Chouvigny walks

Circular in the Calvinian countryside overlooking the Sioule Gorges, then along the riverbank.

This trail takes you from hamlet to hamlet to discover the small-scale architectural heritage of this part of Auvergne, in the north of the Puy-de-Dôme: traditional houses with stepped gables, wells and drinking troughs, a former abbey in Menat and a medieval bridge over the Sioule.

Discover the hamlets of the Blot region and the superb lime trees that adorn their squares. The second part of this walk will take you to Château-Rocher, which overlooks the Sioule valley.

While further south in Auvergne, water is brought to villages by fountains, here it is provided by numerous public and private wells, which you can enjoy discovering in the hamlets along this circular route in the Blot region, on the heights of the Morge. You will also discover an oratory and a chapel, both dedicated to Saint Agatha.

Tour of the Sep Joli dam with a view of it. A fairly easy hike between paths and forest. Not too crowded in July, mostly fishermen.

Discover Châteauneuf-les-Bains, a little-known spa resort in the Puy-de-Dôme, located on the banks of the Sioule.

A very pleasant hike through countryside and forest between Charroux and the banks of the Sioule, with superb views of the Chaîne des Puys and the Bourbonnais mountains on a clear day.

From Charbonnières-les-Vieilles, the hilly path runs alongside the Morge river, offering remarkable examples of local heritage (wells, crosses, wash houses, mills) and arrives at the magnificent Gour de Tazenat (crater lake) with splendid views of the Chaîne des Puys.

A perfect circle 700 m in diameter and approximately 66 m deep, the Gour de Tazenat is a crater lake or maar whose clear waters are home to a variety of aquatic fauna. A path through the undergrowth allows everyone to walk around it easily.

In a sumptuous setting, dominated on one side by the imposing Château de Chouvigny and on the other by the ghostly Château Rocher, you will discover a route that is well worth a detour for its fishing and tourist attractions. Green markings

A short 8-shaped walk at the foot of Saint-Vincent de Chantelle Abbey.

A forest walk in the foothills of the Combrailles leading to the "Pierre Branlante" site. Erosion has cleared away a block of granite, leaving it balanced on its side. According to legend, this block oscillates when touched by human hands.

The route takes walkers to the heights of Aigueperse and Chaptuzat, past fountains, wash houses, crosses and castles.

The Sioule River shapes the landscape of the Combrailles. Between valleys, wild gorges, forest paths and volcanic peaks offering magnificent views... here, it is the Queuille meander that takes our breath away with its strange tranquillity and perfect curves.

A short round trip to enjoy the beautiful Gour Saillant waterfall.

An easy hike in the hills overlooking Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, west of the Allier valley, partly following the GR®300 trail with a few short stretches on minor roads. Easy, well-marked and signposted paths. Beautiful views of Saint Pourçain-sur-Sioule. Unshaded route, best avoided during heatwaves.

Between steep-sided valleys, unspoilt wilderness and wooded slopes, the Sioule has become a lake thanks to the Fades-Besserve dam. It accompanies us throughout the route with beautiful views of the Sioulet valley and the Combrailles.