Badger Trail

7 points of interest

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  Forestry

  The Mirambel Forest

  At the start of the walk, the Place de Saint-Rémy is embellished with a magnificent Sully oak tree. Sully, a minister to King Henry IV, had roads and squares embellished with remarkable trees. The paving of the church, which dates from the 12th century, includes several tombstones. The outside of the apse is richly decorated with a modillion cornice.

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  Fauna

  Of man and nature

  This lake was dug to supply water to fight forest fires. But nature has gradually regained its rights over this artificial environment: rushes, sedges, bulrushes; at the back, a floating area of soil has formed, the bog is gaining ground.
  With a bit of luck, you might be able to spot the grey heron that has taken up residence here.

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  Flora

  Plant species speak to us

  The plant species of this place are numerous. These grow according to their nutritional needs, and this creates a fantastic spectacle that delights the eye. It is common to find blueberries, holly, and meadow melampyrums in the undergrowth. On this massif, beeches and oaks grow together creating a deciduous "beech oak grove", an unusual sight in Haute-Corrèze.

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  Flora

  L’allée des Gardes

  "L'allée des Gardes", rows of large coniferous trees, refers to the forest rangers who manage this massif. Behind this alley, the forest is managed through natural regeneration (as opposed to planting seedlings and young plants from nurseries): the undergrowth is cleared, some beautiful preserved trees play the role of seed trees. The seeds grow into a shrub; gradually the "old" seed trees are eliminated to make way for the young shoots.

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  Small patrimony

  The Mirambel Sonata

  This xylophone was made by the children from the Sainte-Fortunade special school in Corrèze. They have created this construction to try and demonstrate to us the variability of the sounds produced by the different species of trees according to their appearance, hardness and durability.
  Enjoy and be lulled by this delightful auditory experience.

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  Panorama

  The Mountains of Auvergne

  If the sun is shining on it, the neighbouring Auvergne will let you admire its volcanoes. On the right, the Massif du Sancy, on the left, the Monts du Cantal, in the centre the Plateau du Cézallier. However, it would be a pity to admire only the background of this landscape: the Haute-Corrèze countryside blends colours and shapes of meadows, coniferous and deciduous forests.

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  History

  The Resistance

  The stele, or memorial stone, erected at this crossroads takes up the Song of the Partisans, the hymn of the Resistance. It forms part of the interpretation trail that partially intersects this hike. During the Second World War, in July 1943, 60 to 80 resistance fighters belonging to Vincent Faïta's group (communist resistance fighters of Italian origin) hid in this forest. Sheltered in simple huts made of branches, they came to take refuge there between two ambushes intended to slow down the German advance.