Between Le Puy Giroux and Montrognon

Start from the car park on Allée des Frênes (near the Saulzet-le-Chaud cemetery).

(S/E) From the car park, head straight along a small path that goes downhill to cross the main road, taking care. Then continue straight on up a road. At the junction, keep going straight up the road.

(1) Turn left onto a small path that climbs. 200 m further on^, turn left onto the^PR®. At the signpost, turn right and continue straight on to the summit.

(2) Take a moment at the summit to admire the view, then head back down the same path. At the signpost, turn right and continue straight on for 500 m. Turn right onto a wider path.

(3) At the road, keep right then take the first path on the left. Follow this path to Opme. Once in the village centre (in front of a low wall), turn left onto Rue des Hautes, then continue along the low wall.

(4) At the junction, turn right onto Rue Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, then take the second street on the left and continue along Allée du Verger until you reach the road. Take the path opposite and continue until you reach another road. Follow it to the left for 200 m, taking care.

(5) Turn left onto a path through the woods, then turn immediately right. Continue straight along the path, ignoring the paths on either side, until you reach a road. Turn right onto Chemin des Pintades.

(6) Turn slightly onto Rue de la Prugne and walk past the medical centre, then turn left onto Rue du Moulin. Continue straight ahead, cross the D21 (take care), then follow the road opposite which goes uphill. Continue along it until you reach a signpost.

(7) Head straight on towards Montrognon, then continue straight up the increasingly steep climb until you reach another signpost. At this point, carry on straight ahead and take the first right. Continue along this technical little path to the summit, where you can see the ruins of Montrogon Castle.

(8) Enjoy the view before heading back down the same path you took on the ascent. When you reach the directional mast, turn right onto a path that descends. Continue along this path to the foot of the volcano.

(9) Take the path on the right, ignoring a path on the left, and 200 m further on, turn right.

(10) When you reach a T-junction, turn left and, a little further on, turn right to follow the A-road for 500 m. Turn right to cross the A-road under a bridge. Then cross the roundabout onto a road that goes uphill. When you reach a T-junction, continue left along the path.

(11) Turn right onto a path through the woods and follow it for 800 m to Parc de la Gazelle. Walk along the edge of the park until you reach a large junction. Turn right onto Rue de la Gazelle.

(12) At Place de la Fontaine, go straight on into Rue Saint-Verny, which goes uphill; follow it, ignoring the side streets. Turn left to go uphill. Just before the main road, you will find your car park (S/E).

There are no water points along the route, so please bring bottles of water. To ensure you don’t get lost despite the directions, you can pick up a map entitled “L’agglo en balades”.

At the summit of Puy Giroux and Montrognon, you’ll enjoy superb panoramic views of Clermont-Ferrand, the Chaîne des Puys, the Limagne plain and the Césalier massif. You can visit the centre of each village (including Opme, which has a castle) during the hike. Finally, at the summit of Montrognon, you can visit the ruins of Montrognon Castle.