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Departure from the market halls of Saint-Jean-du-Bruel, in the centre of the village.
(S/E) Head north and cross the Pont Neuf bridge: admire the Dourbie river and its beautiful pavement (la Pansière) as you pass. On your right is one of the chimneys of the old pottery works.
Turn left onto Rue du Moulin. Walk past two canneries, the "Noria" water house on your left and the 13th-century Pont Vieux bridge spanning the river opposite. Walk to the middle of the bridge for the view.
Retrace your steps. Opposite, take Rue de la Cabrune, formerly known as Camin ferrat.
(1) Cross Route de Seingleys and take Chemin de la Cabrune opposite. Leaving the tarmac road on your right, after about 250 metres, you will see the remains of the largest slate quarry in the country (over 1 hectare), which was last worked in 1946.
The shaded path climbs steadily north-eastwards between chestnut groves lined with schist walls, often built vertically to resist the pressure of the earth.
(2) When you reach the D341, turn left and follow the road for about 50 metres. Then, at the "La Sentinelle" sign, turn right onto a path that will lead you to a fork.
(3) About 20 metres before reaching this point, on the left, there is a remarkable tree that is worth stopping to look at: with its cracked base and compound leaves, it is a service tree or domestic rowan.
At the fork, take the path on the right along the ridge. It will lead you to a fork (signposted Saint-Jean) through white rockroses with laurel leaves or tulips, depending on the season.
(4) Continue straight ahead to reach the relay station and the Vierge de la Sentinelle, where a 360° panorama awaits you. Retrace your steps.
(4) Then turn right and descend to join the road at the hairpin bend known as Périgoul. Take the road on the left. You will admire Bruel and Saint-Jean. You can imagine a completely different environment because, 70 years ago, these plots on the right and left were planted with vines and hoed by hand (61 hectares in 1936 and 25 hectares after the frosts of 1956).
Continue along the road to the roundabout. Turn left towards the bridge over the Dourbie, which you must cross to reach the market halls (S/E).
Association / Club / Walk leader
Moderate 
Visorando member
Difficult 
