The oppidum of Ronzières starting from Vodable and view of Lembron

Park in the car park on the "Le Champ Vacher" communal road at the entrance to Vodable coming from Solignat (D32 from Issoire).

Yellow-red^GRP® markings around Issoire

(S/E) From the car park, head east on the "Le Champ Vacher" municipal road, turn right leaving Rue des Remparts, then keep left at the fork to reach Place du Marchidial. Keep left at the next fork, Rue de l'Église. Turn left onto Chemin des Remparts, then immediately right towards Croix de Nazareth.

(1) At the Croix de Nazareth, carved in basalt, turn left then keep right at the fork. Cross the D32 to reach the stabilised path in the direction of "Puy d'Ysson". Ignore a path on the left and continue to the right for about 250 metres.

No markings

(2) Keep right at the fork onto the path that follows the contour lines towards "Table d'Orientation". The route eventually curves towards Puy d'Ysson to join a small road that climbs up to it. This road first forms a hairpin bend to the right. After about 100 metres, a path branches off to the right.

Yellow-red markings

(3) This path, marked "VTT" (mountain biking), is not very visible from the road. Before taking it, you can visit the Puy d'Ysson orientation table 700 metres away. To do so, simply continue along the road, then take the hairpin bend to climb to the top of the hill.

(4) At the orientation table (elevation 856), turn around to return to the fork.

(3) Follow the "VTT" sign on the left. The forest trail eventually joins a small road that leads to a crossroad.

No markings

(5) Head left. At the crossroads (elevation 676), take the path on the left marked "Florat", which will join a stabilised lane (elevation 692) that will eventually lead towards Vodable. The stabilised lane meets another crossroad, where you will turn right, leaving the village behind you. Pass a path on the left.

Yellow-red markings

(6) Keep right at the intersection, then leave the lane when it turns right and take a grassy path. Cross the small Chaussade stream at the ford. The path climbs towards Ronzières and its Notre-Dame Church. Ignore the side paths in Ronzières. Take Rue des Chaussades, Rue du Coudart and then Rue des Pèlerins in succession.

No signposts

(7) Turn right onto a steep path marked "Église romane de Ronzières" (Romanesque church of Ronzières). This leads to a small road which you take to the right to enter the oppidum. Turn around and take the small road downhill that joins Rue des Pèlerins, where you will turn right. After about 100 metres, turn left onto a stabilised path. Stay on the most frequently used path. This path curves to the left and descends to the edge of the forest. Ignore the path on the right leading into the forest.

(8) Ignore the turn-off to the left towards Vodable and continue south-southwest. The lane eventually curves twice to the left.

(9) Keep left and then go straight ahead at the four-way junction. Then follow the road to the entrance to Vodable after a wide bend to the right.

(10) Turn right at the intersection with a small road, then left towards "Solignat", and finally right towards "Vodable" on the communal road "le Champ Vacher" where you will find the car park at the start of the hike (S/E).

This hike can be enjoyed in all seasons. It features a ford that can be crossed without difficulty.
There are stones on the paths. Good walking shoes are recommended.

The destination of the hike isthe oppidum of Ronzières, a site of historical interest. Here you can discover an ancient civilisation while enjoying a beautiful view of the Lembronnais, a landscape of volcanoes used for agriculture.

A detour to the Puy d'Ysson orientation table offers a 360° view of Lembron.