The two forests of Fleuriel

Start from the village hall square.

(S/E) Join the D36 road (Route du Theil). Follow this road to the left (north-west), taking care even though there is little traffic. Pass under a power line.

(1) Just after passing the hamlet of Les Bransats, turn right onto a dirt track and follow the yellow markings of^{the PR®®36}“Le chemin des Ruys”. Further on, enter the forest.

(2) At the crossroads, continue more or less straight ahead (north-north-east) and leave the^PR®®36on your left. Stay in the forest. Join a forest track and follow it to the right for about 200 m.

(3) At the junction, head up to the left along the^PR®®21variant. At a crossroads (elevation 371), go straight on. Then ignore two turnings on the left.

(4) At the end of the track, follow the D36 road to the left with care. After about 200 m, turn right onto a dirt track at the edge of the forest. The track leaves the forest and heads west. You will arrive at the hamlet of L'Attelier d'en haut.

(5) Turn right onto the village road. After about 300 m, turn left onto the track leading to Les Maîtres farm. Pass the buildings, turn left with the track and continue south. At a junction (elevation 363), go straight on, pass under a power line and leave the hamlet of Pierre Lancy on your right.

(6) At a fork in the road, turn right. Follow the yellow markings for^{the PR®®21}"La Veauvre". Ignore a path branching off to the right (elevation 369).

(7) After a slight left-hand bend, take the path on the left that leads into the forest. At a T-junction, turn right (south-east).

(8) Carefully cross the Giverzat Forest local road and continue straight on (yellow markings). Descend briefly (difficult in wet weather). Cross a stream.

(9) Immediately afterwards, turn left (east) and follow a stream on your left.

(10) Turn left, cross the stream and head uphill. Pass through the charming hamlet of Fourillette and turn right onto the Chemin des Communaux (tarmac).

(11) At the junction, follow the Giverzat road to the right towards Fleuriel. Pass the hamlet of Les Fourchettes and continue straight on.

(12) At the three-way junction, continue towards Fleuriel on the right. Keep well to the left so you are visible to cars (fortunately few and far between) on the bend.

(13) At the corner of the school, turn right onto Rue de l'École. Before the post office, take a path on the left and head for the village hall car park (S/E).

Please be aware that during the hunting season, you should check with Fleuriel Town Hall for opening dates and hunting days.

(10) In spring, wild garlic can be foraged along this stream. Please take care not to trample the area and stay on the narrow path so that everyone can enjoy it.

Visit theHistorial Museum ofthe Peasant Soldier.
Visit the11th-century church and its capital dedicated to Santiago de Compostela (Fleuriel is situated on the^GR®®300, one of the Santiago de Compostela routes linking the Vézelay route to that of Le Puy-en-Velay).