Passing through Tourzel from the Couze Pavin

The route first follows the Couze Pavin, whose white water flows down from the crater lake of the same name, then climbs the plateau towards Chazeras, offering beautiful views of the magnificent village of Saint-Floret, then Tourzel, before descending to Saint-Cirgues-sur-Couze and its château.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.25 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 419 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 417 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 798 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 462 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the car park in front of the Château de Saint-Cirgues-sur-Couze.

Yellow-red markings (GRP® Autour d'Issoire)

(S/E) Opposite the château, turn left onto Rue de la Tour du Roi, then turn right at the first crossroads onto Rue de la Tour Madame. Ignore the various turnings until you reach a side street. Turn right onto Rue du Mas. Continue straight ahead until you reach the next crossroads.

(1) Leave Chemin de la Garenne on your left, which will be our return route, and enter the village of Saint-Vincent. Pass the first path on your right, then turn right onto the next street, which leads to the church after a crossroads. At the church, turn right onto Place de l'Église, then after a left turn, you will reach the crossroads at Place de la Fontaine.

(2) Turn right and then immediately left, opposite the town hall. The small street soon becomes the Chemin des Jardins, running alongside the Couze river.

(3) Continue straight ahead at the intersection, leaving the path on your left, so as to follow the Couze as closely as possible. The wide path narrows to a winding trail.

(4) Ford the stream, continuing along the Couze. The path crosses a small road and widens as it approaches Saint-Floret.

(5) Leave the tarmac road at the first houses in Saint-Floret and take a barely visible path on the left, which starts at the top of a hill (elevation 492 m) towards the church of Chastel (CRP5 link 500 m). Continue uphill, first approaching the church of Chastel, then crossing the D627 at a place called Les Grangettes. The path passes elevation 600 and then bends to the left near a house, offering a beautiful view of the church of Chastel. The path approaches the D627.

(6) Keep right at the intersection about a hundred metres before the departmental road, continuing uphill. The path ends up following a power line for about a hundred metres, then veers off to the left.

(7) Keep left at the fork, continuing uphill in a south/south-westerly direction until you reach a crossroads (elevation 749).

(8) Continue straight ahead. The path becomes paved as it enters the hamlet of Chazeras. Ignore the side roads until you reach the crossroads at the edge of the village.

(9) Turn left at the hairpin bend and descend at the exit of the hamlet. Pass the first turn-off on the left, then turn right at the next intersection. The path crosses the D28 and then a stream (Chavelle) before climbing up to intersect with a cross path (elevation 770).

(10) Turn left onto the cross road, ignoring the side roads. This road curves to the left before passing under the power line, then becomes paved until it enters Tourzel. Pass the fire station, ignore Rue du Château on the right, and continue along Rue des Sources.

No signposts

(11) At the end of Rue des Sources, keep left onto Rue du Dauphiné d'Auvergne (the village's main street).

(12) At the village exit, turn left onto Chemin du Clos and head uphill. Ignore the paths on the left. The tarmac soon gives way to a grassy path leading downhill. Stay on the most well-trodden path, which heads north and then west at a place called La Croix Blanche.

(13) At the intersection, the grassy lane turns right downhill towards Saint-Vincent and continues north. Continue straight ahead at the crossroads as you approach the village. Chemin de la Garenne intersects Rue du Mas, which you took on the way there.

(1) Turn right onto Rue du Mas, then left onto Rue de la Tour Madame. Turn left at the junction with Rue de la Tour du Roi to return to the Château de Saint-Cirgues, the starting point of the walk (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 463 m - Car park in front of the Château de Saint-Cirgues
  2. 1 : km 0.69 - alt. 470 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 1.01 - alt. 472 m - On the right at Place de la Fontaine
  4. 3 : km 1.56 - alt. 476 m - Go straight ahead at the intersection - Couze Pavin (rivière) à finaliser
  5. 4 : km 1.98 - alt. 480 m - Fording
  6. 5 : km 3.31 - alt. 505 m - Head towards Chastel church on the left
  7. 6 : km 4.34 - alt. 620 m - Turn right at the intersection
  8. 7 : km 5.26 - alt. 715 m - Turn left at the fork
  9. 8 : km 6.36 - alt. 749 m - Go straight ahead at the intersection (elevation 749 m)
  10. 9 : km 6.9 - alt. 742 m - Left-hand hairpin bend and descent
  11. 10 : km 8.21 - alt. 771 m - Turn left onto the cross path
  12. 11 : km 10.26 - alt. 683 m - On the left, Rue du Dauphiné d'Auvergne
  13. 12 : km 10.52 - alt. 670 m - Turn left onto the Clos path as you climb
  14. 13 : km 11.74 - alt. 667 m - Turn right downhill towards Saint-Vincent
  15. S/E : km 14.25 - alt. 463 m - Car park in front of the Château de Saint-Cirgues

Notes

The hike can be done in all seasons, except when the Couze river is in flood, which can occur after prolonged heavy rain or when the snow melts in the Monts Dores massif.

The paths used are generally well drained. However, waterproof walking shoes are recommended for the ford at (4).

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 18103140

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Interesting route. No major difficulties encountered. The start is really beautiful with a view of Saint Floret.

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vince633
vince633

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful route, except for the last long, straight climb.
It would be worth modifying the route to make it more attractive.

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Catherine Manin
Catherine Manin

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk with some lovely climbs.
The route begins by following the Couze-Pavin river through the woods. It may be worth doing it in reverse to finish with this beautiful, shady and refreshing section.
At a place called "Les Grangettes", there is a Way of the Cross to extend the hike a little.

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ayrton 12
ayrton 12

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very good hike, fairly easy.
The path along the Couze (a pretty river) is very pleasant.
Worth doing again and again.

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you for this summery view of hiking.
Happy hiking,
Jean-Louis

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mdre
mdre

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with lovely climbs in the sunshine
Quite tiring because there are many sections on stony paths going up and down
Superb and very varied views; surprising to see a sanctuary with so many skulls in France
We did it with our dog, who I think enjoyed it just as much!

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you very much. Have a nice day,
Jean-Louis

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REDONDIE ARLETTE
REDONDIE ARLETTE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

pleasant hike with beautiful views, physically demanding

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you and have a pleasant evening,
Jean-Louis

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jean-louis.chanel
jean-louis.chanel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

pleasant route

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