Moulin Parraut

A very pleasant hike through countryside and forest between Charroux and the banks of the Sioule, with superb views of the Chaîne des Puys and the Bourbonnais mountains on a clear day.

Details

3456302
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.94 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 200 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 201 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 422 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 282 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Grande Rue car park.

The route goes in the opposite direction to the markings.

(S/E) From the car park, follow this street to the right and take Rue des Souffrants on the right, then continue straight ahead on the dirt track following theGR® 300 until you reach the junction with the GRP®.

(1) Take the left path at the second crossroads, then turn right onto the D35 road.

(2) Turn left, then immediately left onto a dirt track, then right towards the château.

(3) Continue straight on to the Château de la Petite Varenne, then ignore all other paths and arrive at the site of the old Parraut mill.

(4) Here, there are two options: follow thePR® or walk along the Sioule river as shown on the map (much less accessible). They meet before joining the D42.

(5) Cross the road ( with caution, as there is traffic) towards a car park, then a dirt track.

(6) Cross the D66 and then the D42 (with caution, as there is traffic), continue along a small road and then turn right onto the dirt track.

(7) Take the path on the left that turns right into the Bois de la Garenen.

(8) At the edge of the woods, turn right and follow the edge of the woods, then turn left onto the first path, then right again at a right angle.

(9) At the crossroads, turn left towards the small road and at the crossroads, turn left again.

(10) Cross the D35 with caution and continue straight ahead on the dirt track, then, at the cross, turn left onto a small road towards the cemetery.

(11) Turn right along the cemetery, then follow Rue des Remparts.

(12) Follow Grande Rue to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 406 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 1.33 - alt. 353 m - Intersection of 3 paths
  3. 2 : km 1.95 - alt. 324 m - Road/path intersection
  4. 3 : km 2.76 - alt. 346 m - Château de la Petite Varenne
  5. 4 : km 3.79 - alt. 298 m - Moulin Parraut. Walk along the - Sioule (la)
  6. 5 : km 5.38 - alt. 286 m - Bridge over the Sioule
  7. 6 : km 5.84 - alt. 293 m - Crossing the D66
  8. 7 : km 6.47 - alt. 334 m - Intersection of path and trail
  9. 8 : km 7.44 - alt. 422 m - Intersection at the edge of the forest
  10. 9 : km 9.24 - alt. 394 m - Intersection of 3 paths
  11. 10 : km 10.08 - alt. 369 m - Crossing the D35
  12. 11 : km 10.78 - alt. 402 m - Cemetery
  13. 12 : km 11.51 - alt. 400 m - Intersection of Rue des Remparts and Grande Rue
  14. S/E : km 11.94 - alt. 406 m - Car park

Notes

The official Moulin Parraut route is also available from the Val de Sioule Tourist Office. It follows a clockwise direction and is signposted.

(3) The Château de la Petite Varenne is private property.

Between (7) and (8), rocky areas may be slippery when wet.
Magnificent fields of cornflowers in June and July.

Worth a visit

Don't hesitate to lose yourself in the narrow streets of Charroux, ranked among the most beautiful villages in France, where you'll find local craft shops (candles, mustard, etc.) and a few nice bistros at the end of the hike.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
BOB63
BOB63

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a little-used route taken in hot weather
I made a mistake in my route due to imprecise directions or carelessness

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Brit
Brit

Very beautiful hike, but from Jenzat to the crossing of the Bois de la Garenne, several paths are unmarked.

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OT VDS
OT VDS

Thank you for your reply.

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madydou
madydou ★

Hello,
Thank you for your feedback.
The "complaining" hiker did not read everything.
The route is clearly marked as being in the opposite direction, both in the title and in the warning at the start.

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OT VDS
OT VDS

Hello,

A hiker came to see us at the Tourist Office in Charroux to tell us that the route was not marked.
It's just that the markings are in the opposite direction to the route suggested by Visorando.
Would it be possible to note this on the "Le Moulin Parraut" description sheet?

Thank you in advance,

Edith, Val de Sioule Tourist Office

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siouxfalls
siouxfalls

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There is a discrepancy between the route shown on the map between points 8 and 9 and the GPX data. The GPX route is about 30 metres to the left of the trail. There is only one trail that leads us to the edge of the woods, so there is no risk of getting lost. For those unfamiliar with the area, this can be confusing.
The walk took 3½ hours for a group of active senior citizens.

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Cyril F
Cyril F

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike alternating between wooded areas and open spaces.
To be done during a visit to Charroux, a listed village with welcoming craft shops.

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David Quinçaine
David Quinçaine

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A blue sky, a delightful setting! Bliss!

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VOLVESTRUM
VOLVESTRUM

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful scenery

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Randopigeon
Randopigeon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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Mumu et Arl
Mumu et Arl

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, accessible walk, and on the way back you can visit the very interesting town of Charroux.

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migoulette
migoulette

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike in the hills with beautiful views. We used (GPX track), which was very useful.

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Johvax
Johvax

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The description of the route at Petite Varenne and how to get to the site of the old Parraut mill is not very clear and needs to be revised.

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