A beautiful 180° view from Vendoire to Villebois Lavalette across the Masdonnaux hills.
A view due west towards Villebois Lavalette Castle.
View of the Château de la Ligerie at the entrance to the village of Fontaine.
A rectangular stone boundary marker in the centre of the ridge path, marking the municipal boundary.
The Lizonne, or Nizonne in its upper reaches, a river that forms the boundary between Charente and Dordogne.
A small educational quarry and mushroom farm on your right, 100 metres before reaching the Plateau d’Argentine.