The site of Les Cars

Heritage site and architecture

Landscape

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One of the iconic sports itineraries of the Plateau de Millevaches, which allows you to discover a succession of heritage sites.

This circuit is part of the FFVélo Haute-Corrèze mountain bike base, the largest mountain biking area in France with 1000 km of marked circuits. This is the longest circuit, the circuits offer possible shortcuts. This circuit is easy going, with a slightly technical descent after Variéras. Very pleasant route on paths mainly through light woodland. Ideal for a sporty outing in spring.

8 points of interest

Forestry

Chaleix Wood

The Bois de Chaleix, with a ground area of about 150 ha, was acquired recently by the commune of Bugeat. Bordered by the Vézère river, it is composed of deciduous and coniferous trees. It offers many possibilities for sporting activities: hiking, orienteering, trail running, fishing and archery.

Heritage site

The village of Varièras

Varièras symbolises the renewal and creativity of the Plateau: if the cottage represents the traditional rural habitat of our region, the thatch is what predominates in this village of about fifty cottages. These buildings are real people's homes and are private properties that cannot be visited. On the descent after the village, the paved path goes down to the so-called Roman bridge of Variéras.

River

The Ars stream

Taking its source in the heart of the Plateau de Millevaches on the Longeyroux peat bog, the Ars becomes the beginning of the Vézère at its confluence with other streams at Pérols, then joins the Vézère which itself flows into the Dordogne after having travelled more than 200 km. The excellent quality of its waters is confirmed by the presence of the otter.

Heritage site

The village of Ars

The villages of Haute-Corrèze are all involved in agriculture. Walking through these hamlets always produces interesting discoveries during a hike: barns, mansions, crosses, bread ovens... Don't miss the bread oven at Ars. The base of the cross and the granite vat are a reminder that the Gallo-Roman site is not far away, as these elements were probably reused stones from the site.

Archaeology

Gallo-Roman remains at Les Cars

The Gallo-Roman remains of Les Cars are composed of two funerary buildings and a huge dwelling located 200 m. below. The presence, in the heart of an agricultural estate, of an impressive villa owned by a landowner linked to two private mausoleums, dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, is a hypothesis that remains to be confirmed. This site, famous for its monolithic granite tank, is open all year round.

Small patrimony

Moulin des Maisons

There is no small river in Haute-Corrèze that was not used by one or more mills; every farm, every village had its own. Of modest size, they were most often used to grind grain for livestock feed. Proof of the population's attachment to its local heritage, the Moulin des Maisons has been carefully restored.

River

The river Corrèze

At the edge of the forest track (be vigilant because some of it is steep), at an altitude of 910 metres, the Corrèze river rises in the heart of the Plateau de Millevaches. Behind the rock, there is a small wet area from which flows a thin stream of water that is then lost in the forest. 100 km further on, after taking water to Tulle and Brive, the Corrèze flows into the Vézère.

History

Espace 1000 Sources

The circuit starts near the Espace 1000 Sources stadium, a training centre that welcomes groups of sports enthusiasts who love the great outdoors. Behind this centre is Alain Mimoun, winner of the Sydney 1956 Olympic Games marathon, who had fine-tuned his preparations in Bugeat.

Description

Marking: brown arrows
Start at the edge of the water behind the stadium grandstand. Set off on the path to the forest.

Departure : Trois Ponts lake, Bugeat
Arrival : Trois Ponts lake, Bugeat
Towns crossed : Bugeat, Pérols-sur-Vézère, Saint-Merd-les-Oussines, Ambrugeat, Bonnefond

Altimetric profile

Information desks

35, Place du Champs de Foire, 19170 Bugeat

05 19 60 00 30

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Transport

Bugeat Station

Access and parking

In Bugeat, on the D979, head towards the Espace 1000 Sources then the Etang des 3 Ponts. Start off behind the stadium grandstand.

Parking :

Trois Ponts lake, Bugeat

More information

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