The bread oven and the Auvergne cross at Chastreix

A small mountain village, Chastreix and its 12th-century Saint-Bonnet church, listed as a historic monument.
The association Chemins et patrimoine aux pays des Toupis works to promote the local heritage and hiking trails.

Details

1756316
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 2.20 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 476 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 492 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,822 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,379 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park behind the church (a listed historic monument, well worth a visit).

(S/E) Take the path that descends between two houses to the left at the rear of the church. Go through the gate behind the house and, at the Fork in the road, take the left-hand path. Follow this path uphill. When you reach a shed, go through a green gate and you’ll come out onto the D615: follow this road to the left for about fifty metres. Take care.

(1) Take the D88 to the right, then take thefirst right (dead end). Note the view on the right of the village perched on a rocky promontory. At a Fork in the road, take the path on the left. Return to the D615 and follow it up to the left. Take care.

(2) After a right-hand bend, leave the road and turn right between two houses. Walk down a small path lined with low stone walls. At a junction, turn left then right.

(3) You’ll reach the tarmac road leading to the hamlet of La Vessaire; follow it to the right. Note the magnificent cross set on a rock, then the bakehouse and its bread oven. Retrace your steps.

(3) Continue straight ahead, then take thefirst right. At the next junction, turn right again. Go straight on along the road, ignoring the turn-offs to the left.

(4) At the entrance to Chastreix, leave the road and take a path on the right, then immediately turn left to climb the hill. Walk past the park house and you will see the church on your right (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,455 ft - Car park behind the church in Chastreix
  2. 1 : mi 0.44 - alt. 3,586 ft - Junction of the D615 and D88
  3. 2 : mi 0.91 - alt. 3,822 ft - Passage between two houses
  4. 3 : mi 1.35 - alt. 3,576 ft - La Vessaire
  5. 4 : mi 2.07 - alt. 3,379 ft - Entrance to Chastreix
  6. S/E : mi 2.2 - alt. 3,455 ft - Car park behind the church in Chastreix

Notes

(3) The association has restored the bread oven to working order. The Bread Festival takes place every year in mid-August.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Nad34
Nad34

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route with lovely views of Chastreix. However, the rain from the previous days or a spring has made the path between the cross and the two houses rather muddy. Avoid wearing trainers. I ended up walking it the wrong way round by following the GPX file (which was very good, by the way), as the starting point is impossible to find using the description.

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papi rené
papi rené

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Very easy to follow but not particularly interesting,

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Hélène Taterode
Hélène Taterode

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant little walk. It was easy to find the starting point thanks to the GPS.

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Coudrechene
Coudrechene

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We actually took the path the wrong way round because we couldn’t find the start… but it was simple and pleasant. Ideal for families with children, as it takes an hour and involves a 150-metre climb… a bit wet in one section, but that’s to be expected in this weather

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