An abundance of images awaits us on this tour: medieval winegrowing villages, fields of red earth, the magnificent lime of Montcelet and a watchtower in a savannah decor. Nearby, Lake of the Prior and castle of Collanges.
Starting point - From the starting sign, Place de l'Église in Vichel, go to the back of the car park, behind the church, and turn left into Rue de la Croix Vieille. Go up in the village to the crow's feet at the end of the village.
1 - Follow a stone path on the right (on the plateau, at the picnic car park, nice view over the valley and the peaks of Nonette and Usson). Ignore the small paths and go down towards the village of Collanges while staying on the right. Go straight through the village of Collanges until you reach the town hall. Take the road to the left towards the cross. Turn right under the cemetery and then take a path on the left about 200 m after leaving the village until you reach the crow's feet.
2 - Go up the path to the left. At the crossing on the plateau, continue straight ahead until the road.
3 - Go to the right until the village of Saint-Gervazy, go up the asphalt road called the Moncelet on the left, in front of the bridge (beautiful outcrop of red earth. At mid-coast, view of the village of Augnat and the Couze d'Ardes valley). Continue straight ahead until you reach a crossroads.
4 - Turn left, continue for 100 m and take a right path through oaks and junipers (arrived on the plateau, point of view on the Puys chain). Cross the plateau towards the hilltop of Montcelet (astonishing "savannah" landscape) until you reach a crossroads.
5 - Turn right on the grassy path and follow the sign "Butte de Montcelet" until you reach the entrance to the woods.
6 - Leave the path on the left that goes up to the hill and continue until you leave the woods. Follow a trail through a dry meadow that extends into the woods (water tower on the left). At the crossing, go down the path on the right to reach the starting point.
- Type : Boucle
- Environnement : In the country, Presence of livestock and guard dogs
- Animaux acceptés : Les chiens doivent être obligatoirement tenus en laisse en raison de la présence de troupeaux.
- Pour votre sécurité, prenez toujours avec vous une bouteille d'eau, un chapeau, des vêtements chauds et contre la pluie, et équipez-vous de chaussures adaptées à la marche.
Selon les conditions météorologiques, certains itinéraires sont déconseillés par mauvais temps (brouillard) ou ne sont pas praticables, voire interdits, durant la saison hivernale.
Certains sites sont fragiles, restez sur les sentiers aménagés. Évitez de cueillir les fleurs sauvages et de dérangez la faune. Ramassez vos déchets.
Sur certains itinéraires, les animaux sont interdits.