9. Champlemy to Prémery

You can access the ruins of the castle from the accessible path on the main street at the bus stop.

The castle is built near an old Roman road, a place of exchanges, passages and invasions over the centuries. In 1364, Marguerite de Fontenay owned the lands of Champlemy and built the first castle. In the 15th century, the building was designed by the Bureau de La Rivière, Charles VI's first chamberlain. In the 17th century, the castle became the property of Anne de La Guiche, wife of Henri de Schomberg, Marshal of France. In the 19th century, it changed ownership several times and ended up abandoned during the 20th century.

In 2017 the municipality became the owner of the site, an association for the protection of the site will have the task of finding the funds to start the restoration of the castle.

In Saint-Bonnot, church of the 19th century (1826) dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption, entirely rebuilt in the 19th century to replace the old ruined sanctuary dating from 1155. The bell tower has two bells. Neo-Romanesque style construction. The natural son of the Count of Osmond, lord of the Vénerie, and Sarah Bernhardt would rest in a crypt of the church (this one owned the Château de la Vénerie, then a meeting place for memorable hunting). The church has a wooden central heating system, built of red brick placed under the sacristy.

More information on the Saint-Bonnot website

Your stage is short, this gives you time to take the discovery path of this 252-hectare reserve with multi-millennial ponds and forest peat bogs. They contain unique information on climate and ecology over the past centuries. This reserve was created in 2015. You can access the various discovery trails from Via Columbani, in the Charnets, turn right on the road and take the second path on the left in the woods, after 3 km you arrive at the Rond-Point de Châteauneuf starting point of the tours. You are 4.5 km from Prémery by the D2.

The collegiate church of Saint-Marcel in Premery, founded in 1196, includes nine canons. The facade of the church dates from the 14th century. The bedside is with seven cut sides. The church is rectangular in plan, with the bell tower projecting. The 14th century facade is flanked by a staircase turret. The pyramidal roof of the bell tower is covered with slates. The south portal is dated from the 13th century, the altar contains, in addition to the relics of Saint Marcel, those of Saint Savinian and Saint Potentian (apostles and martyrs of Senegalese), and the magnificent 16th century Pietà retains some traces of polychromy. A superb canopy of the Passion dated from the 15th century. An 11th century capital serves as a pedestal for the 16th century cast iron holy water font.

To find out more: web-croqueur