The Balconies of Sainte-Colombe

Park in the car park at the church in Ste-Colombe.

(S/E) Walk down alongside it. At the Y-junction, turn right, and at the exit of the bend after the transformer, take the path on the right and climb up to the woods. There, turn left between the small cliff and the vineyards, and continue along this wonderful balcony, always skirting the woods.
You may need to go round a plot of land to avoid a short descent...

(1) As you approach the hamlet of Savoy, head down to the left to join the road, turn right for a few metres, then left at the next junction.

(2) At La Mouleyre, turn left and pass in front of Petit Mangot; at the fork, keep left.

(3) Before reaching Palanquey, leave the road heading towards the tennis courts, which are shaded in front of you, and continue right onto the path leading up to Château Faugère.
At the top, turn left, walk past the château and, just past the entrance, take the path on the right that leads downhill.

(4) At the end of the lane, turn right for a few metres, then left through the vineyards onto the path leading up to Château Roland. At the road, turn left, walk past the château and continue to the wayside shrine.

(5) Leave the road and take the path on the right that leads down towards La Tuilerie. Continue to the busy road, cross quickly and safely, then head left.

(6) Once on the other side, take the path on the right between the vineyards to avoid staying on the D245, which is too dangerous.
You can follow it by turning left, crossing a road and turning left again to reach the hamlet of Barbey (before the high-voltage power line).

(7) Join the D245, walk a few metres to the right and cross over to take the path running alongside the last house. About 100m further on, turn right towards the high-voltage power line, then left to join a small road; at the fork, keep right towards Palanquey.

(8) At the crossroads, turn right, pass through Quatre Rieux to reach the car park (S/E).

A small shelter is available in the car park.
Important
The route may cross or follow other marked trails. It is tempting to follow the markings! Unless otherwise specified, do not stray from this route...
Off the beaten track All landmarks mentioned in the description (place names, castle names, as well as high-voltage power lines, bridges, etc.) are shown on the corresponding IGN 1:25,000 map but are not always included on the reduced-scale map.
It is strongly recommended that you either obtain the aforementioned map or use the app on a smartphone, which will also allow you to be geolocated at all times, enabling you to track your movements accurately.
Please adhere strictly to the ‘Visorando Charter’.
We very often cross private property; this is the only way to continue on such routes.
The use of walking poles can be very useful and reassuring; as well as providing stability, they help distribute the strain.

The magnificent Romanesque church of Sainte-Colombe was built on the foundations of a major Gallo-Roman villa, which was later used as a necropolis during the Merovingian period. It features a single nave with side walls reinforced by internal arcades. The easternmost bay supports the square bell tower. The chancel consists of a small straight bay and a semi-circular apse with a barrel vault. The cornice of the chevet rests on modillions featuring marks, mythical creatures and figures.
The western façade, featuring arcades, is pierced by a doorway formed of three recessed semicircular arches with plain voussoirs. The large arcade, decorated with sawtooth and diamond-point motifs, is adorned with scrolls. Above, three semicircular arches each rest on a pair of small columns. A second cornice separates this level from the triangular gable.
Restorations: in the 17th century, two buttresses were added to the façade; in the 18th century, the building was restored; in the 19th century, a light barrel vault was constructed over the nave and the buttresses were repaired.
The church portal was listed as a historic monument by decree of 1 December 1908, whilst the rest of the church was listed by decree of 21 December 1925