Wash houses, castles and puys around Ayen

This route takes you on a journey through history: the commune belongs to the Vézère-Ardoise Land of Art and History because this strategic site was chosen by the Viscount of Limoges and then elevated to a duchy by the Noailles family. As you stroll through the picturesque narrow streets, discover the heritage linked to water with its fountains and wash houses, and the imposing residences. The church of Ayen and its elements listed as historic monuments will arouse your curiosity!

Details

323471
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.49 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 161 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 154 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 377 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 251 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Ayen (19310)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 45.246324° / E 1.326555°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2034E
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the Tourist Office.

(S/E) With your back to the Michel Peyramaure media library, take the Ruelle du Pissol opposite for about 20 metres and turn left. An alleyway leads you to two old wash houses fed by the Pissol spring.

(1) Then follow the fence on your left and take the crosswalk stairs down to the road. Turn left for 50 metres: the Lavoir de la Grande Font is on your right. Continue straight ahead and leave the village via the D95 to a place called "Les Prades". Before the sign for "Les Prades", take a pretty path on the right that runs alongside an avenue of yew trees and leads you to Bas Ayen.

(2) With the château in view, go around the primitive park on the right until you reach the cross. Continue along the signposted route on the road that climbs between the high walls of the château and the former presbytery. Pass in front of the wash house and the Jard fountain. Continue for 75 metres and take a small tarmac road that climbs to the right.

(3) At the main road, turn right towards the church. After admiring the tombs, modillions and 13th-century wooden Virgin Mary statue in the church, continue your walk towards the village on the same road.

(4) Opposite the village hall, enter the park. Continue straight ahead on the small tarmac road to the hamlet of La Pachie. In the hamlet, turn right and then immediately left. Follow this pretty path for about 500 metres. Turn right onto the stony path that climbs slightly to the district road. At the stop sign, turn right and continue straight ahead to the village.

(5) After the mansion (Maison Lafilolie), turn right onto the hiking trail for 100 metres, then take a small path that climbs steeply and leads to a wide path.
Continue straight ahead until you reach the Puy d'Ayen orientation table (the highest point in the region, 377 metres).

(6) Retrace your steps to the telecommunications building, turn right onto the wide path that descends and continue down the village lanes to your starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 308 m - Michel Peyramaure Media Library
  2. 1 : km 0.09 - alt. 299 m - La Grande Font wash house
  3. 2 : km 1.05 - alt. 253 m - Castle
  4. 3 : km 1.52 - alt. 293 m - Turn right onto the road
  5. 4 : km 1.93 - alt. 315 m - Park
  6. 5 : km 4.13 - alt. 309 m - On the right after the Maison Lafilolie
  7. 6 : km 4.73 - alt. 377 m - Orientation table at Puy d'Ayen
  8. S/E : km 5.49 - alt. 308 m - Michel Peyramaure Media Library

Worth a visit

Ayen-Bas is the original village of the commune, known in the 12th century as Ayen Église due to the magnificent church that stood there until the end of the 19th century, surrounded by the noble mansion of La Chabroulie, now Château de la Chabroulie, and the recently restored Hôtel de Razat.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Les normands 276
Les normands 276

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful route, especially the first half.

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Langeac
Langeac

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route for exploring the villages and the hill of Ayen, with numerous points of interest illustrated by informative panels explaining the buildings, fountains, geology, and more.

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Bernadette VAYSSE
Bernadette VAYSSE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very easy, well-marked walk. Be careful at the start: do not go more than 20 metres down the Pissol lane before turning left to see the two old wash houses.

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Troncal
Troncal

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The main information we need to choose our walk is accurate: easy walk, duration OK.
Very beautiful view of the Monédières
. . . and the Puy de Sancy!

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Nadalie
Nadalie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a very pleasant and peaceful walk. The signposting is clear and comprehensive. A real pleasure.

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Jean-Pierre TUGORES
Jean-Pierre TUGORES

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Ideal weather conditions: blue skies, no wind, 20-22°C. The first colours of autumn. This is walnut country, and I was able to gather up those that had fallen to the ground. Lower Ayen is very beautiful, with its old houses surrounding the castle and the former abbey: a lovely bucolic setting. On the other side, on the hills, a few vineyards remain near the orientation table (vast panorama...all the way to Mont Dore). A two-hour route and a leisurely walk. Blue signposts (you can't get lost). The best season is October and...November for the colours.

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KINOU19
KINOU19

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike from the lowest point to the highest point in the village.
Wash houses and castle: very pretty.

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Gustave19
Gustave19

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A delightful stroll through the countryside and pretty alleyways

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St-Amand-Rando-Passion
St-Amand-Rando-Passion

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We had a wonderful mountain bike ride.
Beautiful heritage sites

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mathii
mathii

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

It's a bit of a drive, but you're not coming here to climb mountains! So it's nice , and pretty cool views
Just follow the blue markings...

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sauterocher
sauterocher

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Great course, we had a wonderful time, short but intense route! Highly recommended.

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hmduperray
hmduperray

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The part about Lower Ayen is very beautiful

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GANTELET
GANTELET

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful walk past castles with panoramic views. Thank you to the hiker.

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chrbaud
chrbaud

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

An interesting hike, much more so than the panoramic trail (see my comment), with lovely views.
Thanks to the poster!

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