Woods, parks and springs of Châtel-Guyon

When arriving in Châtel-Guyon from Riom via the D985, park in the car park next to the Tourist Office and the roundabout with a large fountain. This route follows the "Côte-Ronde et les Percières" hike proposed by the Châtel-Guyon Tourist Office, which is marked either with a blue line or a small white plastic rectangle with a hiker and a blue line mentioning "Côte-Ronde et les Percières".

(S/E) Go around the roundabout on the right and follow Avenue des États-Unis opposite, towards the town centre. Look up to see some beautiful façades. After passing a church, turn right onto Rue du Docteur Levadoux, towards the Town Hall.

At the post office, formerly the Caisse d'Épargne, turn left onto Rue Michel Levadoux Braga (no entry). Take the second street on the right (Rue Lacroix, beautiful corner house), then right again onto Rue du Château (Guy de Maupassant plaque). At the small car park (Place du Marché), turn left onto Rue de l'Église to arrive in front of Sainte-Anne Church.

(1) After visiting the church (painted walls), go up opposite for a return trip to the hill, via Allée du Chanoine Bathias, then along a path to the orientation table.

Back in front of the church, continue left on Rue des Remparts. Cross Avenue du Général de Gaulle, then Avenue de Belgique. At the next intersection, turn left onto an old, degraded road that quickly leads to Route de Chazeron. Cross over and follow Chemin de Portebouche, opposite and slightly to the right. Pass a few houses and you will arrive in a wood.

(2) At the crossroads, turn right onto Chemin Panoramique de la Naute. You will arrive at a small car park. Continue left along Chemin du Tour du Char, then Chemin des Bouleaux. Look for an information sign for "Saule meursault" and ignore the path on the left.

(3) About thirty metres before a barrier, turn left onto Chemin du Haut des Percières. On this path, note the sculptures: marmot, owl, etc. and the information signs "Châtaignier" (chestnut tree), "Sapin de Nordmann" (Nordmann fir), "Pin noir" (black pine) and "Cèdre de l'Atlas" (Atlas cedar). Shortly before a horse boarding facility, and at the signature of the sculptor "Loïc", take the stairs on the left. The descent leads to Route de Chazeron.

(4) Cross over and enter the "Écureuil" tree-climbing park and follow the signs carefully to stay on the right path. Notice another sculpture of a squirrel. You will arrive at a viewpoint with benches, then pass by a sculpture of an owl and mushrooms. The path finally leads to Rue Saint-Hubert. Follow it to the right.

(5) At the crossroads with Avenue de Broqueville on the right and Avenue de Belgique on the left, continue straight ahead along Rue d'Angleterre for about 50 metres, then turn right into the thermal park. Opposite the Roseraie des Cinq Sens, head left to find an information panel about thermalism.

Leave the blue trail markers for a short detour to the right, towards the kiosk and the Gubler (or Marguerite) spring. Return along the Sardon, the stream into which the springs flow. You can see some of them along this small iron-rich stream.

Stay on the right bank to walk alongside an old glass building with beautiful mosaic fountains inside. Cross the Sardon and continue to the right to arrive in front of the casino at an old blue mosaic refreshment bar.

(6) Continue straight ahead between the Grands Thermes and the restaurant, then between the casino, whose façade has been renovated, and a terraced park on the right. At the top of this park, beautiful residences and hotels are worth a detour. At the end of this park, continue straight ahead on the street, with a wood on your right.

(7) Take a path on the right, through the undergrowth and overlooking the Sardon. The blue markings are less visible here. Ignore the path on the left that leads to a bridge. You will come to a housing estate driveway and follow it to the left. At the intersection, turn left onto Route de Riom, then left again onto Avenue de l'Europe to return to the roundabout with the fountain and the car park (S/E).

Easy hike, standard hiking equipment

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here and more generally in the Puy-de-Dôme here

Some photos here

In the streets of Châtel-Guyon, take a look at the façades of the houses and hotels, which often hold some wonderful surprises.

Be sure to visit the interior ofSainte-Anne Church. Notice the painted wall of the house opposite the church entrance.

The paths through the woods are very pleasant. The sculptures by "Loïc" are a nice surprise.

The thermal baths park is dotted with information panels. You can see a few natural springs there. A few steps from the kiosk, a concrete funnel marks the edge of a tiny hot spring where you can warm your hands in winter. In this park, also take note of the work "Ressurgir" by T. Courtadon.