Le Creux-de-l'Oulette

The Montpeloux volcano

A remarkable site, this volcano served for a long time as a basalt quarry, which means you can now step into its belly to admire some impressive basalt columns. The site has been developed and now has a stage hosting a summer cultural programme mixing dance, theatre and music.

Start: Leaving the cemetery car park, take the road towards the village centre and go past the Relais des Orgues. Continue to the right on the D139 for 40 m and take the D256 on the left towards Églisolles. After 50 m, go down to the left then to the right, along a shortcut that rejoins the road. Follow it to the left for 150 m.

1. Leave the road by the first track on the right. Then fork left to reach the Ance. Follow the river upstream. At the bridge, continue to the right into the forest as far as Bostfranchet (ruins of a small castle). Go up to the right by the road to the D139.

2. Follow the road to the left for 300 m and turn left at the chalet onto the parallel road that rejoins the D139 further on.

3. Cross to the small road opposite, then turn right onto a path that leads to the Montpeloux volcano.

4. Fork left onto the road to cross the village of Montpeloux. On leaving the village, take the track, on the right, after the last chalet. Continue through woodland for 1 km, keeping to the right.

5. Cross the D257 and carry on climbing through the undergrowth.

6. At the junction level with the clearing, turn right, then left at the first fork. At the next one, turn right. Then turn left twice to arrive at another boggy clearing, which you must cross straight ahead (sign marked “cascade” (waterfall), off the route, do not follow).

7. Continue straight on. Before the Oulette stream, turn right along a fence. Go down into the forest of beech and conifers, and turn left at the junction. At the next crossing, continue on the route to the right (you can follow a path to the left to the Creux de l'Oulette waterfall). For your safety, always approach the site from below.

8. The steep, rocky path drops quickly to a junction. Turn right onto a forest track. At the next junction, continue left to Le Mont.

9. Cross the hamlet, and continue to the right on the D256. After 200 m, fork right onto a track that cuts the bend. Cross the road and go down to the crossing (Croix de Fangody). Take the path on the right and cross the road again to climb to Bichelonne.

10. At the hamlet, take the road on the left straight away to rejoin Saillant below.