Leisure bike route: in the heart of the Millevaches plateau

Your journey will start in the municipality of St-Merd-Les-Oussines. Of course, you should devote some time to visiting it, curiosities await you… Crossed by the Vézère river, the village has heritage worth discovering: the old presbytery, built in the 17th century, as well as an authentic medieval enfeu attached to the church.

After passing through the village, the visit to the Gallo-Roman ruins of Les Cars is a must. Discover the remains of a funerary complex and an important villa. The site is dated to the first half of the 2nd century AD. Among the granite blocks, there is also a huge basin, the most remarkable element present on the site. Standing 1.75 m high and weighing about 8 tons, this basin was the reservoir that supplied the building with hot water. For everyone’s enjoyment, a discovery trail allows you to learn more about the construction methods and the building’s architecture through explanatory panels along the route.

After the first kilometers, the route now offers a beautiful escape into the heart of the Longeyroux peat bog, located between 870 and 900 meters altitude. Identified as a "biological site of European interest" for its diverse fauna and flora, the peat bog is today a protected area of 255 hectares. Dating back 8,000 years, the peat layer reaches two meters deep. Two trails allow you to explore this unique biological environment, a paradise for otters. First, the Sentier des Linaigrettes (1 km, 1 hour) crosses the peat bog on a path fitted with logs. Then, the Sentier des Bruyères (9 km, 4 hours) invites you to a longer walk around the bog… the opportunity to contemplate in more detail the many surrounding landscapes.

After passing through the commune of Chavanac, we recommend stopping near the Étang des Oussines (18 hectares)... This stands out by the great diversity of its ecosystem: the European otter, the hobereau falcon, the pervasive water lilies... Étang des Oussines is a remarkable place that invites walkers to escape through a splendid setting... between moorlands and woods typical of the Millevaches plateau, offering the prospect of splendid landscapes to photograph.