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Park on Place des Parsières, in the centre of the village of Montrodeix (restaurant, fountain-wash house).
Yellow disc markings
(S/E) The first wash house fountain stands in the middle of this square. Note the markings on a lamppost. Head towards the bus shelter, walk past it and continue on the left side of the road until you find the Chemin du Château Fort, which branches off to the left (information sign slightly set back, straight ahead on the Puy de Dôme train). Follow this path and, further on, ignore a path on the right and the path on the left that climbs up to the basalt columns. You will come to a fork in the road.
No markings
(1) Leave the yellow markings and take the path on the right.
(2) At the T-junction with a path, turn right. Ignore two paths on the right, cross a road and take the path opposite. You will come to a busier road (D942).
(3) Cross carefully and continue on the path opposite, slightly to the left, then turn right after about 100 m. At the crossroads of four paths, turn right. You will arrive at a crossroads of four paths and find yellow markings again.
Yellow disc markings
Continue straight ahead towards Maison de Site. At the intersection with a path, continue straight ahead, then ignore a hairpin bend to the right and arrive at the D68.
(4) Cross it and continue on the path opposite, still heading towards Maison de Site, and shortly afterwards, go straight ahead at the crossroads. You will arrive at the old road that used to climb to the top of Puy de Dôme, at the old toll booth.
(5) Continue along the path opposite, crossing the Panoramique des Dômes railway line (be careful that there are no trains in sight!). Then continue straight ahead, ignoring all side roads and paths, and leaving the Panoramique station (Maison de Site) far to your right, until you reach a four-way crossroads at the Chemin des Gouris signpost (the name once given to young shepherds).
(6) Turn right towards Font de l'Arbre.
Green markings
(7) At the next four-way crossroads, leave the yellow markings and follow the green-marked path on the left. About 250 m further on, turn right onto a path at a small greenPR®® sign.
(8) At the next crossroads, go straight ahead, then immediately ignore a path on the right that turns sharply. At the fork in the path, turn left. Ignore a path leading to a field on the left, then look for a grassy path on the right that turns sharply and goes uphill. Take this path for a short walk to a calvary with three large crosses.
(9) Return to the path and continue to the right. At the T-junction with a path, turn right and immediately pass some drinking troughs. You will arrive at a crossroads in the village of Orcines, at the corner of the cemetery.
(10) Follow the street to the right, with the cemetery on your left. You will come to another crossroads, near the church (hiking sign). Go straight ahead, leaving the church on your left, then turn right immediately after to pass in front of the town hall and a fountain-wash house. You will arrive at Rue des Puys, opposite a school. Follow it to the right for a few metres, then turn onto the street that branches off to the left. Further on, ignore a street on the left that curves sharply.
Green markings and yellow disc markings
(11) Immediately after, at a fork in the road, turn left (note the yellow markings in addition to the green ones). At a cross on the left, ignore the path on the left and continue straight ahead on the road. You will arrive at the D942. Cross carefully and take Rue des Trois Fontaines opposite. You will arrive at the hamlet of La Baraque, at a crossroads.
Follow the road downhill, veering slightly to the left, towards the fountain and wash house, pass to the right of it and continue straight ahead. At the fork in the road, ignore Impasse des Marronniers on the left and follow Chemin des Sables on the right, which leads to the hamlet of Le Cheix.
No markings
Immediately afterwards, leave the markings, which go straight ahead, and continue along Chemin des Sables, which turns right. When you reach a crossroads with a wash house fountain, turn left and then, at the fork in the road immediately ahead, turn right onto Rue des Acacias. Ignore Rue des Chazeaux on the right, then Rue des Iris on the left.
(12) At the intersection with Rue de la Tupaine on the left, go down a few metres to discover a fountain-wash house-watering place (sign on the paved slanting streets). Go back up Rue des Acacias, noting the yellow andGR®® markings.
Red and whiteGR®® markings and yellow disc markings
(12) Continue to the left. Ignore a street on the right, pass in front of the wooden house and continue on the path that follows the street (an old Roman road), leaving Le Cheix. Under the high-voltage power lines, ignore the path on the left. You will come to a road.
Note the pretty cross on the right. Cross and follow Rue de Belair opposite to enter Font de l'Arbre. Continue straight ahead until you reach the village's main street (Route du Puy de Dôme). Continue a few metres to the right.
No markings
(13) Leave the markings, which continue straight ahead, and turn left towards the fountain-wash house on Rue du Maréchal-Ferrand. Pass the fountain and turn right onto the small square to reach a T-junction with a street. Note the fountain on the right and the Tiretaine stream running under a house.
Yellow disc markings
Turn left and follow the yellow markings. Ignore a street on the right. At the fork in the road, follow Rue de la Tour to the left. At the next intersection, follow Rue de la Cote Folle to the left. The tarmac disappears, ignore a path on the left, then arrive at a street.
Cross and continue along Rue de la Cote Folle opposite. You will arrive at a crossroads in Montrodeix. On the right, you will see an iron cross mounted on a Roman milestone. Turn left, then right onto Rue des Fonts Vieilles to pass in front of the large fountain/wash house/watering place. Continue straight ahead to return to Place des Parsières (S/E).
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