Château de la Chaux Montgros and Bois de Cheix-Blanc

A circular route in the Livradois-Forez Regional Nature Park, alternating between high passages with unobstructed views and forays into the Bois de Cheix-Blanc, on beautiful trails and paths. Some sections are on quiet country roads. Visit the pretty village of Pignols, then pass by the Château de la Chaux Montgros. At the end of the route, take a short visit to a wetland and its interpretive trail, a site developed for the Espace Naturel Sensible de la Forêt de la Comté (Comté Forest Sensitive Natural Area).

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.60 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 330 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 330 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 703 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 564 m

Description of the walk

On the D225, about 200 m east of the access road to Pignols, shaded car park on the south side of the road. Hiking sign, but different from this one.

Please note that many paths and trails, particularly in the woods, are not shown on the IGN map (even some that are marked) but are sometimes shown on the OSM map.

Unmarked

(S/E) Go to the eastern entrance of the car park, move to the right along the D225 for better visibility, cross carefully and follow the path opposite. After about 100 metres, you will come to an intersection, with the path on the right being the return path, blocked to vehicles by a wooden barrier.

(1) Turn left onto a grassy path. Ignore a path on the right and you will come to a fork in the path, next to a large vegetable garden. Turn left towards the village, which is visible a little higher up. The path turns into a street.

(2) At the crossroads, cross over and follow the street that climbs up opposite to enter the village of Pignols. Turn right (ignoring Rue des Jardins on the left), passing a fountain and a covered courtyard with a war memorial in enamelled lava on your left, then ignore all the streets on either side until you reach the end of the street, in front of a house with a carved head at the bottom of its façade and a fountain.

(3) Turn right onto Montée Sainte-Marguerite for a round trip to the church of the same name.

(3) On your return, continue straight on towards the town hall, then take Rue du Puy on the right, which quickly turns into a grassy path. Pass the signpost "Le puy" (viewpoint over the countryside of Vic-le-Comte and the Chaîne des Puys). Further on, pass a cross, then ignore a path on the left and you will come to a road.

(4) Follow it to the right for about 60 metres, then take the first path on the left. A crossroads with numerous paths appears as soon as you enter the woods. Fortunately, there are clear yellow markings.

Yellow markings

Follow the markings and the path that branches off to the left at a right angle. At a fork in the path, keep left (large puddle). Then ignore all the side paths. Leave the woods and you will come to a road where you leave the yellow markings.

No markings

(5) Cross the D53 and take the small road opposite. About twenty metres further on, leave the road and take a path on the left, marked with a yellow sign indicating "Pic de Mercurol". (Please note that this path was overgrown with vegetation when we passed through, although it was still passable. Given the low number of visitors to this area, if it turns out to be completely blocked, continue along the small road to rejoin the route further on, at the hamlet of Mercurol.)

After going around Pic de Mercurol (there seems to be a path leading up to the peak, but we didn't follow it), the path ends at a road. Turn right towards the houses to rejoin the road. Cross it and follow the gravel path opposite for a long descent. You will come to a crossroads and find the yellow markings again.

Yellow markings

(6) Turn left, pass a pond on your left and ignore a path on the left. Cross a road and follow the small road opposite, indicated by a small yellowPR®® sign. After passing the houses in the hamlet of Pommeride, the road turns into a stony path that leads to an intersection with a road below the Château de la Chaux Montgros (illegible information sign on the right). Leave the yellow markings, which turn right.

No markings

(7) Continue straight ahead towards Lignols and stay on the small road until you reach this hamlet. Follow the road to the right after the first house (stone cross).

(8) At the bend in the road to the left, leave the road and take a path that goes straight ahead (small yellowPR®® sign, remnant of an old signpost). Immediately cross a Canadian-style passage with a gate; there will be another one to cross further on. Continue downhill through the woods on this beautiful stone path. At the intersection with a path, continue straight ahead and you will arrive at the village of Sallèdes.

(9) Follow the street to the left, pass by the church (benches and viewpoint on the other side), continue straight ahead ignoring the streets on the right, pass in front of the school and then a drinking fountain. Turn onto the first road on the right, Chemin de Lavende. Before the first house in the hamlet, take the path on the left and you will find yellow markings again.

Yellow markings

Ignore two paths on the right (private signs). You will come to a crossroads.

(10) Keep right, following the direction indicated by the yellowPR®® sign. Ignore a path on the right and continue along this beautiful stone path.

No markings

(11) At the next intersection, leave the yellowPR®® markings that go left and continue straight ahead. Follow this wide path, ignoring the side paths, but keep an eye out for a path descending to the left, marked by small signs for cyclists and dog walkers and a yellow arrow with a frog. Further along this path, below, you will see a bench and a terrace.

(12) Make a round trip to discover a landscaped wetland area and a short educational trail about the forest: "Les contes de la Comté" (many benches available). This is one of the discovery sites of the Espace Naturel Sensible de la Forêt de la Comté.

(12) Back on the path, continue to the left. Ignore all side paths and trails. Cross a small bridge with an original railing and you will immediately arrive at a crossroads in an open space. Turn right towards a small yellow PR®® sign. A hundred metres further on, at the crossroads of four paths, continue straight ahead (the yellowPR®® goes to the right). Further on, ignore a path on the left, just before passing by a wooden fence and coming to an intersection you already passed on the way there.

(1) Turn left, following the route in reverse, to return to the car park on the other side of the D225 (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 603 m - Parking on the D225.
  2. 1 : km 0.24 - alt. 616 m - Start of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 1.11 - alt. 603 m - Crossroads
  4. 3 : km 1.39 - alt. 623 m - Round trip - Église Sainte-Madeleine (Pignols)
  5. 4 : km 2.47 - alt. 628 m - Road
  6. 5 : km 4.21 - alt. 634 m - Crossroads (D53)
  7. 6 : km 5.29 - alt. 600 m - Intersection of paths
  8. 7 : km 6.34 - alt. 670 m - Road - Château de La Chaux Montgros
  9. 8 : km 7.44 - alt. 683 m - Road/trail intersection
  10. 9 : km 8.75 - alt. 579 m - Sallèdes
  11. 10 : km 9.94 - alt. 566 m - Intersection of paths
  12. 11 : km 10.74 - alt. 615 m - Intersection of paths
  13. 12 : km 11.44 - alt. 651 m - Round trip to the wetlands.
  14. S/E : km 13.6 - alt. 603 m - Parking on the D225.

Notes

Moderate difficulty hike, standard hiking equipment required.

Worth a visit

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here

Some photos here

Varied route on small roads, paths and trails.
Numerous viewpoints (although they are not necessarily spectacular in this region), some beautiful typical old houses in the villages, a pleasant wetland area with an educational trail. A peaceful hike.

(7) Built between a medieval fortified castle and a large rural residence dating from the 16th century, the Château de La Chaux Montgros is one of the most beautiful monuments of Auvergne's heritage. Today, it is known and admired for its location and its unique and original architecture.
http://www.auvergne-centrefrance.com/geo...

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
plviso59
plviso59

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route with beautiful views. Alternating between sunny stretches and woodland, which was perfect as we did this hike in 36°C shade...
Some sections through the brambles were not cleared, but this was clearly stated in the description, so there were no surprises.
Highly recommended.

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sylvin
sylvin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike completed on 20/04/2024, easy, on beautiful trails with beautiful views, passing through the beautiful Comté forest, with very little road and no people encountered. To be done again.

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Jacqueline B
Jacqueline B

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty village of pignols, shame the castle is being renovated so there's a lot of scaffolding.
Very pleasant walk.

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