L'Artière walks

An easy walk on the outskirts of Clermont-Ferrand in a cool valley.

This route allows hikers to walk among the granite rocks that bear witness to the Limagne Fault, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018.

In the green belt of Clermont, hike in the forest, first following the Artière stream, then a path passing by an old oratory and lined with beautiful enamelled lava rocks from an arboretum/Jeu de l'Oie. Update 2025: Please note! The circular pattern is temporarily closed due to a landslide between (2) and (3).

Whilst the main aim of this urban walk is to show you the beautiful tram mural at Les Cézeaux, the route also takes you past some interesting architecture on the campus, along the little river the Artière, through a few parks and past a former site of wine cellars.

Close to Clermont-Ferrand, rolling meadows dotted with a few farms and a fast-flowing stream, the Ruisseau de Saint-Genès, also known as the Artière.

A walk in Aubière, first along the Artière and the shared gardens, then on the heights of the puy, a Sensitive Natural Area, before returning to the village via the site of the large wine cellars.

In the Clermont-Ferrand metropolitan area, the Transport à la Demande (TAD) service, in addition to regular bus and tram lines, allows you to travel quite far around the city. This seven-stage itinerary takes advantage of this. Each stage begins and ends at a bus or TAD stop. In between, the routes allow you to discover the villages of the metropolitan area's green belt and the foot of the Puy de Dôme: the built heritage of their old wine-growing or mountain villages, their spa resorts, their natural environments and a few geological curiosities. The first stages follow the course of the Artière, and the last ones follow the course of the Tiretaine, two pretty little rivers, tributaries of the Allier, which originate at the foot of the puys.See "Practical information" for a 4-stage variant with accommodation.

A third, very "geological" stage, allowing you to discover an impressive rock chaos, evidence of the Limagne Fault that borders the Plateau des Dômes, and the small gorges of the Artière. The itinerary also allows you to continue your discovery of Ceyrat with a visit to its second ancient village, Boisséjour.

A fairly short second stage between Beaumont and Ceyrat, passing by the pretty Moulin de la Tranchère, a renovated mill on the banks of the Artière, then by the summit of Puy de Montrognon, crowned by a tower that is the remains of a medieval castle.

This first stage is mainly urban, with a few green interludes at Parc Bargoin in Chamalières, on the slopes of Puy de Montaudoux, in the chestnut grove of Beaumont and in the small parks along the Artière.

Circular loop of geological interest among the rocky chaos of the Limagne Fault, on the heights of Ceyrat. A slightly challenging first part followed by a more leisurely return with a passage through the old village of Boisséjour. Update 2025: Please note! The circular pattern is temporarily closed due to a landslide between (S) and (1).

A short climb at the start to reach the Chemin des Crêtes and its Mediterranean atmosphere, a volcanic detour to the small rock formations, a walk at the foot of the local giant and an end to the walk in the company of the Tiretaine.