The Templars
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The Templars
Courteix

The Templars

Heritage site and architecture
Landscape
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Between meadows and forests, this is a country walk through varied landscapes.

7 points of interest

  • Heritage site

    Courteix

    Courteix church, built in the 12th and 13th centuries, was part of the Maltese Commandery of Bellechassagne. On the paved floor of the church, there are several gravestones of former monks of the Order of Malta. Outside, a fragment of the old cross marks the site of the former cemetery, which has been relocated.
  • Peat bog

    Wet meadows

    Situated at the bottom of valleys, often in spring areas or on the bank of a stream that is barely flowing, wet meadows and peat bogs provide small reserves of fodder in times of drought. Livestock finds food there during very hot and dry weather events. In the spring, these areas are also good for dragonflies. 
  • Panorama

    The Plateau of Millevaches

    Culminating at an altitude of nearly 1,000 metres at Mont Bessou, the Millevaches plateau takes its name not from the number of cattle grazing on its green pastures but from the expression ‘one thousand springs’, as there is so much water.
  • Heritage site

    The Le Gardy well

    The villages of Limousin were all heavily involved in agriculture. Walking through these hamlets always produces interesting discoveries during a hike: barns, large country houses, crosses and monuments, traditional local architecture, etc.
    As you go through the village of Le Gardy, take a look at the well on your left.
  • Panorama

    The Massif du Sancy

    This hike will offer you several viewpoints overlooking the highest volcano in mainland France, the Puy de Sancy. At 1885 metres above sea level, this summit is the highest point of the Massif Central. The two streams, the Dore and the Dogne, originate there, and their confluence forms the Dordogne.
  • History

    The Maquis stele

    The forests of the Haute Corrèze were often used as shelters, hiding places and training bases for the members of the Maquis during the Second World War. A group of more than 120 resistance fighters found refuge in the Bois des Trois Faulx. At the end of September 1943, German troops attacked the camp, and several Maquis members were killed in the fighting.
  • Heritage site

    The beech tree alley

    While the first part of the route leads through coniferous forests with numerous logging areas, this magnificent path leads to a beech forest.
    Historically, the department of Corrèze was not forested. In 1900, forests in Corrèze occupied only ¼ of the territory. Today, almost half of the department's surface is wooded. The significant decline in agriculture has encouraged planting, particularly of softwoods, with a clear predilection for planting Douglas fir.

Description

Depart from Courteix church. Go up towards the D 161, which goes to Couffy. At the next crossroads, turn right towards La Chabanne.
  1. Go through the village. The road becomes a path. Go past a path on your right. At the next two Y junctions, turn left. When you reach a beech forest, turn right to join the road which you follow to the left for 100 m.
  2. Follow the track to the right that leads to Lachaud. In the village take the road to the right. Turn right again at the rest area. Before a bend, take the earth path straight ahead.
  3. At a crossroads, take the track on the left (straight ahead for the variant). At a bend in the track, do not take the path that goes straight ahead but turn left to Le Gardy.
  4. Take the road to the right. It joins the D 21, which you follow to your left. Pass over the Mazonne and take the road to the right, towards Regeat. 100 m after the crossroads, follow the track to the left. Before Régeat, go up the path on the left to the stele.
  5. Continue to climb alongside the meadow. Join a path, which you take to the right. At the Y junction, go straight down to the road, which you follow on the right to reach Chassergue.
  6. Turn right into the village at the farm. The path descends into the undergrowth. Then, at a Y-shaped crossroads, turn left and walk along the wetland to reach the road.
  7. Follow it to the left for 50 m, then take the path to the right. Cross the bridge. Turn left at the next crossroads to reach point 1 again. Turn left and go through La Chabanne. Turn left at the crossroads to get to Courteix.
  • Departure : Park in the church square, Courteix
  • Arrival : Park in the church square, Courteix
  • Towns crossed : Courteix, Couffy-sur-Sarsonne, Lamazière-Haute, and Aix

Forecast

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

This path consists of a large circuit that can join either at Courteix or at Couffy, making a round trip. There is also a shorter route for this long circuit, which is described in detail in a separate sheet.

Information desks

Place Voltaire, 19200 Ussel

05 19 60 00 30

Access and parking

The departure point is 14 km from Eygurande: follow the D 21 headed towards Couffy, then the 161 towards Courteix.

Parking :

Park in the church square, Courteix

More information

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