Sheet n 35 La Roche de Vendeix (Vendeix s Rock)

Name: La Roche de Vendeix (Vendeix s Rock) Name of the village/town: La Bourboule, 63150 Owner: Inhabitants of Vendeix References: GPS : Latitude : 45 34 12.2"N Longitude : 2 45 21.7"E Access: By car or on foot At the town centre of La Bourboule, from the church, cross the bridge and take the D88 towards Vendeix- Haut or La Tour d Auvergne, for about 3 km. Stop at the hamlet of Vendeix-Haut. Then climb up to the summit of La Roche via a foot trail covering 800m. Length of itinerary: 30 minutes to the summit, return trip Facilities: Car park at the foot of La Roche and bench at the summit. Trail set up with staircases, highly frequented by families. Location of the artwork: At the summit of La Roche de Vendeix Description of the site: Type of soil/surface area/vegetation/exposure La Roche de Vendeix is a volcanic peak formed by a slow eruption, which led to the creation of large basalt columns that have dented the surface. The summit offers two levels: - the lower part covering 20 square meters on which a bench has been installed - the upper part, smaller in size, covering 10 square meters, with a 360-degree panoramic view. To the north of the summit, La Bourboule and the village of Murat- le-quaire can be seen in the valley over which lies Banne d Oranche. To the East, the peaks of the Massif du Sancy appear. To the South, the nearby Bozat Mountain catches the eye. No vegetation has grown on the peak, where basalt reigns. Part of the north side is wooded below, where some average-size trees have grown. Some grass can be found when arriving at the peak, on the south side. The sun shines on this promontory all day long. Technical aspects of the site: A rather narrow and steep path leads up to the summit. A staircase has been set along part of the trail. The final part in the rock is quite difficult. No vehicle can reach this summit. If a piece of artwork is made to be displayed at this summit, the materials will need to be brought up by the closest meadow and then carried on the back for about 200 metres. The summit covers a rather limited surface area. The site s basalt composition alone does not enable the creation of a foundation into which a work can be mounted. The grassy part of the summit can easily be used. This work must rely on other elements close to the summit such as the trees. Best points: With the site in a dominant position offers a breathtaking panoramic view; the beauty of the rock itself, comprised of basalt columns, makes an enormous impression. La Roche de Vendeix can be seen from the centre of La Bourboule and Murat-le-Quaire. Perched on its volcanic mountain, with a hint of the imagination it is possible to envisage the mediaeval castle of La Roche de Vendeix, without a single trace remaining today. Historic Point: The French writer La Fontaine could have written one of his fables on the Auvergne castles, with the moral to be read as follows: It is sometimes in the safest refuges that one may be exposed to the greatest danger. And that s how it went for the La Roche de Vendeix castle, perched on a volcanic peak, which seemed to be untouchable. A village quickly developed at the foot of the fortress, where the inhabitants could seek refuge. Yet, quickly abandoned by the lords who had lost interest in these isolated mountains, the castle fell prey to armed gangs that roamed about the country at the end of the Hundred Years War. Aymerigot Marches, captain of one of these gangs, who were greater bandits than soldiers, seized, ransomed and pillaged the land. The King, moved by this event, attempted to reconquer it. After long months of hard combat, forever remembered by the town know as Le Siège (The Siege), Aymerigot was decapitated at the foot of the mound. The castle was demolished and the inhabitants knew that it would never be taken away from them ever again.

La Roche de Vendeix on the left, and on the right the surrounding summits like Banne d Ordanche and Puy gros

The path Last meters on the path before arrived to the summit Arrival on the summit, foreground the grassy part, on the left the top of the summit The summit, higher level From the higher level of the summit, view of the rock plateform

* View of the north of La Bourboule, from the Vendeix Rock * View of Massif du Sancy from the Vendeix rock on the west * The southwith Bozat mountain and the village of la Roche de Vendeix

Localisation du site