Saint-Michel-de-Veisse walks

The banks of the Banize and Thaurion are truly enchanting! A visual treat that slows down your average speed: it's impossible not to stop repeatedly to contemplate the course of these two rivers, the balanced granite boulders or the mini waterfall that wants to play the big one.

West of Felletin, starting from the hamlet of Verminier, this route crosses forests, woods, meadows and hamlets. You will cross small streams and walk along ridges that often offer unobstructed views. There are few roads on this walk, but there are a few climbs to warm up your legs.

An easy route, following tracks, paths and short stretches of road, often shaded, allowing you to discover various hamlets in the Donzeil area.

This hike allows you to discover the Creuse in all its forms: a fast-flowing river north of Felletin, which slows down and spreads out before the dam, then drops downstream before resuming its course towards Aubusson. Left bank, then right bank, the circular route also takes you to the Combes dam.

Starting from Felletin, this short hike will take you along streams, rivers and brooks, wells, wash houses and drinking troughs, crossing footbridges, a typical Limousin plank bridge and even a balancing ford.

Located on the Millevaches plateau, Lac de la Vaud-Gelade is an artificial lake, created between 1940 and 1944, with a surface area of 300 hectares. It is fed by the Thaurion and several streams. It is used for electricity production. Its earthen dam with a granulite foundation holds 21 million cubic metres of water, which feeds Lac de Vassivière, depending on its water needs, through a 4km-long underground tunnel.

Starting from Sous-Parsat, this hike offers the opportunity to admire the amazing frescoes and stained glass windows of the village's Saint-Thomas Church, to stop at Mareilles in front of the "cylindrical" fountain and its pretty basin, and to walk through the undergrowth or across the bocage.

This is an opportunity to discover a rather secret path leading to the impressive Poirier Waterfall. Here, the Thaurion becomes a bubbling river that bounces off large granite boulders. This walk will also take you across two footbridges over the Thaurion, between twin ponds, along paths through woods and undergrowth, and across meadows.

Starting from the Martinèche car park, Martin Nadaud, the most famous mason in the Creuse, invites you to follow the paths of his childhood to discover the built and natural heritage of the commune of Soubrebost in half a day.

Starting from Néoux, this is a short, easy circular family walk along pleasant paths and part of a Roman road, the Sentier de César, through woods and meadows. The route is designed to avoid roads as far as possible.

The village of Royère-de-Vassivière was established on a strategic pass on the Millevaches plateau, at the crossing point of a prehistoric ridge path. The ridge paths (or pouges) allowed people to travel long distances. They favoured the granite peaks of the rounded hills, called Puy or Peux, and avoided the damp, peaty valley bottoms that only cattle frequented.

At the gateway to the Millevaches plateau, set off on a walk punctuated with information panels to discover a 50-hectare listed natural site.

Starting from the village, this circular route will take you to the Croix du Loup and allow you to explore the woods of Champagnat. On a clear day, you can see the Massif du Sancy and the Puy de Dôme. Please note that this route is not signposted. So make sure you have the description with you.

At the foot of the highest peaks of the Plateau de Millevaches, set off to discover the small village of Pallier.

Starting from Thauron, this is an easy walk that takes you along a small section of the magnificent Thaurion Gorges, then into the countryside.

A circular route starting from Saint-Pardoux-Morterolles that also allows you to discover the Cascades d'Augerolles site. This hike passes through meadows, woods, forests and the areas around the waterfalls. A few panoramic views, streams and a plank bridge complete the picture. It should be noted that the roads, where there are any, are forest roads, some paved and some unpaved, but in any case very little used.

Peat bogs develop in granite basins called alveoli, where the acidic, poor soil provides favourable conditions for their growth. These fragile environments are home to a specific flora composed of very particular primitive plants: sphagnum mosses. The different stages are visible here: low marshes covered with quaking bogs, active raised bogs, and peat heaths bordered by willows and birches.

Chassagnas, of Latin origin, Cassania or Gallic Cassanus, refers to the oak tree. Chassagnas consists of a wooded slope down to the edge of Lake Vassivière and a partially cleared summit offering a 180° view of the lake.The Chassagnas peninsula, jutting out into the heart of Lake Vassivière, forms the boundary between Creuse and Haute-Vienne. Together with its twin, the Puy du Rocher, which overlooks Vauveix, it acts as a barrier between the lake's two main bays.

The dam is complemented by the Auchaise dyke, which seals off a depression in the ground on the right bank about 400m from the main structure. This reservoir also receives water diverted from the upper basins of the Taurion (La Vaud-Gelade), Vienne, Dorat and Chandouille (Faux-la-Montagne) rivers.

A short, easy walk, ideal for families. There are a few roads to take at the start, but the rest of the route is mainly along paths or tracks. It’s also a chance to discover the little church in Savennes, with its sky-blue ceiling and peaceful atmosphere… if you can find the key to get in… (*)

A pleasant little circular, best done on a spring day. The embankments are bursting with wildflowers: orchids, forget-me-nots, Solomon's seals, chickweed, garlic mustard, crosswort, Persian speedwell, bright pink campion... a riot of colour! This is an easy, countryside walk that's perfect for families. There are a few ponds and two pretty castles to discover along the way.

This two-stage route of 2 x 18 km will take you on a journey of discovery around one of the largest artificial lakes in France. You can expect to see mid-mountain landscapes, varied vegetation including fir forests, moors and peat bogs, and wild flora and fauna on this tour of Lake Vassivière, commonly known as "Little Canada". The highlight of the route: a stopover at the Pourvoirie du Lac stopover lodge (accommodation, breakfast and dinner with a panoramic view of the lake).

This first stage takes you through unspoilt countryside, with a route that is both wild and surprising.

Nature and Land Art for this second stage, around the 5th largest artificial lake in France!

This hike allows you to explore the northern slope of the Chabrières massif with numerous passages through the undergrowth and a passage near the Parc au Loups.

Between Guéret and Sainte-Feyre, this is a short, easy hike that allows you to discover the oppidum and the beautiful panorama from the summit of Puy de Gaudy.

A family-friendly walk with plenty of sections through the woodland. It takes you first to the Chabrières pond and anthill (with information boards), then to the arboretum at the end of the walk. Yellow-marked walk: route managed by the Monts de Guéret Community of Communes.