Walk around Viverols and its ruined fortress

de fr

A walk, perhaps with the family, to discover the remains of the Viverols fortress and, in April, to marvel at the meadows covered with daffodils.

Details

n°1974107
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.85 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 203 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 200 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 980 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 848 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Maison du Bailly
Daffodils
Flower-lined paths
The Château de Viverols

Description of the walk

Car park at the south-east entrance to the village, on the road to Usson en Forez, in front of the school and the large gendarmerie building, which is now closed.

Please note: there are few or no markings on this trail, except for a few sections for mountain bikes.

(S/E) Head towards the village and start the route by taking thefirst road on the left.
After the bridge over La Ligonne, turn right, go past the campsite and continue straight on along this small road.

(1) Atthe first small hamlet, Bouteyras on the map, continue straight ahead on the indicated dead-end road.

(2) At the hamlet of Gorce, the road ends. Go around the last house and take the path on the left that goes up into the forest. Stay on the main path, which, after a few bends, turns right.
When you reach a recent clearing (felled trees), follow the path on the right at the fork. Then keep to the old path on the right which descends towards the La Ligonne stream and not the recent paths opened up by the foresters.
Please note: in spring, there is a very wet area flooded by the stream. However, it is possible to pass either through the woods or the neighbouring meadows.

(3) Cross the bridge over the stream and follow the path on the left. Walk along the meadow and at thefirst fork, take the grassy path on the right so as not to go back up into the forest.

(4) Facing the village of Paillanges, cross the D205 road, head towards the village, cross it, staying on the main road, and continue along it.

(5) When you reach the D256 road, turn right onto the wide track. Then stay on the main track, heading south.

(6) Opposite the reservoir, at the D205, turn right for a few metres and then immediately take a path on the left. This quickly turns left around the small forest, then enters the meadow (heading south), becomes almost invisible, but quickly leads to a new, well-marked track.
Continue left, then right at thefirst path you come to.

(7) At the entrance to Viverols, follow the road for about 50 metres, then take thefirst lane on the right. Follow the sign for the castle, which is visible. Go around the castle, for example on the left, and opposite the entrance gate, go down the small path into the village.

(8) Return to the D205 road which crosses the village, head towards the bottom of the village, heading south-east, to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 848 m - Car park at the entrance to Viverols in front of the school.
  2. 1 : km 1.56 - alt. 886 m - Hamlet of Bouteyras
  3. 2 : km 2.25 - alt. 898 m - Gorce: end of the road, path on the left
  4. 3 : km 3.55 - alt. 889 m - On the left, after the bridge
  5. 4 : km 4.44 - alt. 930 m - Paillanges: straight ahead, towards the village
  6. 5 : km 5.17 - alt. 979 m - Intersection with D256, track on the right
  7. 6 : km 6.71 - alt. 903 m - Crossing the D205
  8. 7 : km 7.78 - alt. 890 m - Entrance to Viverols
  9. 8 : km 8.49 - alt. 866 m - Junction with the D205
  10. S/E : km 8.85 - alt. 849 m - Car park at the entrance to Viverols in front of the school.

Notes

- Very little elevation gain. Three-quarters of the route is on paths and tracks, and one-quarter is on small roads.
- Please note: one area can be very wet in spring. It will then be necessary to leave the path and find a way through either the forest or the surrounding meadows.
- There are many places to picnic: near the campsite, at the foot of the castle and along the route.
- In early April, depending on the arrival of fine weather, many meadows are covered with daffodils.

Worth a visit

- In the medieval village of Viverols, there are several remarkable houses: the Bailly House, the Priory of the Year 1000, and the Intendant's House.
- Dominating the village: the ruins of the castle, the largest feudal remains in the Ambertois region, dating from the 13th century and remodelled in the 15th and 16th centuries. Pentagonal in shape, it had four round towers and a corner keep at that time. Given its various features, it was certainly a powerful fortress.
- Not to be missed: during the Christmas period, more than 150 handmade nativity scenes are displayed for passers-by by the residents of Viveroles. Magnificent and surprising, best seen after dark.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 9 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
User 13209294

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We thoroughly enjoyed this tour, which was generally easy to follow with the Visorando app.
The only downside was point 6, as the recommended route no longer exists because the farmer has cultivated the entire field, including the path!
We were able to get through because the field had been harvested, but otherwise you have to take the road, which is the only alternative.

Machine-translated

SylvainBouquetVichyRando
SylvainBouquetVichyRando

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short but pleasant hike around Viverols. As already mentioned, it is impossible to follow the trail from point 6 and after the edge of the woods, as it leads straight into the middle of a wheat field. You must follow the D 205 road and take the first right to return to the normal route and reach point 7.

Machine-translated

pierjac4477
pierjac4477

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk that allows you to discover Viverols and its castle, the hamlets and the surrounding woods. A little difficult at point 6.

Machine-translated

bernard35470
bernard35470

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

At point 6 of the hike, after crossing the D205, take a path that goes around a small wood.
At the end of the wood, the path disappears, so we had to go around a cornfield to get back on track.

Machine-translated

Elsi
Elsi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Please note: the map in the PDF file is not the same as the one on the interactive map of all the trails. So which one is correct? Probably the one on the interactive map.
We did the hike described in the PDF file in fine summer weather.
The walk is very good with a varied route: a visit to Viverols Castle, beautiful hamlets with lovely houses, meadows, forest and crops.
However, there are two tricky points:
=> at point 3, the trail is now actually a stream bed. We were able to go around it through the marshy forest, but in rainy weather, this would be impossible.
=> Between points 6 and 7, the description says to cross cultivated land. The harvest had been done, so it was possible to pass, but at other times of year, this may be impossible.

Otherwise, it's a very beautiful (summer) walk.

Machine-translated

Belle2019
Belle2019

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

At point 6, the path no longer exists; it has been turned into farmland, so it is no longer passable.
However, the passages through the villages, beautiful paths, and the arrival along the castle with a view of the village of Viverols, the walk through its narrow streets remains a beautiful hike.

Machine-translated

elisabeth maury
elisabeth maury

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Thank you

Machine-translated

SABINE 69
SABINE 69

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Please note that point (6) refers to a path in a meadow that is becoming difficult to see. Today, the meadow is planted with maize, and the path is likely to disappear soon.

Machine-translated

JELOUMI
JELOUMI

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The theoretical route, which was perfectly mapped out on my GPS, could not be followed in two instances:
1/ There was no sign of the clearing, so we trusted the GPS to guide us through the scrubland to rejoin the path further on.
2/ The return to Viverols does not take into account the new landscape, and crossing a field of corn that has already sprouted is certainly not going to please the farmer!

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Walk in Viverols

Visorando Member
↔0.92 km ↗+33 m ↘-35 m ◔0h 20 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Viverols (Puy-de-Dôme)
A mini-hike to discover a pretty village and the remains of its castle, beautiful houses and pretty street signs.

Walking The volcanic crater of Montpeloux

Visorando Member
Le cratère volcanique de Montpeloux
↔7.54 km ↗+169 m ↘-165 m ◔2h 40 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Saillant (Puy-de-Dôme)
A beautiful trail with, halfway through the hike, the discovery of the Montpeloux volcanic crater and its many informative panels (geology, history of the volcano, fauna, flora, etc.), an undeniable bonus for curious children!

Walking The Creux de l'Oulette and the Montpeloux organs pipes

Visorando Member
↔13.16 km ↗+378 m ↘-377 m ◔4h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saillant (Puy-de-Dôme)
This circular walk passes by two must-see sites in the area: the Creux de l'Oulette and its waterfall, and the volcano of Montpeloux, a former basalt quarry converted into an open-air geological museum. At the end of the itinerary, you'll find a beautiful path along the Ance River.

Walking Loop east of Usson-en-Forez

Visorando Member
↔6.69 km ↗+131 m ↘-126 m ◔2h 15 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Usson-en-Forez (Loire)
An easy hike that shortens the PR®4 (yellow markings) and offers shaded trails rising above Usson en Forez. It is not particularly difficult and offers beautiful shaded sections. The climbs are not particularly difficult and are mostly in the woods. The few sections on roads are in areas with little traffic

Walking In the Livradois hills in Saint-Just

Visorando Member
↔9.56 km ↗+364 m ↘-368 m ◔3h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Just (Puy-de-Dôme) (Puy-de-Dôme)
A hike full of ups and downs, over hills and through valleys, alongside the Tonvic, Baffie and Cros streams.

Walking From Beurières to Montravel

Visorando Member
De Beurières à Montravel
↔19.42 km ↗+531 m ↘-531 m ◔7h 05 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Beurières (Puy-de-Dôme)
It offers a magnificent view over the Dore Valley from the Montravel site on the eastern slope of the Forez.

Walking Montarcher: a church and a village perched in the heart of the Forez region.

Visorando Member
Montarcher : une église, un village perché au coeur du Forez.
↔9.35 km ↗+278 m ↘-277 m ◔3h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Estivareilles (Loire) (Loire)
This hike takes you along sunken paths in the heart of the forest, old paved trails and tracks across meadows, culminating in a view of Montarcher standing on its rocky spur. Magnificent crosses dot this circuit.

Walking Lac des Pradeaux via The Shepherd's Hut at La Fayolle

Visorando Member
Le Lac des Pradeaux via la Jasserie de la Fayolle
↔11.81 km ↗+168 m ↘-162 m ◔3h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Grandrif (Puy-de-Dôme)
This is a beautiful hike that is accessible due to its low elevation gain. You will set off to explore the Livradois-Forez plateaus on passable paths with plenty of shaded sections.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.