Saint-Ours. La Randonnée du Maquis Stéphane is getting its bearings. While waiting for the next markings, the route which retraces the route of the Maquis Stéphane, with departure and return to Pontgibaud, and passing through Chapdes-Beaufort and Saint Ours, welcomed the first walkers, on this Saturday in autumn colors.
It is at the initiative of the Souvenir de Lespinasse association, with the support of the three aforementioned municipalities, and the assistance of Jean Sioly, president of the UNC Pulvérières-Saint Ours, valiant walker and protagonist of the route, that this route takes its marks. he pays tribute to the valiant Commander Luc and to the victims who fell under enemy bullets in this sector of Combrailles.
The 21 km course takes the name Maquis Stéphane, in homage to Luc Belmont, and follows his footsteps from his arrival at Pontgibaud station at the end of 1942 (see the very beginning of 1943), to the tragic events which marked the day of July 27, 1944, in the three locations. After the installation of the first six in the village of Barbecot, several others were formed in Chapdes-Beaufort welcoming new recruits, most of whom were resistant to the STO. Many actions were carried out by the men of Stéphane, who changed his name to Commander Luc. Then came the fighting at Mont Mouchet and, after returning to the country, the guerrilla war of July 1944.
During the test hike, Claude Courtadon, president of Souvenir de Lespinasse, retraced the historical facts in several places.
This walking project has several goals: to pay homage, tell the story, maintain the memory, promote the heritage and discover the cultural and natural riches that line the paths.
