The Saliens Waterfall

In Nébouzat, park near the cemetery and the Chapelle de la Croze, on the heights of the village, on the lawn at the side of the road.

(S/E) With your back to the cemetery, walk along the street, passing the chapel on your right, then the Croix de Croze, whose volcanic stone base is carved. Descend towards the village via the first street on the right, Rue de la Croze, then turn left at the intersection with Allée de la Croze.

(1) At the next intersection, turn right, still on Rue de la Croze, to leave the village. Ignore a street on the left that leads to the village centre and you will come to a fork in the road, facing a large wrought iron cross.

(2) Follow Rue de Vernadeix on the left. Ignore a street on the left and then a street on the right before finding Chemin de l'Étang on the left and taking it. Further on, cross a stream, the Gigeole. You will arrive at a crossroads.

(3) Turn right to walk along the Gigeole valley, slightly uphill. The path descends until it reaches a busy road, the D2089. Turn right and walk for a few metres between the low wall of the road and the guardrail, on the bridge that crosses the Gigeole. As soon as the guardrail ends, descend to the right to reach a small road that passes under the D2089. On the other side, ignore a road on the right. At the next intersection, walk a few metres to the right to find a sign for "Cascade des Saliens". Take the small path on the right for a round trip to a terrace overlooking the waterfall. Here, the Gigeole forces its way through a lava flow called the Coulée d'Olby.

(4) Back on the small road, at the "Cascade des Saliens" sign, continue to the right. Further on, cross another stream, the Ruisseau de la Gorce. Continue along the path which climbs uphill, then arrive at an intersection with another path and note a red and white^GR®® sign, as well as a green and white sign.

(5) Turn right, following the markings. Ignore two paths on the left, then cross a stream, a tributary of the Gorce, at the entrance to the hamlet of Les Eaux. At the intersection just after, you will see the yellow "Les Eaux" sign and a fountain on your left. Continue straight ahead towards Olby (^GR®® markings on an electricity pole).

(6) Further on, as the road bends to the right, continue straight ahead on the path, Impasse de la Sioule, leaving the^GR®® and green-white markings behind. On the bridge, cross the Sioule at its confluence with the Gorce and continue straight ahead to reach a road, the D216. Turn left for a few metres, following the brown mountain bike markings (which you will follow until otherwise indicated) and, at the pedestrian crossing, cross and take the path opposite.

(7) At the intersection with another path, turn left. At the next intersection, where yellow^PR®® signs are added to the mountain bike signs you are following, ignore the path on the right. You will come to a small street at the entrance to Villejacques.

(8) Continue to the right and ignore a street on the left. At the next intersection, leave the yellow and brown mountain bike signs (which go to the left) and continue straight ahead. At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead.

(9) At the next intersection, turn left for a few metres, cross a street, Rue du Quaire, and take Rue des Verdiers opposite, to the right of the fountain, which climbs slightly to the right. Ignore the alleys and paths on the left to reach the intersection with Rue du Quaire.

(10) Turn left. Further on, at a fork in the road, near a beautiful little carved stone cross, continue to the left. Further on, ignore a path on the left marked with a yellow sign. Continue along this path for a little over 1 km.

(11) As the path begins a wide left turn, leave it and take a path on the right, following the yellow and brown mountain bike markings. You will soon come to another path marked in red and white by the^GR®®441B. Follow these^GR®® markings until the end of the route. For now, turn right. Further on, join a small road and follow it to the right. Ignore two private paths on the right, cross the Sioule river via a pretty little bridge and continue on the other side towards Monteribeyre.

(12) Before entering the hamlet, turn onto a path on the right. Shortly afterwards, you will see a yellow sign indicating the direction of a small bridge over the Sioule, which also has yellow and mountain bike markings. Leave the^GR®® for a short return trip to this bridge and a pretty spot, ideal for a break. Back near the sign, continue to the right. This section of the route, overlooking the Sioule, offers beautiful views of the river. Further on, pass a yellow sign for "Coulée d'Olby" and then, just after, you will come to a road, the D216. Continue straight ahead on Route de Pradines to quickly reach a crossroads you already passed on the way there.

(6) Take the same path as on the way out to cross the hamlet of Les Eaux, then continue uphill to the path coming from the left, which you took on the way out.

(5) Continue straight ahead, still following the^GR®® markings^. At the intersection at Croix du Pialoux, continue straight ahead to descend into the Gorce valley. Cross the stream and you will arrive at a crossroads.

(13) Ignore the first dirt track on the right, which is not marked on the map, and take the next one, just a few metres higher up. The path approaches the D2089. Further on, turn left to pass under the road and, on the other side, continue to the right. Ignore a path that branches off to the left and back and continue straight ahead to reach the outskirts of Nébouzat. Ignore the roads at the junction on the right.

(14) At the small roundabout and the cheese shop, turn left onto Rue Charles de Gaules, towards the village, and follow the red and white^GR®® markings to cross it. Immediately cross the Ruisseau de la Gigeole and continue straight ahead, ignoring two streets on the right. At the intersection with Rue du Stade and Rue de la Millette, turn right, still on Rue Charles de Gaules. When you reach the church entrance, turn left onto Rue de la Croze. Ignore one street on the right, one street on the left and another street on the right and follow Rue de la Croze when it turns left further on, again ignoring the street on the right.

(1) Shortly afterwards, you will see a sign on your right indicating the direction of the cemetery. Follow it by turning right, still on Rue de la Croze, following the same route as on the way there. You will come to Rue de la Chapelle. Turn left to reach the cemetery (S/E).

Moderate difficulty hike, standard hiking equipment

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Forty thousand years ago, the Gigeole, Gorce and Sioule rivers flowed more or less parallel to each other in a northerly direction. When the volcanoes of the Chaîne des Puys formed, a large lava flow, the Coulée d'Olby, blocked their path. The rivers were diverted westwards, causing the Gigeole to flow into the Gorce, and the Gorce to flow into the Sioule.
However, about 500 metres after its sudden change of direction, the Gigeole took advantage of a weak spot in the flow to pierce through it and force its way through, creating the Cascade des Saliens waterfall.

The Croix de la Croze is an intriguing monument due to its sculptures, which are difficult to interpret. This cross, located next to the Chapelle de Nébouzat, is set in a pedestal that has undoubtedly been reused. The base features dancing animals and shepherds. The scene depicts the Adoration of the Magi in the sheepfold. The cross itself bears representations of Christ on one side and the Virgin Mary on the other. The year 1729 is inscribed on it.