Stream and village of Enval, Sainte Chapelle de Vic-le-Comte

In Vic-le-Comte, park in the Triolet car park near the playground and Elsa Triolet nursery school, at the intersection of Rue de Verdun and Rue du 19 Mai 1962.

(S/E) With your back to the park, cross Rue de Verdun and follow the Passage (pedestrian) de la Mo' to reach Place de la Molière, then continue right along Rue de la Croix du Vent. Turn right at Place de la Petite Molière. Go straight ahead at the crossroads (alternative car park) and continue to the end of the street, where you will reach a T-junction (Chemin du Paradis).

(1) Walk a few metres to the right and cross to follow a path opposite. Further on, ignore a field path on the right.

(2) At the next intersection, follow the path on the right that runs alongside the Ruisseau d'Enval stream, crossing several footbridges. At one of these footbridges, ignore a path leading off to the left. You will come to a road.

(3) Follow it to the right and, just before the bridge (over the Ruisseau de Pignol), turn onto the path on the left. Further on, you will arrive at a small street in Enval, Chemin de la Garenne (incorrect spelling on the map).

(4) Follow this lane to the left, which soon turns into a path. At the intersection, leave Rue des Fontaines straight ahead and take the street on the left and then immediately Rue des Granieux on the right. Continue for about 60 metres, then, between a house and a garage, turn right onto a path, the Sentiers des Grottes (not very visible as it runs very close to the house). The path takes you past some cave dwellings, then joins Rue des Fontaines further down. Follow it to the left and you will arrive at the village fountain, at a crossroads.

(5) Turn right and cross the bridge over the Ruisseau de Pignol. Ignore the street on the right and carefully follow the road uphill (D116, with little traffic). At the fork in the road, turn left and you will come to Route d'Enval D81. Cross it carefully and follow the path opposite, slightly to the left. At the fork in the path, keep left. You will come to a road further on.

(6) Turn right and continue straight ahead at the next two intersections, at a sort of square. Continue along Route d'Enval to return to the centre of Vic. Further on, ignore Rue des Petits Creux on the right and at the fork in the road just after, keep left (no entry, Rue de Beauvat). Join a wider street, Rue Marc-Antoine Bargouin, and continue to the right, following the road signs for Centre ville, Autres directions.

(7) At the next intersection with Boulevard de la Liberté, turn left towards Sallèdes Isserteaux. Shortly afterwards, turn right at the first street towards Sainte Chapelle. You will arrive at a beautiful square with a circular fountain and the Palais des Comtes d'Auvergne, the Place du Vieux Marché au Beurre. Go to the end of the square and pass under the palace gate to reach the Sainte Chapelle. Walk around the left side , looking up to see the sculptures at the top of the walls, then visit the interior (it is usually open).

(8) Leaving the chapel, go straight ahead on Rue de la Sainte Chapelle. Stay on this narrow street, which turns left and then right. At the T-junction, turn left onto Boulevard du Jeu de Paume. Follow it to the right and, at the crossroads before the town hall, take Boulevard de Beussat on the right, crossing it, then turn left immediately afterwards into Impasse des Dames. Follow Passage Louis Aragon (pedestrianised) as it continues, ignore an entrance on the left and turn left when you reach the park to find the Triolet car park (S/E).

Easy hike, standard hiking equipment required.

Semi-urban route, so fairly long sections on roads (with little traffic) and streets.

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here

Photo album here (longer hike)

Sainte Chapelle: see information here

Information panels in the village of Enval.