The Montamar hill

Park in the centre of the village of Saint-Yrieix-le-Déjalat.

(S/E) Take the road leading down behind the church (Rue du Pré du Château). This road winds its way down, crosses a stream and then climbs again.

(1) Leave the forest track on your left – this will be your return route – and carry on along the road. Do the same for the next forest track and continue towards Commerly.

(2) Before you reach the village, take the road on the left through the pastures.

(3) Ignore the track branching off to the left and cross the Dadalouze.

(4) Carry on along the road, ignoring the track that branches off to the right at a bend. Pass through the hamlet of Les Pradeleix, continuing to follow the road. Cross the bridge over the Corrèze.

(5) Immediately afterwards, turn right onto the path which runs pleasantly alongside the river towards the ruins of the Maison Forte de Montamar. Follow this path until you reach the sign pointing to the ruins on the right.

(6) A very short climb leads to the ruins of the fortified house, which was built to monitor commercial traffic. Please note: on the way down, do not continue along the main path, but follow the much less visible path that veers off to the right towards Corrèze. You’ll come to a small wooden bridge crossing the river; cross it and then follow the path which will take you up to higher ground, offering a lovely view of the surrounding hills.

(7) Once back on the road, carry on towards Viossanges, which you should pass through by going straight on at the junction. As you leave the village, look out for a coat of arms in the shape of an angel above a barn door on your left. Carry on until you reach the road.

(4) Turn left onto the road and cross the bridge over the Dadalouze once more.

(3) Take the first path on the left, following the^GR® 440.

(8) Leave the^GR® 440 at the first junction on the right, which takes you up a path lined with heather. This path takes a hairpin bend to the left and, after the climb, descends back down to the road.

(1) Carry on straight ahead until you return to Saint-Yrieix-le-Déjalat (S/E).
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Sign at the start showing various trails, including the route described here. The route is clearly signposted.

The fortified house of Montamar was built in^{the 14th} century by the lords of Saint-Yrieix to control trade at a time when the landscape was much less wooded. It consists of a large rectangular building situated on a summit platform. Two annexe buildings flank it to the north and south. A bread oven remains below, to the east. Access to the ramparts is defended, to the west, by two half-moon-shaped moats lined with earthen ramparts. These features are typical of the fortified houses of that period in the Limousin. In 2021, the ruins are barely visible amongst the vegetation.