<p> Circuit from Ahun : (yellow) 1681) giving life to animals or fantastic first completely metallic railway viaduct built Abbey’s, Knight Templars and characters. The village has retained traces in France. To export the coal from the Parishioners of the nave which is missing today: mines of Lavaveix-les-Mines, it was numerous objects have been re-used and necessary to cross the Creuse (hollow) As the central element of the town or the mark the village houses which spread out to valley, which carries its name well ! And so village, the church maybe an Abbey, the bridge. Named wrongly "Romain", the the viaduct of 337 metres long and 56 templière, or fortified commanderie, or Romanesque bridge allows us to cross the metres high was born. It was not Gustave even underground... that is Romanesque, sometimes fast flowing river Creuse and Eiffel, but two French engineers, Llyold and Gothic or Baroque, it remains, the major discover a beautiful panoramic view of the Nordling, who managed the construction building of our heritage. Let us go and village. site from January, 1864 until 1865. discover some of these buildings which Each year on the 16th August, a procession mark out our countryside. is organised to celebrate the day of « Saint Mazeirat – C1 Roch », the statue is carried from the abbey The small village of Mazeirat is a Ahun – D2 to the river where the feet are placed on a welcoming place for numerous varieties of The crypt was the first church of Ahun and stone in the river, with the belief that when plants : rose bushes in front of the church over the course of time has become the weather is very dry it will help to and even the «chemin des Brandes» is underground, It is now one building , and produce rain. bordered with local or imported species of today is protecting a typically baroque altar. Visit freely, either by guided tour or with plants and shrubs. On the outside walls and A remarkable pieta(1) of five people has audio tapes in French or English. floor of the Church, unexplained sculptured retained it’s colours and charm of the 15th stones are reused. Opening hours for the church : century. nd th To understand better the rich history of the - from March 22 until June 13 from 10:00 Saint-Hilaire-la-Plaine – C3 am until 12:00 am and from 2:00 pm until 5:00 town, the garden of Jacques Lagrange The Norman church of the village has pm. th gives us a fabulous voyage across time ! retained important elements of it’s 14 and Closed on Tuesdays except holidays. 15th century fortifications. In the angles of To Chantemille: a small chateau, - From June 14th until September 14th every dominating the Creuse, the footbridge and day from 10:00 am until 12:30 am and 2:00 pm the chevet, the two turrets start at ground the village. Open on Tuesdays in summer. until 7:00 pm. level. The rectangular bell tower is flanked (1) A statue or picture representing the Virgin From September 15th until November 11th. by over-hanging turrets . Machicolations(2) Mary with the dead body of Jesus Christ Holidays and school holidays of All Saints' with a circular pathway allowed the church accross her knees Day, from 10:00 am until 12:00 am and from to be defended. Some Gallo-Romans 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm. Closed on Tuesdays artifacts are still visible around the church. Moutier d'Ahun – D2 except bank holidays. (2) a balcony at the top the defensive walls or The name of this commune means, in old - From November 12th until December 31st, towers of fortified castles. French "monastery of Ahun". Benedictines from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm. Closed on Monks lived on this site from 997 up to the Monday and Tuesdays, except bank holidays. St-Yrieix-les-Bois – C2 revolution. The church preserves different Pretty flowered Creusois village with granite parts from different periods: Gothic porch Busseau-sur-creuse (commune d'Ahun) houses. The 12th century church with it’s and Romanic choir in which there is an – D1 kind of sculptured roof, is the central point, exceptional woodwork carving (1673 - The viaduct of Busseau-sur-Creuse is the near the fountain which dominates the square. Numerous granite stones, the magnificent lake in a verdant setting of Jamot". A museographic place has been surrounded by legends, are to be 16 ha is reserved for fishermen. dedicated to the life of the Doctor Jamot. discovered in the woods surrounding the village : flat stones, big stones and a fairy’s Saint-Martial-Le-Mont Le Donzeil – D3 table. Dominating the valley of the Creuse, the Until the revolution, the name of the village ancient fortified church keeps watch. At the was "Saint-Sulpice-Le-Donzeil". Two roman Lépinas – C2 front of its door a gallo-roman column can milestones gives witness to the Gallo- The church was rebuilt in the centre of the be found. The houses of Saint-Martial-Le- Roman period : The Pierre du Marteau, village in the 14th century. In the summer it Mont are typical village houses and worthy which can be found near the old road, and attracts many local artists who display and of the stone masons of the Creuse : cut a re-used milestone, to commemorate the sell their creations. stones, cornices and ledges... In the village centenary and the bicentenary of the The Gartempe passes through Lépinas, fed of Chantaud, a chapel dedicated to Marie revolution in the court yard of the former by several brooks coming from Peyrabout. Madeleine and gallo-roman artifacts school. The verdant setting of the «étang "pierre des mesures", an ancient funeral du Moulin» is open to fishermen. Maisonnisses – C2 chest. Maisonnisses was an ancient Sous-Parsat - C2 commanderie. A funeral statue of a Return to Ahun The church reconstructed in 1868 shelters recumbent effigy was found in a field by a paintings and stained glass windows ploughman. It was taken back to its original Circuit from Saint-Sulpice-Les- created by Gabriel Chabrat from 1986 until place in the 13th century church. A visit of Champs : (blue) Characters, legends 1995. He has represented the old and the the crypt is imperative, it is necessary to go and unusual villages (61km) new testaments by using vivid primary past the church and to cross the courtyard. colours and exaggerated forms. Besides Watch out for the bats that shelter there! Upon meeting the men who marked our the religious subjects, the human behavior, In the woods of Thouraud there is a land and history, by shaping, cutting, the passions, the exodus of the people, the commemorative monument of the first discovering and creating... Who could persecutions are addressed. A visitors creusois resistance movement, it depicts imagine that a creusois doctor fought the book is available at the Auberge de Camille the more recent and painful history of the illness of insomnia or that contemporary and at the tourist office in Ahun. The artists second world war. It is there that 7 young paintings in primary colours would adorn studio is open in season. Gallo-Roman resistance fighters were massacred. the walls of a very classic church ! artifacts : two tombstones at the entrance of the Church and a funeral chest in the Chamberaud – D2 Saint-Sulpice-Les-Champs – D3 village. This ancient commanderie has preserved a This administrative centre of the canton is At the lower part of the village there are remarkable Church of which the vaults are associated with the memory of Doctor interesting features, a fountain, the th of ribbed construction in oak (18 century). Jamot. washhouse and a drinking trough. In Some artifacts have been re-used in the Born in La Borie, Eugène Jamot dedicated December (Christmas time), the village walls of the building: sundials and a part of his life to work out a method of becomes the home of Father Christmas, keystones etc. fighting against the illness of " insomnia " decorated in fairy tale style. On the road to Saint-Sulpice-Les-Champs, in Cameroun, and put in place the "method Mareilles (Commune de Sous-Parsat) – Saint-Avit-Le-Pauvre – D3 Chavanat – C4 C2 Small traditional and picturesque village. In the church, a restored old Romanesque This ancient parish is one of villages in the building, there is a remarkable group of Commune of Sous-Parsat and whose La Borne (Commune de St-Michel-De- limestone statues. It represents Saint Anne, chapel is in ruin. An attractive cylindrical Veisse) – D3 her three daughters and her grand children. fountain waits for the visitor by the The Chapel Notre-Dame de la Borne is The representation of the "Sainte Parenté" roadside. dedicated to the worship of the Virgin Mary is a subject little used in French sculpture. who helped Charles d' Aubusson, Seignor The wooden altar piece with pillars is Masgot (commune de Fransèches) – D3 de la Borne, to get out of a swamp. The typically baroque. The picturesque village is completely flamboyent gothic structure was finished in dedicated to stone. In the 19th century, 1524. It is decorated with an exeptionnel Return to Saint-Sulpice-les-Champs. François Michaud, an inhabitant of the stained glass window called "the Tree of village, created numerous characteristic Jessé” (1522), genealogy of Jesus. There is Circuit from Pontarion : (green) the sculptures of popular art to embellish his also in the village a 14th century cross and a water and the stone in the country of properties. He was inspired by his wishing well. the macons of the Creuse (82km) environment, to conceive a personal world, An opportunity to discover the two where there is an eagle, a dog, a badger, a Saint-Michel-De-Veisse – D3 essential elements of our countryside, crusader, a mermaid, Marianne and even a In the village of Chasselines, the “la that has always been used by man. picture puzzle... maison du geste et de l‘outil» gives Random granite stones, dolmens, stone A small road leads to the stone appreciation to the rural world. In an old houses , fast flowing rivers, and unspoilt «Tournadouère» passing by a very special agricultural building, there are numerous lakes are present along our roads and alter of repose and some dry stone works. tools on display, allowing us to retrace the paths. Let us go and discover them... In the summer, the furnished house of steps of our ancestors. Numerous original François Michaud is open. Free visits all animations are offered for children Pontarion – B3 year long. Visits commented from May until (labyrinth H²O, toddlers workshop and the In a leafy setting and below the 15th century September by "des amis de la pierre" (The garden of the optical illusions). Open in July castle, l’Espace Pêche and Nature (4 ha) Friends of stone). Visits by audio guide in and August. offers good walks along the banks of the French and English. river Thaurion ; there is an arboretum with Banize – D4 local apple tree’s, ponds and wells... In this Fransèches - D3 Situated at the confluence of the rivers country of fishermen, we are invited to A Marianne in granite, work of the sculptor Thaurion and Banize, the village possesses settle down on a pontoon bridge situated of Masgot, rests in front of the village a Prussian cannon sited on the village along the river. Mairie. At the bottom of the village, there is green, it was given by President Exhibitions and fishing activities take place small Wash-house directly over the brook Doumergue ! in the summer. and the fountain of Saint Denis allowed The church of "austere" type (simple plan) In the church, 32 gravestones form a tiled easy use of the water and protects it. possesses some internal paintings. floor and are decorated as a cross, set squares, hammers, signs of Lords, knights, masons or stone-cutters. One kilometre away, the funeral chests of Chalard", which is a copy of the bridge Péri Chabrières. the necropolis of “les Sagnes”, reveal the at St-Hilaire-le-Château. ancient funeral customs. - at the village of Nouallaguet, there is a Saint-Eloi – B2 natural and unspoilt environment with an Here, only the bell tower of the church is Vidaillat – C4 imposing lime tree called "Sully". classified ! Near the village of Drouilles The classified church shelters decorative there is a mound, the remains to an ancient paintings from the 15th century and depict La Chapelle Saint-Martial – C3 castle. small characters, of which one is sticking The granite lion in front of the church is the out it’s tongue. Under the roof, the twin of that at Saint-Georges-La-Pouge. Janaillat – A2 sculptured and varied modillons The Commune was given its name by the Jean-Baptist de Vauselle, better known representing faces, animals or objects first bishop of Limoges who evangelized the under the name of Tristan L' Hermite was seem to support the granite ledge. In the Limousin. The Church was rebuilt in the 12th born in the village of Souliers in 1601. This lower part of the village, the brook century. poet left important work. "Moulinier" allowed a number mills to work. There is a beautiful lake of 50 hectares, The monument consisted of granite statues established in 1319. of Combeauvert (crossroads D10 and Saint-Hilaire-le-Château – C3 D940A), a reminder of the massacre of The village church touches a cross and the Sardent – B2 June 9th, 1944 by the SS Division "Das fountain of Saint-Gervais. The Commune is By the church, the name of Sardent is Reich" of 31 young resistance fighters. situated at the confluence of the rivers displayed in letters from local granite. Thaurion and Gosne. The latter one is Behind, there is an inscription dedicated to Thauron – B3 crossed by a Bridge of Gallo-Roman the doctor of the poor men, Doctor Vincent. The village is at the top of a hill more than construction and is known as "The Bridge of The 12th century church has some 480 metres in altitude, the church being 525 the fairies "... sculptured modillons under the ledges. metres. Saint Pardoux was born in Mont and he The «chapeau des Anglais» (the English La Pouge – C3 was the founder of Guéret. He lived as a hat), situated behind the church, is a The name indicates its distant origins, recluse on the site which carries his name monument in three parts, the oldest of stemming from an old crest. and which is decorated with unusual which date back to Gallo-Roman times. The The 12th century church is the former barn statues. There is a chapel (built in 1870) legend says that it was erected by the of the commanderie of Chamberaud. which is dedicated to him. English at the end of the One hundred in the village of Mont there are granite years war. Saint-Georges-La-Pouge – C3 stones called "les pierre boutelines". There are beautiful walks along the gorges In front of the church, the Gallo-Roman of the river Thaurion. medieval artifacts and the granite lion watch Peyrabout – C2 over the village. There are pleasant walks The name of the Commune signifies Return to Pontarion. around Commune : "upright stones", in the village centre there - the dolmen of Ponsat, supported by 7 was a granite stone which was cut in paving Office de tourisme - 12 Place Defumade large stones ; stones around 1938. There are numerous 23150 AHUN - at the site of the medieval bridge of "Puy piles present in the large forest of Tél. : 05 55 62 55 93 I.P.N.S.</p>