The Path of Jean Guitton
Champagnat
Network
The Path of Jean Guitton
Easy
Difficulty2h30
Duration10,6km
Distance+268m
Positive Elevation-269m
Negative ElevationLoop
Course type
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"My youth was spent in the Château de Fournoux, my grandfather's home [...] I bought a cottage opposite Fournoux, where I find a little bliss. I think I've come full circle, crossing that slow brown river that separates my past from my present, the thoughtful "Tardes"." Jean Guitton
3 points of interest
- River
The Tardes valley
The Tardes has its source in the commune of Basville. It is a popular river for fishermen, especially for brown trout. Its valley is gradually deepening and from Chambon/Voueize to its confluence with the Cher, the river is classified as a ZNIEFF (Zone Naturelle d'Intérêt Ecologique Faunistique et Floristique). - Heritage site
La Chaumière (private property)
After the Second World War, Jean Guitton bought this building, from which he built a chapel named "La Pensée", in reference to Blaise Pascal, and which he inaugurated on July 16, 1971, in the presence of the bishop and the academician Maurice Druon. - Heritage site
Château de Fournoux (private property)
Jean Guitton spent his childhood holidays in this house belonging to his grandfather Henri Bertrand. He wrote, "Fournoux is perfection...an improbable meeting of a river in a gorge, a vast canopy of woodland and human habitation, dominant and dominated."
Description
- Go up the walled road for 20 m. and take the small sunken path on the left. Continue straight on for about 2 km until you reach the D19.
- Take the road on the left and then immediately turn right towards La Roche. Go through La Roche, keeping left, and follow the green signs to the hamlet of Montfrand.
- Go down the road on the left (the route follows the GR 46 marked in red and white).
- Before the village of Théolet, take a right turn after a small tarmac road for about 700 m to reach the D28.
- Cross the bridge on the left. Leave the major road and continue on the departmental road for about 500 m.
- Turn onto a sunken path below you to the left. Cross a stream and go straight on up. You'll reach a small asphalt road: go across it. Continue to follow the path until you reach the road.
- Fork left towards Le Deveix, go through the hamlet and go down to the valley of the Tardes (the viewpoint overlooking the Château de Fournoux).
- At the D19, turn left and cross the bridge. Continue for 300 m and turn right to reach the hamlet of La Châtre.
- Departure : Hamlet of La Châtre, Champagnat
- Arrival : Hamlet of La Châtre, Champagnat
- Towns crossed : Champagnat and Lupersat
Altimetric profile
Recommandations
Take care: The Chaumière de Jean Guitton and the Château du Fournoux are private properties.
Access and parking
From Champagnat, take the D9 towards Bellegarde then the D19 towards Mainsat.
Parking :
Hamlet of La Châtre
Accessibility

Emergency number :112
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