Day 5 Crozant to Aubusson 56 miles
Garmin file: https://connect.garmin.com/course/8116352 Elevation Gain – 1500m
Overview
This is a fantastic little days cycling but a fairly tough one with lots of ups and downs interspersed with a number of flatter sections. The day is characterised by rivers, woodlands and limestone gorges which we descend into, and ascend out of!!. The River La Creuse will be ever present today and you will cross it a number of times. You will pass through a number of typically French farming villages and see a number of great views as we pass through this much painted and cherished region of France, also famous for the authoress George Sands.
Practical Notes
- There are a number of climbs and descents today.
- The road signs can be quite small at times so keep a close eye out.
- There are sections of loose stones on a few of the descents and some tight turns.
- Be careful along the bumpy cobbles at the very end of todays ride
Map
Start point
Outside the Hotel des Ruines at 8.45.
Elevation Profile
Lunch
After 28 miles next to the church in St Fiel.
Evening meal
Hotel Le France at 19.30.
Route Notes
Miles Route
0 Go L facing away from Hotel Du Lac and the road starts to climb to warm your legs up for the morning.
0.9 Towards the top of the climb go R at the very small sign for St Leon. Be careful not to miss this sign.
1.3 The road forks, keep L here to Beauvais & St Leon.
2.0 At the T-jcn go L to Les Coombes. Continue into the tiny hamlet of St. Leon and take the 2nd R along Route Des Gorces.
2.4 Turn R to La chaise Gonnot. Please take care along this road as it is gravelly and steep in places.
Further along you’ll come to a fork in the road at a large tree. Take the R fork to La Renauchat & Fresselines. Follow the road round to the L.
3.5 At the unmarked T-jcn go R then at the next unmarked T-jcn go L.
3.6 The road drops down to a 3rd T-jcn, go R to Fresselines.
You will go down a descent that has a rough surface so please take care
5.0 Cross over a bridge over the ‘La Petite Creuse’ and continue up the hill to Fresselines., further along on your R you will notice one of the views that Claude Monet painted of the region
5.6 In the centre of Fresselines go L to Dun le Palestel & Crozant. Follow the road round and go straight on to La Celle Dunoise 13 along the D78.
10.3 When you come to the T-jcn with the D951 go L to Chambon Ste C 2 & Aigurande 13 go L. This is quite a fast road but there isn’t much traffic.
11.3 Go past the Chambon De Croix place sign and a few hundred metres on go R at the first road you come to part way down the hill about 50 metres before a restaurant sign along Rue Claude Monet. Be careful not to miss this turn.
11.4 Further along keep R at the No Entry sign and meet with another road and go R.
14.0 At the T-t-jcn go L to Bonnat 11, Le Bourg de’Hem 7 & Cheniers 7.
15.8 At the top of a small rise, look out for the R turn to Le Bourg de’ Hem 4.5. Turn R here along the D48.
Further on there is a winding descent, there are small sections of loose stone so please take care, the descent is followed by the obligatory ascent!!
18.5 When you come to Le Bourg d’Hem go L to Champsanglard 5.5, Gueret 21 & Bonnat 8 along the D57. Follow the road round and continue to Bonnat along the D56.
19.4 When the road forks you need to keep straight on along the D33a to Champsanglard 4, Anzeme 7 & Guret 19.
There is a lovely descent but please take care, the road climbs out again
21.5 At the small hamlet of Le Villard go R along the D14 to Anzeme 3.
23.0 Cross over the bridge and continue up to Anzeme.
23.3 When you come into Anzeme you will see a church. Go L here towards the church to cite de pechadoire There are also some public toilets in Anzeme below the church, next to the road..
Continue past the church then turn R for La Plage and continue round the back of the church and past a cemetery. At the end of the cemetery go L to Pays des 3 lacs.
24.7 Further on the route forks off down to the beach keep R here.
26.0 Follow the road through the small hamlet of Chignaroche.
28.0 When you come to Saint-Fiel follow the road through the village. You will come to a crossroads with the Auberge de St Fiel on your L and a church in front of you. We are following the road round to the R here along the D63 to Gueret but first, if you go straight over towards the church you will see the van for lunch. The back up lunch is the Auberge de Saint Fiel, 4 Place Eglise, 23000 Saint-Fiel +33 5 55 41 83 33
Continue along the D63 to Guret.
29.1 At Lachamps De Chavant you will come to a T-jcn with a main road (D940). Go L then take the next R to Croze & Sainte Feyre along a small lane.
29.2 After a few 100m turn R again to Ajain 10 & Ste-Feyre 10.
31.2 At the T jcn just before the busy N145 go L.
32.0 Further along you will cross over a bridge then go R to Bois long & Villandry. Follow this road under the motorway.
32.2 Once you have passed underneath the motorway go L to Villandry.
32.5 When you come to the small hamlet Villandry the road bends to the R at a stone cross, go L here at the small sign to Pont a Libaud. Stay on this road.
33.9 The road rises sharply and further on you will come to a T-jcn at a Stop sign go R. Then take the next L to Matagot, Les Ronces etc.
Continue past the quarry
34.1 Fork R to La Villetete and Pt a Leveque and continue with the river on your R.
35.0 The road forks, keep R here at the commune de pionnat, keeping the river on your R.
36.1 When you come to the stop sign by the bridge go L then take the next R turn at the blue sign to Le Moulin Du Breuil. Continue keeping the river on your R
37.8 When you come to the Bar & Terrase restaurant at Le Moulin du Breuil you need to follow the road round to the L here and the road climbs up to La Petite Baleyte.
39.0 Pass through the hamlet of La Petite Baleyte and you will come to a T-jcn. Go R here.
The road descends and you will notice a large viaduct.
39.9 At the bottom of the hill you will meet with a road. Cross straight over along the D16 to Moutier d’Ahun 5.
42.7 You will meet another road (D13). Go R here to Moutier d’A 1 . Continue over the bridge into Moutier.
43.2 Just as you are leaving Moutier go L along the D13A1 to Chateau d Villemonteix 11, Chenerailles 12 & Lavaveix les Mines 3.5.
44.1 When you meet with the D492 go L. Cross over a bridge and keep straight on.
The road is a little busier here.
45.8 Continue through Lavaveix-les-Mines.
46.5 At the bottom of the descent go R to St Martial Le M 2 & Ars 8.
46.9 Continue over another bridge over the La Creuse River. Follow the road to St Martial Le Mont.
Go up a rise and stay on the road to St Sulpice le Champs 11 and Ars 6.
48.0 Turn L to La Rochette along the D18.
48.9 Continue into Maneyraux and follow the road round to the L.
Stay on this road following signs for Aubusson.
55.6 You will meet with the D942A. Go R and follow the road into Aubusson.
55.9 Further along you will meet some very bumpy cobbles. Keep straight ahead.
In the centre of Aubusson at the water fountain go R into the town. Further along you will see the Hotel Le France on your L. If you are staying in the Hotel La Beauze you need to keep straight on to the R-bout and then go R at the r-bout and you will see the hotel a bit further along on your R.
Hotel Le France, 6 Rue des Desportes, 23200 Aubusson. 0033 5 55 66 10 22
Lissette– Hotel La Beauze, 14,Avenue de la Republique, 22000. 0033 5 55 66 46 00 – Lissette will do washing at €12.50 a load.
Everyone needs to go to La Beauze to store the bikes.