Les Fontaines, circuit n°4 autour de Najac
Route details
Description
A relatively simple trail around Najac (but with some elevation gain, which makes it a bit challenging) to discover old fountains in a quiet, wooded setting. Essential to village life, the fountains were fed by drainage water from the Terre Rouge plateau – La Planquette. They are called griffouls. The first fountain was built in 1344 in the Bourguet district. This one is carved from a single block of granite. It remained in use until the early 20th century.
Your itinerary
Stage 1: Departure from Najac
Walk along Place du Faubourg, past the Tourist Office and continue to the grocery store 50 m further on the left. Go around the grocery store on the left, go down the steps and walk along the houses and gardens on the "Roc de Cabusse" patrol path. Go down to Rue de la Loge, then turn right. At the intersection, turn left onto Rue du Bourguet, then a little further (at the parking spaces) turn left onto the small street, Rue de la Portète to reach Rue Basse des Comtes de Toulouse, then left onto Rue du Portail de Maffre. You will arrive at a road, Avenue de la Gare.
Stage 2: Towards the Gabanel fountain
Cross the road (watch for traffic). Just opposite, take the path on the left that goes down to the Gabanel fountain. At the bottom, cross the pretty stone bridge over the Vernhe stream and take the path opposite that goes up. Do not take the path that goes down to the right along the stream. Quite a steep climb. In a bend, an old barn. Continue this fairly steep climb; do not take the first path that goes off to the right but take the second path on the right after some fir trees. Go up to the intersection of 1 paths (2 track opposite, 3 on the left and 1 path on the right).
Step 3: Najac's point of view
Take the wide path on your left then quickly leave this wide path to take the path on the left which goes down steeply.
Arriving at an intersection where a small path goes off to your left and to your right you can observe another source on the ground. Then continue straight on the paved path. The path then passes above the Vernhe stream. On this section, you will have a very beautiful view of the village of Najac on the left. You will then reach the road.
Step 4: Fountain in the middle of the forest
Take the road that climbs left for 300 m to reach the village. Arriving at the square, at the hairpin bend, turn right towards the gendarmerie and Villefranche. Possible variation: you can stop there and reach the Place du Faubourg on your left. Just opposite the gendarmerie, leave the road by taking the small rue du Sol de la Dime on the left, which ends in the square of the same name and then on a path that goes straight ahead and descends. At the next intersection, turn left. Further on you will discover a very beautiful fountain: the Alby fountain. Continue. Return to the village.
Step 5: End of the circuit
Arriving at a car park, turn on your left onto rue de l'Hiversenq.
After 50 meters, turn right and take a narrow alley (alleyway) which goes up and will take you to the heart of the village, Place du Faubourg, from where you started.
Back to the starting point.
