Blesle walks

This walk begins in the woods along a stream, leading to a former 17th-century fortified castle that has now been converted into a farm. You’ll discover magnificent views over the valleys surrounding the charming village of Blesle.

A hike to discover the site of Chadecol, inhabited 10,000 years ago by the first farmers and herders. A walk to admire the basalt columns of Chadecol, the Allagnon valley and the village of Blesle.

In search of the spring in the forest, this is a short but challenging hike that starts by following the Sianne valley and continues towards the hamlet of Chantejail through the woods that cover the ridges of the Pic du Chambon.

This pleasant route, partly through woodland along the stream or across farmland, offers views of Torsiac Castle in the foreground and then Léotoing Castle. In the background lies the Alagnon valley.

This route allows you to admire the village of Léotoing and the ruins of its castle, and to discover the Alagnon valley, the Cézaliers mountains and the castle of Torsiac.

To the north-east of the Cantal volcano, Massiac lies in a small basin formed by the Alagnon and its two tributaries: the Alagnonette and the Arcueil. From the top of the Plateau de Chalet, a basalt plateau, one of many left by volcanic flows in the landscape, there is a beautiful view over the valley.

My favourite walk in Massiac. Starting from the centre of Massiac, this route allows you, after 400 m, to walk through countryside with no roads, no houses and no fences. On the ascent, it follows the old royal, then imperial, road from Paris to Perpignan as far as the Baraque d’Oudeyre, a ruined former coaching inn. On the descent, it returns along the ridge through heathland and woods of pine and oak trees.

Visit the town of Massiac and the surrounding high plateaus

A walk through farmland and forests, along a stream, with views of the châteaux of Védrines, Vernassal and Léotoing.

A lovely walk along good paths, offering a close-up view of the castles of Védrines and Vernassal, and a distant view of Léotoing Castle. This is a variation on the “castles walk” (Respirando No. 497 and Visorando No. 1363868), which takes you closer to Védrines Castle and offers an extended view of Léotoing Castle at the start of the route.

A physically demanding route halfway down the descent into the valley, offering magnificent views of the Alagnon Valley and Léotoing Castle.

A very lovely circular walk with superb views and Léotoing Castle in view for the first half of the circular walk.

The first slate-roofed houses, large pastures and isolated farms herald the end of the Brivadois forests and the beginning of the Cézallier summer pastures.

This walk across the plateaus between Lembron and Cézalier offers the chance to explore the mid-altitude landscapes around the villages of Ardes-sur-Couze, Bord and Apchat.

This walk initially follows the northern part of the Chaux de Caure, then crosses its plateau, where a few wetlands still remain. It also gives you the chance to discover the civil and religious heritage of the old villages you pass through.

This walk takes in two iconic sites in the Alagnon Valley: the ruined Château d'Aurouze and its beautiful view over the valley, followed by the vineyard terraces (known in our valley as "Palhàs") of Molompize.

Landscapes on the edge of the Lembron valley and at the start of the Allagnon Gorges, a landscape of plateaus and plains in the Limagne region, punctuated by the villages of Lempdes and Moriat.

Starting from Rentières, you’ll head down into the valley of the same name. You’ll enjoy the scenery, the peace and quiet, the river, the flora and, if needed, the shade of the woodland.

Three walks, of gradually increasing lengths, have been created on the initiative of the Charbonnier-les-Mines Youth Town Council (CMJ). These walks were created to enable everyone, from the very young to the elderly, to discover or rediscover the village and to enjoy a simple, natural activity in a remarkable setting. Three colours of waymarkers have been used – green, blue and red – from the shortest to the longest route. Along the way, you’ll discover some truly beautiful scenery, including the Allagnon – that famous river home to trout and a few salmon – the remains of the castle, the vestiges of the mining past and the even older remains of the Gallo-Romans.