Châtelperron walks

A short walk around the village of Saint-Léon, including a stop at Puy Saint-Ambroise to admire the exceptional panoramic view.

Le Puy Saint-Ambroise overlooks the plateaus of the Sologne Bourbonnaise. At an average altitude of 436 metres, it offers a vast panorama, to the north over the Morvan, to the south-east over the Monts du Lyonnais, and to the south-west over the Chaîne des Puys and the Massif du Sancy.

Long tour of the village of Saint-Léon, ending at the summit of Puy Saint-Ambroise.

Hike starting from Jaligny secondary school, mostly on farm tracks and paths with around 35% tarmac, passing through the village of Chatelperron where you can see the fortified castle, listed as a Historic Monument: private property, not open to visitors. Beautiful scenery in good weather on the Colombier ridge. Beautiful view of the castle on its rocky outcrop on the descent from La Roche. A small museum of local prehistory and a restaurant are located on the route at Chatelperron station. The return journey is partly along the "Chemin du Tacot", an old railway line.

Starting from Puy Saint-Ambroise, you will see two castles on this 15 km route.

A circular route in the commune of Montaigu-le-Blin, voted the most beautiful village in the Allier in 2012. This route allows you to take a leisurely afternoon stroll to discover some of Montaigu’s heritage, including the large wash house, the fortified castle, Presles Castle, the Roman road, the Celtic cross and St Anne’s Church. It has been created by combining several ‘heritage routes’ offered by this small village, where time seems to stand still out of season. On this easy-to-moderate route, which takes just under 3 hours, the effort is sustained and mostly on tarmac, but the breaks to admire the local heritage treasures and the panoramic views allow you to recover. Only the grassy slope between the wash house and the fortified castle is more demanding, but it can be bypassed by climbing up to the fortified castle from the village centre rather than directly from the wash house.

This easy walk will take you past some of Neuilly-le-Réal’s key landmarks, as well as a château and a few ponds. You’ll see numerous boundary walls and building walls made of multicoloured bricks, laid in a diamond pattern.

Set off to discover the 18 crosses in our parish. Throughout your walk, you’ll discover our historical heritage, starting from Saint-Pierre Church, passing through various hamlets, with a stop at Glennet to explore its castle, mill and pond.

Set amidst heritage and greenery, from the start of the lakeside route, you’ll enjoy views of the spa district before recharging your batteries in the Forest of Germigny. You’ll then enjoy superb views of the Loire Valley and a panorama of Bourbon-Lancy and its medieval quarter.

Route starting from Isserpent, a small village at the foot of the Bourbonnais mountains, 15 km east of Vichy. An easy hike through the Bourbonnais countryside.

A family hike that passes through the vineyards of Saint-Pourçain.

A pleasant walk starting from Arfeuilles, with plenty of woodland, crossing the Barbenan, and lovely views of the surrounding area.

A round trip on the Sentier aménagé des Castors (Beaver Trail) from Moulins, along the banks of the Allier.

On the agenda for a busy day: a visit to the unmissable National Centre for Stage Costumes, which alone is worth a detour to Moulins; you'll still have time to cross the Allier to stroll through the shopping streets and the historic district, perhaps visiting one or two other museums.The time indicated for this trip does not, of course, take into account visits to the various museums.

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

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

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

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).

The walk takes you to Bois Coutayon on the border between the municipalities of Vendat and Saint-Pont. In the wild boar park, with a little luck and patience, you may spot wild boars and piglets or deer and fawns!

A route through woods and along paths, starting from the small village of Saint-Bonnet-des-Quarts.

I suggest a short urban hike to discover Vichy, nicknamed "the Queen of Waters". This circuit takes you through the emblematic streets of Napoleon III's beloved city, lined with beautiful houses of eclectic architecture, as well as the shopping streets of the modern city and the parks along the Allier River. You can quench your thirst at the famous Source des Célestins.

Route through the Lespinasse Forest, a peaceful spot with several ponds and picnic areas, facilities for children.

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

A circular route, mostly on tracks and farm roads, starting from Cognat-L'yonne and passing by Rilhat Castle and Monpensier Golf Course. Beautiful view of the Gannat plain on a clear day, of course.