The Jean Guitton Trail in Champagnat

A few parking spaces are available in the hamlet of La Châtre.

(S/E) From the hamlet, go up the road lined with walls and take the small sunken path on the left. Continue straight on until you reach the D19.

(1) Turn left, then immediately right towards La Roche.

(2) Cross La Roche on the left and follow the green markings to the hamlet of Monfrand.

(3) Go down the road on the left (the route follows the GR®46 marked in red and white). At the crossroads after the hamlet, turn left.

(4) Before the village of Théolet, turn right onto a small tarmac road to reach the D38.

(5) Cross the bridge on the left over the Tardes, leave the GR®46 and continue left on the D38 road until the next fork.

(6) Take a sunken lane on the left below. Cross a stream, go straight up and reach a small tarmac road.

(7) Cross it and continue along the path until you reach a road.

(8) Turn left onto this road and continue to Deveix.

(9) Cross the hamlet and descend into the Tardes valley, turning right at the end of the village (viewpoint over Fournoux Castle).

(10) At the D19, turn left onto this road, cross the bridge and reach a fork.

(11) Turn right onto a road to reach the hamlet of La Châtre (S/E).

Toilets at the Étang de la Naute

Hiking map available from the Auzances tourist office (Place du Marché).

Other hikes available on theTourist Office website.

(S/E) Hamlet of La Châtre.

(11) Château de Fournoux.

Jean Guitton spent his childhood holidays here. He wrote: "Fournoux is perfection [...] an unlikely encounter between a river in a gorge, a vast domed forest and a human dwelling, both dominant and dominated."

2. La Chaumière

After the Second World War, Jean Guitton bought this building, next to which he built a chapel called "La Pensée" (The Thought), in reference to Blaise Pascal, which he inaugurated on 16 July 1971 in the presence of the bishop and the academician Maurice Druon.

3. Tardes Valley

The Tardes has its source in the commune of Basville. It is a popular fishing river, particularly for brown trout. Its valley runs from Chambon-sur-Voueize to its confluence with the Cher, and the river is classified as a ZNIEFF (Natural Area of Ecological Interest, Fauna and Flora).