The castles of Larres and Maine from Saint-Rabier

Park in the car park opposite the entrance to the Château de Saint-Rabier.

(S/E) Head south-west and go down Côte des Terrasses. At the stop sign, turn left onto Route de Font del Pey.

(1) Take the first right and drive alongside the church on your right. Then take Rue du Pensionnat on the left, then Avenue de la Marche on the right.

(2) Cross the D704 very carefully and continue straight ahead on Route du Pont de Caramille. At the crossroads (cross), continue straight ahead on the same road. Ignore another road on the right, cross a stream and go up the road.

(3) Cross a small road and continue straight ahead on a path. Cross the Bois d'Axerat downhill.

(4) At the bottom, take the small bridge over a stream. On the other side, turn left and follow the signs for Boucle de Larres, Chapelle Saint Jean. Follow the stream on your left.

(5) After about 500 m, turn right, away from the stream, and climb steeply. At an intersection, continue straight ahead and climb more gently. Return to the tarmac road at a place called Larres and reach a T-junction.

(6) Then turn left. Next, turn right onto Allée Maurice Ravel to reach the entrance to Château de Larres.

(7) Take a path on the left. Return to the main road and follow it straight ahead. Ignore a road coming from the right (elevation 324). At Beaulieu, shortly after the sign for this hamlet, turn left onto Chemin de la Via.

(8) Take the first path on the right (yellow signpost), which starts between meadows. Join a small road, follow it to the left and enter Le Maine.

(9) Turn right, drive past the castle on your right and continue along Chemin de la Chenaille, which crosses a farm. Go down the path between the barn and the vegetable garden, then between the fence and the walnut trees.

(10) At an intersection (not shown on the map), turn right and then left (yellow marker) to go around a meadow and go up the valley to a fountain.

(11) Turn left at the hairpin bend and arrive at the village of La Chapelle-Saint-Jean. Turn left onto Rue des Hospitaliers. At the T-junction, turn right and you will immediately come to another intersection (church opposite).

(12) Turn left at an acute angle onto Route du Bois Laroche. Descend slightly, cross a bridge over a stream and you will immediately reach a crossroads.

(13) Continue straight ahead on the path opposite (yellow signpost) and go uphill.

(14) At the top, at a T-junction, turn left. Cross a small road and continue straight ahead along the Voie Impériale.

(15) Take the first path on the right (yellow marker) and descend. At the bottom, turn left and follow a stream.

(16) At a junction (not shown on the map), take the path that climbs to the right.

(17) Return to the D704 and follow it to the left, taking a side road lined with walnut trees. After about 150 m, cross the road very carefully and continue opposite along Impasse des Larmes. After about 50 m, turn left to go around a walnut plantation.

(18) You will come out onto Route du Belvédère. Follow it to the right. After about 30 metres, turn left onto Rue de l'Espitalet. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead onto Rue du Château du Roy. This will take you to Esplanade des Ormeaux and the car park (S/E).