Saut de la Virole

5 points of interest

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  Panorama

  Viewpoint over the Viam-Lestards state-owned forest

  A ‘domaniale’ forest is, in France, a forest belonging to the State. It is managed by the National Forestry Office (ONF) in accordance with the Forestry Code. They were established in the time of Charlemagne, categorising them as “the first natural areas to be rigorously managed”.
  The forest occupies an area of approximately 1.17 km².

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  River

  La Vézère

  The Vézère river flows in these gorges for nearly 5 km between the Monceaux la Virole dam (Lac de Viam) and the Treignac dam (Lac des Bariousses), rising from 684 to 553 metres in altitude.
  Here it scrambles through the blocks of granite before plunging several metres down to a waterfall called “Le Saut de la Virole”.
• View picture in full screen

  

  Waterfall

  Le Saut de la Virole

  From its source, situated about thirty kilometres away, and after having crossed the peat bogs of the Plateau de Millevaches, the Vézère makes its way through the blocks of granite before falling several metres lower and forming this natural waterfall: le Saut de la Virole.
  The colours of the landscape change with the seasons, from the soft green of spring to the grey-brown of winter, and the flow of water through the Vézère River, which varies according to the management of the Monceau-la-Virole hydroelectric dam, offer different aspects to this waterfall.

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  Small patrimony

  The old mill of Coissac

  Traditional local architecture. This mill belonged to the inhabitants of the village of Coissac. It was once used to grind grain including rye and buckwheat.
  No more than ruins remain today, but you can still see the granite grindstones in the remains of the mill.
  You can also see a remnant of the forebay that used to supply the mill with water and the ruins of a building dating from the same period as the mill, but whose use is unknown.

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  Pond

  The Coissac pond

  The Coissac pond supplied water to the mill when it was still operational. Now inactive, the water from the latter is first lost in a “cariçaie” (vegetation dominated by sedges and grasses) and then contributes to the formation of a peat bog at the tail of the pond.