Around the Couze Pavin between Saint-Floret and Saurier

Park at Espace Maurice Goigoux with its children's playground, also known as Place des Vignerons in Saint-Floret.

(S/E) Turn right out of the car park onto the narrow street with a small archway. Walk over the playground. Walk around the church and start by visiting the centre of Saint-Floret with its church and castle. Depending on the date, it is possible to visit the Gothic hall with its^14th-century fresco.

(1) Leave the village centre by heading towards the river and cross the medieval bridge of La Pède with its Romanesque Virgin. Shortly afterwards, turn left onto Rue le Chemin de Noyol. After about a hundred metres, turn right onto Chemin de Rezonzoux, towards "Église du Chastel". Please note: this path, which is essentially a natural staircase, can be slippery in wet weather. Continue to the D627 road.

(2) Turn right onto the Way of the Cross leading to Le Chastel. Walk around Le Chastel and its panoramic viewpoint, visit the upper church (medieval tombs). Retrace your steps back to the D627 road.

(2) Follow the road to the right and pass the D627/D628 junction to stay on the^GRP® Autour d'Issoire, marked in red and yellow. Follow it, pass under a power line and at the three-way junction that follows, turn left and rejoin the D628 road, continue on the^GRP® to reach the crossroads of a wide path.

(3) Pass a small cross and turn left onto the path, which is still the^GRP®. You will soon arrive at the village of Orphanges.

(4) Turn right at the wash houses, follow the^GR® markings and cross the village, passing in front of the carpenter's shop, and rejoin the departmental road, following it to reach the village of Montel. Go straight ahead, ignoring the yellow marked paths and following the red and yellow^GRP® markings^. Follow the path that winds above the valley. At a crossroads, turn right and then join an intersection at Ruisseau de Boissac.

(5) Continue straight ahead and leave the^GRP® trail on your left. At the fork (elevation 665), take the path on the right towards Saurier. This will take you to the D146 road.

(6) Cross the road and make a first turn right then left to rejoin a path. Descend towards the cemetery.

(7) At the corner of the cemetery, turn right and walk along the cemetery on your left. Turn left onto the path. At the T-junction, turn left onto the street that runs alongside the Béal, the football pitch and the boules court. Cross the main road of the village and continue along the Béal to reach the fountain square, Rue du Louvetier.

(8) At Saurier church, follow Rue de la Soiffe, which runs alongside the Couze Pavin. Continue to the old bridge.

(9) Cross the river via the old bridge. Turn right at the end of the bridge. Return to the D26, continue left on the pavement and stay along the road for approximately 300 metres.

(10) Before the village exit sign, take a path on the left. Stay on this path for a long time, heading east-northeast then northeast.

(11) Ignore the path on the right and continue north-east. Descend slightly. At the next intersection, rejoin the^GRP® and follow it to the right for a few dozen metres. You will come to a crossroads with a car park.

(12) Then follow a track on the right. At the fork that appears shortly afterwards, turn left and pass under a high-voltage power line. Continue straight ahead, ignoring the paths on the right.

(13) Leave the stony path and take a grassy path on the left. Descend, make a sharp left turn and arrive at the D28 road.

(14) Take this road to the right and descend. Pass by the foot of the castle and immediately climb a staircase on the right to return behind the church.

(15) Continue along the cobbled path that winds along the hillside to discover Saint-Floret from the rear courtyard and its ruins. At the end of the path, take the metal staircase and, on the road, turn left to arrive at the Espace Maurice Goigoux car park (S/E).

- At the start, toilets are available above the Place des Vignerons.
- Bars and restaurants in both villages.
- Guides for heritage tours: +33 (0)4 73 54 90 66
- Saint-Floret
Between (4) and (5), on the right, on a small hill, there is a picnic area. It overlooks the valley with a magnificent view of the Couze Gorges, the Sancy massif and Nôtre-Dame de Brionnet.

Saint-Floret:
Church, rebuilt in the^18th century.
The^13th- and^14th-century castle with a reception room decorated with murals depicting the romance of Tristan and Iseult. Guided tours available.
Medieval bridge of La Pède with a polychrome Romanesque Virgin from the early^13th century.
Le Chastel,^12th-century church,^14th-century frescoes, Virgin with a bird, rock tombs, ossuary.
The Lion's Head. A petrifying mineral spring, rich in salt. Overlooking the Couze, with the presence of halophilic plants, which thrive in salty environments and are usually found by the sea.
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Saurier:
Salt springs, upstream along the Couze Pavin, left bank, and halophytic plants, in particular Spergulaire marginée, Glaux maritime and Puccinelle à épis distants, source: Wikipedia.
Romanesque church of Sainte-Radegonde, with the oldest part dating from the^{11th century}.
15th-century medieval bridge over the Couze Pavin with its oratory.
City gate, remains of ancient fortifications.