The hills of Jonchères

Park in the village square in front of the town hall and the washhouse.

Yellow-marked route

(S/E) Walk down the road and leave the village. At the first three-way junction, turn right, then right at the crossroads, and left at the second crossroads onto Chemin des Pointes. Walk past a farm and continue downhill to a junction.

(1) Leave the wide path and continue to the left along a small stony track. Keep going downhill, passing through two gates. Cross the Ruisseau du Freycenet via a small bridge, then head back up to the hamlet of Freycenet.

(2) In the centre of the hamlet, turn right. Walk down the street between the houses and turn right onto Chemin du Tisou. The tarmac gives way to a grassy path. Walk down the slope, which becomes steep and stony. The view over the Allier opens up. The Jonchères Gorges and the railway line come into view.

(3) Cross over the stream and through a gate. The path climbs, revealing a beautiful panoramic view of the various railway tunnels and the meandering river.

(4) The yellow signposts indicate you should turn right. Take care: the very stony path descends steeply for a few metres. Be careful not to slip; the section is short but not easy. Continue downhill until you reach the D401, which you follow to the left, climbing for about 200 metres.

(5) A yellow sign indicates that you should head left up the steeply sloping path. A series of hairpin bends leads you onto the plateau. Follow this well-marked path until you reach a crossroads. Turn left here and you will immediately join the D404.

(6) Follow this road to the right.

(7) When the road bends to the right, turn left and, at the Fork in the road that appears immediately, follow the wide path on the left, which climbs steadily up to a crossroads.

(8) Turn right, cross over a stream and follow the path uphill. This track becomes a tarmac road. You’ll reach Rauret church.

(9) Then turn left, then left again, to quickly reach the village square (S/E).