The Puy of Gourdon

We are following the footsteps of the templars who took refuge at the Olloix commandery at the time when Auvergne was one of the main territories of the Order of Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem. Superb views, crosses, bridges, megaliths....

Starting point - From the starting sign, go down towards the village of Chaynat. At the first fork, continue to the right. On the village square, turn right towards the rue du Four à pain until you reach the fountain.

1 - Turn left onto Chemin de Gourdon and continue up about 500 m to an intersection.

2 - Take the right track. At the T-junction, turn left. At a new T-junction on the flat, turn right and continue for 50 m (menhir des Deux territoires), until you reach a fork.

3 - Turn right. At the next road, turn left for 300 m, turn left again and continue until a crossing 300 m further on.

4 - Go up to the right on the wide grassy path for a round trip to the top of the Puy de Gourdon (from the top, distant circular view). Back to point 4, continue the path to the right. On the descent, the oblique path to the left before reaching a T-junction, near an agricultural building. Turn left and follow this main road back to point 3, continue to the right and keep east-west for 500 m. The path then turns largely to the left. Continue straight ahead, reach point 2 and continue until you reach the fountain in Chaynat. Follow the road on the right (D74, route de Ludesse) to pass below the church (church and commandery, 15th century). Stay on the road towards Saint-Saturnin. At the end of the village, turn left into rue des Avats, which runs alongside the castle park before going straight up to the starting point of the circuit.