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La Celle Dunoise
is a small commune of approximately 600 inhabitants, located in
the heart of the Grande Creuse valley
before the principal river of the "departement"
joins its "little sister", la Petite Creuse in Fresselines,
to continue their courses together towards nearby "Berry".
We are in the North-West of the "departement",
at about 20 kilometers from Guéret, the prefecture, on
the border with "Indre", the geographical division between the Oc and Oil languages.
In terms of tourism, La Celle Dunoise belongs to the "3
Lakes' country ",
a picturesque sector of this valley which has become particularly attractive
since the creation and management of 3 artificial
reserves in splendid sites (wild with very steep gorges).
Among
the riverside villages, La Celle Dunoise is characterized by its
privileged situation with houses which rise in tiers on both
sides of the Creuse.
Whilst all the surrounding boroughs are
perched - testifying to their old defensive vocation - La
Celle Dunoise has always been a place of exchange and passage thanks,
in particular, to its XIVth century
bridge built where the river becomes quieter
after having dug deep into the granite upstream.
Besides, it seems
to want to dawdle there by drawing a broad meander which adds a feeling of quietude to the natural charm of
the place.
Generally, there is nothing spectacular
to be seen in the Creuse. On the other hand, the curious
visitor who takes time to observe, will often have the
pleasure of discovering secret and relaxing scenes .
La Celle Dunoise
illustrates this impression perfectly, if you go to sit down on the
dry stone wall, at the top of the village. The view over the river
with the dam of the old mill, the bell-tower of the
XIIth century church, the bridge, the meadows with
the brown cows or the horses, the swimming area where families
join each other for a picnic and children's play, the
large poplars lining the camp-site on the edge of the river and
the fishermen who tease the pin at the confluence of the brook of
"Isle", all seem joined together in a pastoral
scene, causing us to remark:
"
All is there, each thing is in its proper place and all is well !"
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