Châtel-Montagne walks

Route from Puy du Roc starting from Chatel-Montagne in the Bourbonnais mountains.

Since spring 2021, a path has been created around this artificial lake in the Bourbonnais mountains. This is a short, easy route on a very well-maintained path.

This hike starts in Nizerolles, a small village at the foot of the Monts de la Madeleine. It takes you across the River Jolan three times and partly follows the Tacot de la Montagne Bourbonnaise platform, the former departmental railway line that linked Vichy and Laprugne until 1949.

This hike will allow you to discover the Cascade de la Pisserote waterfall on the Barbenan.

This stage crosses the highest villages in the Monts de la Madeleine, at an altitude of around 1,000 metres, and allows you to visit two major tourist attractions in St-Nicolas-des-Leat (03): the Allée des Géants and the Pierre Châtel. Most of the route is through deciduous forest, home to mushrooms. The stage ends at the Loge des Gardes sports resort, where accommodation is available (hotel-restaurant).

Hike route starting from Molles, a village at the foot of the Bourbonnais mountains, 17km east of Vichy.

This walk takes us through woods to the Verrerie plateau and its peat bog.

This short hike takes you past two remarkable sites: the Pierre Châtel with a beautiful view from its summit and the mysterious "Allée des Sorcières" (Witches' Alley) with its twisted beech trees.

This hike takes us on a journey between modernity (the wind turbines) and the past (the old glassmakers' village, the Château des Hormières) and offers beautiful views of the surrounding valleys.

This hike takes us through the woods of Pierre Châtel (Saint-Nicolas-des-leat) to the Druidic Stone (Loge des Gardes). The return journey takes us through isolated hamlets and farms.

Hike not far from Vichy in the rolling countryside bordering the Sichon Valley, in the foothills of the Livradois-Forez Massif.

Departure from the Loge des Gardes sports centre. Start the day in the beautiful beech undergrowth of the Assise State Forest, above 1,000 metres altitude, before descending to the more open plateaus of La Tuilière and Cherier, with beautiful views. End at the Refuge du Point du Jour lodge (overnight stay and meals made with farm produce) (altitude 870 metres).

Winding its way between forests and pastures, this walk leads to the foot of Rocher Saint-Vincent, the protective power of Lavoine and the Sichon valley.

Enjoy a lovely walk above Ambierle through fields and forests. Discover its magnificent church with its polychrome tiles.

A very pleasant route in all seasons. You will walk through wooded areas at the bottom of the valley, accompanied by the sound of the babbling brook, but also through open areas offering views of the Monts Dômes to the west and the Montagne Bourbonnaise to the east. The passages near the monument to the 11 Martyrs of Goutte Grandval and the Château de Busset give this route a historical appeal.

A lovely walk for those who enjoy combining walking with nature observation. Starting from Saint-Yorre, walk through the pleasant undergrowth following the course of the Andraux stream, then around the Coupe-Gorge and Fonts de Fer stream basins. Open views over the Monts Dômes, the Vichy plain and the Vernet hill.

A hike dedicated to water. Flowing water, Ruisseau des Andraux, Allier. Water to drink, Saint-Yorre bottling plant, Source des Célestins. Water with healing properties, Hall des Sources and Grand Établissement Thermal de Vichy. And, depending on the weather, perhaps water falling from the sky?This hike can also be done as a round trip, difficulty: difficult (24 km).

A beautiful walk in any season when the weather is fine, alone or with the family. You can explore the banks of the River Allier and its magnificent waterfalls. The route is mostly shaded in summer. You can also listen to the songs of a wide variety of birds. This route is similar to the "circular des sources" hiking trail listed by Vichy Communauté: a fully developed route with rest and picnic areas.

Morning: crossing the northern part of the Roanne coast vineyards, with little elevation gain, and two beautiful historic villages: Saint-Haon-le-Châtel and Ambierle, with a rich heritage open to visitors. The afternoon is more challenging with the climb to leat (altitude 765 m) through meadows and forest. Most of the route is on dirt tracks with no traffic.

Hike in the northern foothills of Livradois, known as the Bois Noirs, starting from Châteldon, a village with some beautiful medieval houses.

A 4-day hiking tour from lodge to lodge in the Monts de la Madeleine (low mountain range) west of the town of Roanne. Immerse yourself in nature, often still wild, by taking as many small paths as possible.

Departure from a high point in the Monts de la Madeleine, in Cherier, at a place called Le Point du Jour (870 m, 14-bed stopover lodge with meals) to descend to the Côte Roannaise, cross its vine-covered hillsides and arrive at the medieval village of Saint-Haon-le-Châtel (14-bed stopover lodge with meals). This route gives priority to small paths with no motor vehicle traffic and beautiful views of the Roanne plain.