Circuit de Saint-Maurice-Les-Châteauneuf
From Saint-Maurice-les-Châteauneuf, you follow the valley of the Sornin, a river of 1st and 2nd category on the left. Pass in front of the water pumping station, many springs are captured at this place.
At point N°2 " Machin " turn right and go up towards point N°3 " Le Bois de Moulin " enter the wood, turn right and go down in a charming valley, then turn right to arrive on the D8 that you follow for a while before crossing it to join point N°4 " Le Four à Chaux ", that you see on your right. A witness to the industrial past of the village, one of the old lime kilns that existed at the time has been cleaned by a team of volunteers and presents a remarkable ensemble with an architecture that highlights the know-how of the local stone masons.
Continue your walk through the bocage of the Brionnais, vast meadows offer themselves to your glance full of drowsy and dolorous cows. Further on, you will find on your left, at a place called "Cerisé", a charming crossroads chapel, with a barrel vault and a very sharp pyramidal roof. This small chapel is dedicated to the Holy Family. The north side is leaning against a cross erected around 1844 by the Lespinasse/Buchet family. Point N°5 " Bachet ", continue to point N°6 " Boyer " turn right and take the tarred road to " La Chenauderie ", point N°7. Turn right to find a pleasant dirt road that will take you along the Sornin valley.
The high or short hedges are particular to the Brionnais and only this walk will make you fully appreciate them. Your path will make you overlook the meanders of the Sornin. Let yourself be charmed by the serenity of the landscapes and the splendid views that you discover throughout this hike. Arrived at the Point N°8 " Ragot ", turn left, you skirt the manor of Ragot. Continue on the small road and then on the path which will lead you to discover a typical Brionnais landscape composed of meadows surrounded by dry stone walls or hedges. Pass in front of the village cemetery, which in the 18th century was still around the Romanesque church, its translation was authorized in 1872, pass at the foot of the Romanesque chapel. During the summer, the chapel hosts exhibitions of crafts.
Take the D8 to enter the village of Saint-Maurice-les-Châteauneuf. This village is named after the Roman officer Maurice, who was martyred with his legion in Switzerland in the 3rd century because of his Christian faith. He is represented in the church on the altarpiece of the south aisle, dressed as a Roman officer. The village became rich thanks to its quarries, stone masons, lime kilns, tile factories and pottery. According to Canon Fargeton, the commune of Saint-Maurice-les-Châteauneuf had 7 quarries before 1910. These provided a cream limestone which was used for the construction of the churches of Châteauneuf, Saint-Maurice-les-Châteauneuf and many others. The limestone quarries were joined by lime kilns. One of these quarries produced a grey-black limestone from which an excellent heavy and immaculately white lime was obtained.