The legendary stones of the Tournesac Valley

A beautiful and varied route through bocage, deciduous and coniferous forests, starting from La Roche-en-Brénil, allowing you to discover three beautiful granite rock formations steeped in mystery and legend.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.57 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 223 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 232 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 496 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 396 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The start is at Place de la Danse, where parking is very easy.

Yellow markings

(S/E) Take Rue des Étangs, cross the railway line and join a cross road. Follow it to the right until you reach a place called Les Deux-Étangs.

(1) At No. 21, admire the old wash house converted into a private residence, then turn right onto the C133 towards Romeneau.

(2) In Romeneau, turn right onto Grande Rue, cross the railway line and, at the three-way junction, take the left-hand branch. At the next junction, turn right and continue to the D906. Cross carefully and take the path opposite.

(3) At the small crossroad, turn right and head towards the forest.

(4) At the edge of the forest, turn left onto the dirt track and follow the edge of the forest. Go down to the bottom of the valley, then follow the path on the left that goes back up.

(5) About 50 metres before a road, almost at the edge of the woods, turn right. Continue straight ahead, cross a plateau, then descend and reach a fork at the edge of the woods.

(6) Continue straight ahead until you reach the village of Montmilien and turn right at the crossroads. As you cross Montmilien, admire the sculptures by a local artist and the working blacksmith's forge. The hunting dogs, which are sure to bark, are said to be friendly and are kept on a leash.

(7) Continue along the grassy path and you will reach a fork just after crossing Tournesac.

(8) Take thesecond pathon the left, then after about 300 metres, follow the track on the left and find the path on the right that leads to La Roche de la Beuffenie (allow half an hour for the round trip).

(9) Then return to the fork near Tournesac.

(8) Continue left and follow the right bank of the Tournesac.

(10) Take a short detour to the right to admire the charming little bridge made of a long block of carved granite, then continue along the path at the bottom of the valley. Join a path on the right signposted Le Peuron des Lutins.

(11) Follow this short, steep path to reach Peuron des Lutins.

(12) Return to the previous fork.

(11) Once back, turn right and join a road. Follow it to the left for a good hundred metres. At the end of the left-hand bend, take the track on the right and find the start of a path on the left a hundred metres after the end of the left-hand bend.

(13) Take this path on the right and climb up to thethird stone of Légende, the Peuron de Meurger, the winegrowers' hut.

(14) Then descend via the same route back to the track.

(13) Follow it to the left, then take the path on the right after the right-hand bend and before the left-hand bend. Follow this path to the bottom of the valley.

(15) Cross the charming Pont de Gargantua bridge made of large granite blocks and continue straight ahead. Climb up to a cross path. Follow it to the left and continue straight ahead until you reach a four-way crossroads.
Turn right, then at the entrance to the village, take the small path on the left and continue to Place de la Danse (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 428 m - Place de la Danse
  2. 1 : km 0.61 - alt. 417 m - Les Deux Étangs
  3. 2 : km 1.49 - alt. 441 m - Romeneau
  4. 3 : km 2.73 - alt. 442 m - Le Crossaint
  5. 4 : km 2.96 - alt. 437 m - Come Pluche
  6. 5 : km 4.14 - alt. 424 m - Fork in the road, to the right
  7. 6 : km 5.02 - alt. 451 m - Exit from the woods
  8. 7 : km 5.3 - alt. 466 m - Montmilien
  9. 8 : km 6.02 - alt. 450 m - Crossing the - Tournesac (cours d'eau) - Affluent de la Romanée
  10. 9 : km 6.95 - alt. 496 m - Pierre de - La Beuffénie
  11. 10 : km 8.82 - alt. 429 m - Small granite bridge
  12. 11 : km 9.68 - alt. 416 m - Peuron des Lutins trail
  13. 12 : km 9.88 - alt. 432 m - Peuron des Lutins
  14. 13 : km 11.26 - alt. 425 m - Peron de Winegrowers' Hut trail
  15. 14 : km 11.72 - alt. 466 m - Peron de Meurger
  16. 15 : km 12.73 - alt. 396 m - Gargantua Bridge
  17. S/E : km 14.57 - alt. 427 m - Place de la Danse

Notes

Picnic table at a place called "Les Deux Etangs" (1).

(6) At the edge of the woods, with Montmilien in sight, you can shorten the route by turning right to go directly down to the surprising little stone bridge (10).

There are no drinking water points on the route.

Accessible to all on foot or by bicycle, some sections may be quite muddy. Please dress appropriately.

The entire route is clearly marked in yellow. At the starting point, there is a sign presenting the route.

Only the first part of the hike follows tarmac roads, but there is very little traffic.

Worth a visit

(1) An old wash house converted into a dwelling.

(7) A working blacksmith's workshop.

(10), (15) Granite bridges.

(9), (12) and (14) Legendary rocks.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Michel des Courtils
Michel des Courtils

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike on a warm late afternoon. We enjoyed the many shaded areas. The Tournesac is surprising, as are the sites listed.

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NanaDidi
NanaDidi

Forgot to mention in my previous message: exciting meeting with the farrier.

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NanaDidi
NanaDidi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

In fact, we didn't use the downloaded documents because the local brochure, signs and markings (brand new, beautiful and clean) are more than enough.
That said, it's a lovely walk, full of charm and mystery.

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apatenotte
apatenotte

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route was covered in dry, cold weather (-3°C) but was very enjoyable thanks to its variety and the stops at remarkable sites.

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Domiporte
Domiporte

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Despite a rather cloudy day, we thoroughly enjoyed this varied walk, rich in beautiful legends and beautiful trees.

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Randoclo89
Randoclo89
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, partly shaded hike that is well marked at the start of the Roche en Brenil but with a problem encountered in the middle of the forest. In my opinion, you had to turn left in the forest: a yellow arrow pointing left turns into an orange arrow on a path that is not visible and has not been cleared of ferns. We ended up in a hamlet higher up: Les Teureaux de Mâche, found the trail again and did the route in the other direction. We didn't see many legendary stones or wash houses, only Le Peuron des lutins.

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TraveLS
TraveLS

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A somewhat gloomy and windy late winter day made the hike a little less interesting than it would have been in milder weather. The rocks are well worth the effort of the climb. The route is very clearly marked in the description and well chosen for its variety of landscapes, ponds, fields, hedges, villages, castles, forests, streams, Christmas tree plantations and, of course, the rocks and their legends.
Mostly on paths or trails in the forest.

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PIERRE MONNIER
PIERRE MONNIER

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, easy hike in a stunning natural setting enhanced by the autumn colours. Beautiful forests abundant with mushrooms of all kinds. Very pleasant paths carpeted with multicoloured leaves. The Beuffenerie rock is a superb spot for a lunch break, as the witch did not make an appearance. From point 8 to point 10, the path along the river is superb. The Peuron des Lutins (point 11) and the Peuron de Winegrowers' Hut (point 13) are worth the short detours. The author's description is perfect, so thank you to him.
We highly recommend this beautiful hike.
PP and MM

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