Enval – l’Ambène – Saint-Pierre Abbey in Mozac

Park on Allée des Graviers. 

(S/E) Walk down the street on the right towards the bridge over the Ambène and take the path branching off to the right just before the bridge: signpost. Follow the right bank of the Ambène, then cross it via the footbridge and continue along the left bank until you reach a T-junction with a track.

(1) Turn right onto this track to reach a four-way junction. Turn left and continue to the D446. Cross carefully at the designated crossing and cross the railway line. 

(2) Turn left onto the downhill path that runs alongside the railway line: the start is a bit tricky due to patches of tarmac. Follow this path to l’Ambène.

(3) Turn right to follow the path running along the right bank of the stream. Turn left to cross the footbridge: there are signposts. Return to the path on the right and you’ll come out onto Rue Louis Aragon, which runs past some detached houses.

(4) Cross the road to rejoin a path and return to a street called Chemin de la Rivière, which leads onto the D986, Avenue Jean Jaurès.

(5) Cross it carefully to rejoin the path opposite, still following the Ambène. Walk along the right bank, past the sports complex, and reach Avenue Léo Lagrange. Cross the road to rejoin the path. Continue straight on until you reach Rue de l’Abbaye. 

(6) Turn right to follow this street, which leads to the Abbey Church of Saint-Pierre, the park and the Lapidary Museum.

(7) Follow the outbound route in the opposite direction to return to the car park (S/E).

An easy walk requiring no special equipment.

The highlight of this short walk is a tour of the architectural complex comprising the abbey church and Mozac Abbey. It can be done as a half-day trip or starting from Enval (near Volvic and Chatel Guyon), and you can visit the old town and have lunch there.

The Abbey Church of Saint-Pierre de Mozac, in its present form, dates from the 12th century. It is open every day except 1 May. 

The Lapidary Museum can be visited by appointment. It houses sculptures from the original 7th-century abbey that were discovered on the site.