Virlay - La Tranchasse

Virlay water sports centre in Saint-Amand-Montrond

(S) Head towards the lake (behind the water sports centre) and follow the lake on your left.

(1) Turn left onto the Virlay country lane and go up to Avenue du Général de Gaulle on the right. Caution: traffic.

(2) At the Lidl roundabout, turn right onto Avenue de la Vigne du Prince

(3) For pedestrians: before the Avion roundabout, go down to the left along the banks of the Cher, then turn right until you reach the steps leading to Avenue Jean-Jaurès on the Orval bridge.
For cyclists: at the Avion roundabout, turn left, then at the Gare roundabout, turn left to reach the Orval bridge.

(4) Continue straight ahead on Avenue Jean Jaurès, then turn right at the fourth street onto Rue de Mazagran.

(5) Turn right onto Chemin de l'Usine des Eaux, then take the dirt road that goes around the Montrond Fortress.

(6) You will arrive at Rue de l'Autel de la Patrie. Turn right, then left at the crossroads towards the Canal de Berry.
(7) Turn right onto the towpath of the Canal de Berry on your right and continue for 2 kilometres until you reach the Pont de Marigny. Cross to the other side of the river and continue straight ahead for 5 kilometres until you reach the Pont de La Tranchasse. At the junction with the D97, continue straight ahead until you reach the Pont de la Tranchasse (E).

In Saint-Amand-Montrond:
- Public toilets: Lac de Virlay
- Drinking water: Lac de Virlay
Shops and restaurants on the shores of Lac de Virlay and in the town centre
Tourist Office - Place de la République - +33 (0)2 48 96 16 86 GPS: 47.7255 / 2.5056

In Drevant:
- Restaurant on the banks of the Canal de Berry
- Drinking water: Behind the town hall and in front of the restaurant
- Public toilets: In front of the restaurant

- Saint-Amand-Montrond's history lies at the foot of a fortress and in the heart of a town centre that boasts a remarkably well-preserved heritage. It is one of the treasures of the Jacques Cœur route, the oldest historic road in France. It was well after the French Revolution that the two towns of Saint-Amand Le Chastel and Saint-Amand sous Montrond merged to form Saint-Amand-Montrond.

- The Fortress of Montrond is the only bastioned fortification built in central France. Its origins date back to the 13th century. At the top of this military building, the view over the valley is breathtaking.

- Drevant is located on the right bank of the Cher and is home to a Gallo-Roman theatre. Its sanctuary and thermal baths bear witness to the importance of the city at that time.

- The Canal de Berry crosses the Cher at a place called "La Tranchasse" via the canal bridge of the same name, built between 1829 and 1834 and widened in 1872. It is of historical, heritage and technical interest it is representative of the large masonry canal bridges built in France at that time and was the first canal bridge built in the Centre region.
It is 96 metres long with eight arches, 8 metres wide and has a waterway width of 5.5 metres. Since 15 April 2009, this canal bridge has been listed as a historic monument.