The Forest of Drouille
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The Forest of Drouille
Dontreix

The Forest of Drouille

Landscape
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Through the Forest of Drouille and the hamlets of Dontreix, explore the landscapes of the Combraille, a renowned historical and geographical region on the borders of Limousin and Auvergne.
The Forest of Drouille was occupied by the ancestors of the Gauls, the Celts, who left their mark on the whole region. Dontreix was located in Gaule Chevelue, a heavily wooded province. Situated on the borders of the territories of Arvernes (Auvergne), Lemovices (Limousin) &  and Bituriges (Berry), the Forêt de Drouille was grown and thriving when the druids gathered their mistletoe there.

3 points of interest

  • Forestry

    Drouille Forest

    The toponym "Drouille" comes from the Gallic "dervo" meaning "oak". Unfortunately, the forest has been exploited (felling, plantations) and the ZNIEFF has thus been reduced from 740 hectares to just under 340 ha.
  • Pond

    Etang Neuf, the Neuf lake

    Situated on the border of the departments of Creuse and Puy-de-Dôme, the Etang Neuf is home to many species characteristic of wetlands: Eurasian reed warbler, water rail. The flora of the lake presents remarkable plants such as Littorella uniflora (Shoreweed) and the bay willow.
  • Heritage site

    Gendelauds Well

    In the past, the wells were meeting points for the inhabitants of the village who came to fetch water or water their animals. This well is dated 1888 and now contains a statue of the Virgin.

Description

  1. Climb towards the church; turn right on the road to Malganne, go straight on and pass in front of the cross of St Anne. Continue on the road, which is extended by a path.
  2. At the first fork, turn right; at the next fork, in the forest, go left and continue to the road.
  3. Take the road on the left; after 500 m, take a path on the right for 50 m; at the fork, go right and continue to an intersection with a wide forest track.
  4. Go left on this track; at the black cross, go straight on to the next fork.
  5. Fork left and go on until you reach a T-junction; go right; at the next intersection, go straight ahead until you reach an intersection with a wide path.
  6. Turn right, go on alongside a pond; at the crossroads, continue opposite on the edge of the forest to the road.
  7. Cross the road to take the path opposite; walk alongside the Etang Neuf, then take the road on the right on the dyke to Les Courtioux Hauts.
  8. At the stone cross, turn right and go straight ahead until you reach the road.
  9. Cross the road and continue across it until you reach a T-junction at the edge of the wood; turn left to Les Chazeaux.
  10. Take the road on the left at the first house; at the T-junction, take the road on the left; 200 m after the La Marzelle sign, turn right for 30 m and then right again.
  11. Go through the village; As you leave the village, the street extends into a wide path that you follow until you get to a wooden cross.
  12. Go down to the right in the forest and continue on the path to Hauteserre.
  13. Turn left on the path after the second house; pass to the right of the cross and go straight to the lake.
  14. At the road, turn right and climb towards Dontreix; cross the D 4 and return to the starting point.
  • Departure : Place du Monument aux Morts, Dontreix
  • Arrival : Place du Monument aux Morts, Dontreix
  • Towns crossed : Dontreix

Forecast

Altimetric profile

Information desks

Rue de l'Etang, 23700 Auzances

05 55 67 04 99

Access and parking

From Auzances, take the D 988 in the direction of Charron then, after the Pont de Courleix, follow the D 4 to reach Dontreix.

Parking :

Car park at Place du Monument aux Morts, Dontreix

Accessibility

Emergency number :112

More information

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