Valley of the Painters
Dun le Palestel is an attractive market town on the way from La Souterraine to the stunning Valley of the Painters. With local shops and reasonably priced restaurants, it is a good stopping off place. If you want to linger for a while, Chabannes forest is nearby with lots of woodland walks and viewpoints. (Follow the sign for Gueret when leaving Dun le Palestel and turn left just after the Depot-Vente. You will see the forest in front of you - just keep going up!) Dun le Palestel is a popular cycling centre and various events are held throughout the year. In mid-April, there is the Dun Le Palestel tour, a 125km route around the local villages. In August, an evening international bike meeting takes place with hundreds of spectators lining the streets. Market day: Thursday Tourist office opposite the post office - open all year. English speaking staff. Some annual events (information and exact dates available at the Tourist Office): - Mid April: 125km bike tour around Dun le Palestel and the surrounding villages
- Mid/end June: Music festival
- Mid July: Village fête over 2 days
- End July: Horse and carriage competition
- Mid August: International road cycling competition
- Mid/end August: Over two days - street market and street artists, evening meal and dance. Local traders and crafts exhibition
- Mid November: Cycling event and dance
- Mid/end November: Activities in Chabannes forest - cycling, waymarked hikes and leisurely walks
- Mid December: Christmas market
~ Valley of the Painters Tour ~
Dun le Palestel is the gateway to this beautiful area of twisting country roads, deep gorges and the Creuse river valley. Fresselines is signposted from the town. Follow the road through Maison Feyne and and you will soon be in the gorgeous Valley of the Painters. The region was made famous by Claude Monet and other painters followed in his footsteps to capture on canvas the rugged landscape of deep river valleys, gorges and steep hillsides. Hence, the name 'Vallée des Peintres'. Covering the area between Fresselines and Crozant, it is a visual feast. 
As you approach Fresselines the road starts to twist and turn as it descends to the bridge spanning the Creuse river and you catch glimpses of the village sitting on the rocky hillside high above the river. After crossing the bridge, follow the road up the hill and turn left. The centre of this pretty village is dominated by the church and there is a bar and restaurant. Along the street opposite the church are a number of art galleries and studios. Fresselines continues to attract painters and is well known as an artistic centre. Annual events: - Plant fair and car boot sale: 1st Sunday in May - Art exhibitions throughout the year Continuing our tour, take the road out of the village past the art galleries and the cemetery. You will see a sign on the left, after the cemetery, to the Claude Monet Site. A footpath goes down the hillside and along the river to the point where the Creuse and Little Creuse rivers meet, one of Monet's favourite viewpoints. It is a lovely walk through the woods and along the river bank. Back on the road, it continues to descend to the bridge over the river. A chateau sits high on the hillside on the other side of the river. Cross the bridge and follow the road round to the left. This route follows the contours of the hillside along the banks of the river. Just after the little bridge, there is another sign to the Claude Monet site on the left, an alternative to the footpath from the village.
Passing this, the road continues to climb. Just after a sharp bend (look out for the house with the blue shutters), turn left to La Renauchat. As you go into the village, on the left are stunning views over the valley towards Fresselines. Go through the village and turn left after the water tower, then follow the signs for Les Combes through the country lanes. This is the back road way from Fresselines to Crozant through pretty villages and lovely countryside. Turn left again after passing through Les Combes and then left at the junction in St Jallet towards Crozant.  
As you approach Crozant, the scenery changes from gently rolling countryside to the river valley with granite cliffs rising above you. Pass the Restaurant du Lac on your right. The river is to your left and in front of you is a bridge. Towering above the gorge are the ruins of a medieval fortress dating from the 10th to the 13th centuries, a reminder that Crozant was once a seat of power in France. Pleasure boat trips from the restaurant go into the gorge and round the rocky outcrop giving you a unique view of the cliff faces and the fortress high above. The ruins are open to the public from Easter to mid-November and are well worth visiting. The views across the gorge from this high viewpoint are not to be missed.  
From the fortress, follow the road up into the village. It is perched on a cliff opposite the ruins and is a pretty village with a couple of bars and restaurants and a few shops. From behind the church, there is a fabulous view of the ruins and the river below. You may also see people rock climbing on the cliffs on the far side of the river. Annual events: - Medieval weekend - Moto cross Continuing our road journey, from the village turn left to the fortress site and, passing the car park on the right, follow the road as it descends to the small Roman bridge. The route then climbs back up and twists and turns to the top. Turn left in the next village at the small signpost to Saint Sebastien. Continue to the end of the road and turn left. Tis is the main road back to Dun le Palestel. On the way, just after crossing the bridge at the bottom of the hill, you will see a car park on your left. From here, you can walk to Crozant - a lovely roam though the Sedelle Valley.
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