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Park either on Place du 8 Mai (where the town hall is located) or in the car park on Place des Razes behind the tourist office/Grange de Mai.
(S/E) Go up Chemin des Razes.
(1) Turn right onto Chemin de Naja.
(2) At the intersection with Chemin de Vocan, continue straight ahead on the gravel path. Descend into the woods and cross the Veyre, which is often dry due to its underground course beneath the lava flow. Climb back up to the D213 road.
(3) Cross this departmental road with caution and climb up opposite on the grassy path marked "Sentier de la Pointue, Montépo". The climb is steep! You will arrive at a crossroads.
(4) Head opposite to enter the Montépo site (information board). From here, follow the small red arrows for the Montépo circuit. Climb up to the old cultivated terraces. Discover several dry stone huts, one of which, the rain water reservoir carved into rock, was used as a water tank (bench nearby).
Continue along the hillside path to reach the highest point of the hike, below the relay tower, which offers a view of the Veyre valley with the villages of Tallende and Saint-Amant. Information panels explain the formation of the stromatolites, which are the remains of ancient sedimentary basins. The landscape offers an insight into the geology: recent volcanic flows at the bottom of the valley, ancient flows in reverse relief forming the Montagne de la Serre and the Limagne sedimentary plain. Nearby, pass in front of the contemporary artwork "Lava". Continue the route following the red arrows.
(5) After the descent, turn right. Note that in May and June, various species of orchids typical of dry grasslands are in full bloom. On the hillsides, the trail crosses the remains of old vineyards, a reminder of the agricultural past of the surrounding wine-growing villages. Return to the intersection you passed on the way there.
(4) Continue along the hiking trail on the right (marked in blue in the opposite direction).
(6) At this intersection, continue straight ahead, leaving two paths that climb to the right and one that descends to the left. Note another dry stone hut on the right. The path becomes a trail between bushy shrubs and descends towards farmland, then joins a wide path.
(7) Take it to the left until you reach the D213 road. Cross it carefully and continue on the path opposite.
(8) At the first crossroads, take the path on the left through the woods, which leads to the hamlet of Vocan. At the Vocan estate, turn right onto the path.
(9) After 250 m, turn left onto a grassy path in the woods and join the Chemin de Naja.
(1) Take the Chemin des Razes to return to the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Tourism professional
