Queyrères - Le Puy-en-Velay

(S) (Please note: several^GR® trails cross here, so there is a risk of getting lost!).
Head south on the D152 via the^{GR®65 andGR®430}.

(1) Leave the D152 to the right and continue on the^GR® trails to the village of Monedeyres.

(2) Walk through the village, past the church, then 250 m further on, turn right onto the Chemin de la Coste.

(3) Continue left onto the^GR®65.

(4) Ignore the^PR® path branching off to the right and carry on to the hamlet of La Faye.

(5) Cross the hamlet on the Route du Villaret. At the end, head right then left onto the small path marked in white and red heading south-west.

(6) At the junction with the Chemin de Fustier, turn left and continue south-west for about 200 m until you reach the crossroads.

(7) Turn left, cross the D52 and continue to the Route de Neyzac.

(8) Turn right and continue south-east to the junction at the foot of Mont Chouvet.

(9) Leave the Route de Neyzac and head right onto the small path. Ignore the^PR® signposting off to the left and continue to the old mills.

(10) Walk past several old mills, then turn left at the first cross to enter the hamlet of Chapteuil.

(11) At the next cross, head right to climb up to the ruins of an old castle perched on a small volcanic hill. Follow the marked path: (be careful, as numerous stones make the path difficult). Continue down the slope to the hamlet of Bacelles.

(12) Cross the hamlet and, a little further on, turn left at a hairpin bend to reach the entrance to Saint-Julien-Chapteuil.

(13) On Chemin Maison Neuve, turn left. Walk past the retirement home and then, at the end of the street, turn left onto the path alongside the stream. At the left-hand bend, take the small path on the right, walk past the Romanesque church and then take the long flight of steps down to exit to the left of Collège Saint-Joseph, on Rue Chaussade.

(14) Turn right onto this street and continue to the end. Turn left onto Place Saint-Robert towards Le Puy-en-Velay, passing the town hall and the École Saint-Julien-Chapteuil.

(15) Cross the large roundabout towards Le Puy-en-Velay and continue along this long straight stretch for 1 km (refreshments available at Intermarché after the Total petrol station and at the bakery in town).

(16) Before the bend to the left, take the path branching off to the right. Cross the Sumène and pass through the hamlet of Eynac.

(17) Ignore the^PR® signs, stay firmly on the^GR®65and continue to the hamlet of Tournecol

(18) Turn left, still ignoring the^PR® signs, and continue to the hamlet of Marnhac.

(19) In the centre of the hamlet, take the hairpin bend to the left onto Chemin de la Chaud. At the end of this road, keep heading along the stony path, still following the^GR® 65 markings, until you reach the pumping station.

(20) Cross the D150 with care, then, 150 m further on, turn right, heading north-west, at a hairpin bend. Continue along the D150, then veer off to the left to reach Avenue du Plaid in the village of Saint-Germain-Laprade.

(21) Turn right, cross the village and pass the Saint-Régis cemetery. Continue along the road for about 150 m without reaching the D150.

(22) Turn left onto the grassy path leading into the woodland. Continue in this direction for 1.3 km

(23) Turn left at the junction with Chemin de Saint-Régis, then left again onto the path, heading south-west. Go through the barrier to continue along Rue du Riou, which joins Rue du Garay in the town of Brives-Charensac. Continue to the junction with Avenue des Sports.

(24) At the stop sign, turn right to the roundabout, then left onto the Route de Lyon. At the roundabout, turn left and cross the bridge over the Loire. Turn right at the roundabout and continue for a few metres.

(25) Then go down the stairs to reach the banks of the Loire and head north-west. Follow the Loire for 1.4 km and go under the N88.

(26) Turn left, then follow the Borne, a tributary of the Loire, to the footbridge.

(27) Cross the river and head left onto the other bank.

(28) Go under Boulevard Maréchal Joffre and continue to the next footbridge crossing the river. Cross the river and turn right onto Promenade de la Borne. Continue to the Jardin de Saint-Michel.

(29) Turn left, pass the children’s playground on your right and walk between the allotments. Continue to the junction with Chemin de Bouthezard. Do not enter the park; turn left and then right onto the footpath running alongside Avenue de Bonneville. At the next junction, directly opposite the Rocher de la Vierge, a signpost will point you towards the campsite. Turn right and continue for 150 m to reach the Bouthezard campsite (E).

Refreshments available in Saint-Julien-Chapteuil between (13) and (15) at Intermarché after the Total petrol station and the bakery in town.
(E) Camping du Bouthezard in Le Puy-en-Velay - Tel: 04 71 09 55 09

The Neyzac mills (10) are small watermills situated on the same watercourse, in a cascade. They have been restored by the Résurgences association. Their architecture offers a chance to discover the different types of roof structure and roofing typical of the region (slate, broom, straw).

Saint-Julien-Chapteuil (14): a town renowned for its lace-making and the cultivation of green lentils.

(E) The exceptional site of Le Puy-en-Velay, often referred to as ‘the Mont Saint-Michel of the Terres’.
The town is nestled in a lush green setting where water and fire have sculpted stunning natural landscapes and where man has allowed the beauty of art to shine through.