La Chaise-Dieu walks

In the heart of the Livradois-Forez Regional Park, a beautiful walk from hamlet to hamlet, through forests and fields, and an opportunity to discover or rediscover La Chaise-Dieu and its rich heritage.

Leaving the village of Cistrières, you will mainly be walking through the forest. These woods are dotted with hamlets that were once home to agricultural activity. Most of the farms have been renovated and are now inhabited. The paths are well maintained and easy to walk on. You will find peace and quiet here, and cool shade from the trees in summer.

This route crosses part of the forest in the municipality of Cistrières, starting from the village of Condat. The hamlets, which are now sparsely populated or uninhabited, were once lively, as evidenced by an old school in Condat and the houses of Béates au Faud and Les Montilles. But during mushroom season, you will encounter many mushroom pickers there.

Following this route, you will pass successively through forest, fields and pastures. You will discover the volcanic activity of the village of Moissac Bas, its pond and its forming peat bog.

Discover Saint-Didier-sur-Doulon by following the course of the Doulon river, which once powered numerous mills. Pass through the undergrowth and villages where you will find chapels and wash houses.

The commune of Saint-Didier-sur-Doulon covers a large area of around 35 hectares and comprises around 30 villages and hamlets. During this route, you will discover some of them, all bearing witness to a rural past where agriculture was the main activity. You will discover a chapel, an old school and some splendid views.

This route starts at the lowest point in the commune of Saint-Didier and leads to almost the highest point. You will discover a castle, a remarkable sequoia tree, the ruins of a mill and splendid views.

Easy walk on small roads and gravel paths, through the meadows and woods around Chomélix.

This route allows you to discover the Senouire valley between Domeyrat and Esbelin, a small "limagne" (flat area) framed by wooded slopes. The Senouire accompanies you with its murmurs all along the route, where you can sometimes hear it without seeing it. The majestic 12th-century feudal castle with its imposing ruins dominating the village is sure to impress, and the old Romanesque bridge completes the medieval feel of the village.

The Bourianne lava flow is the result of an interesting geological phenomenon. Halfway through this hike, walkers will discover an imposing scree slope of basalt columns at their feet and, in the distance, the Forez Massif.

In good weather, this route offers superb panoramic views of the Auvergne mountains at Fiossat. From the coudert (communal land) at Le Pin, you will have a magnificent view of the Château de Domeyrat. A visit to Vals-le-Chastel is a must: castle, church and seigneurial chapel. At Frugières station, you can visit the Resistance Museum and, on the way back, don't miss the church in Frugières.

At the start of the route, the Senouire accompanies you to Sainte-Marguerite. After Barbason, the Ribeyrette greets you as it flows into the Senouire. Sainte-Marguerite welcomes you with its history and tranquillity. A superb panorama awaits you at Le Rif. Walk around the hamlet and see the rounded corners of some of the houses. Continue the route towards La Vizade and rejoin the Senouire at Barbanson.

This route passes through the villages on the eastern side of the Paulhaguet basin called Le Chaliergue. It corresponds to the lower volcanic plateau of Paulhaguet, at around 600 m, drained by the Senouire. The name was once written Callianicum and refers to stones, a stony area; it is also known as the Paulhaguet plateau. The panorama opens up from Jaroussier and Scombalou.

Along the Vallée de Dieu (Valley of God), the former name given to the Senouire valley, this walk combines the pleasure of walking with the discovery of the Haute Loire's heritage. It takes us from the village of Lavaudieu, one of the most beautiful villages in France, to the impressive towers of the medieval castle of Domeyrat.

Lavaudieu is one of the most beautiful villages in France. This walk invites you to leave the village and stroll through the surrounding hills, passing through villages such as Buze, whose houses are built of red arkose.

A beautiful trail with, halfway through the hike, the discovery of the Montpeloux volcanic crater and its many informative panels (geology, history of the volcano, fauna, flora, etc.), an undeniable bonus for curious children!

This circular walk passes by two must-see sites in the area: the Creux de l'Oulette and its waterfall, and the volcano of Montpeloux, a former basalt quarry converted into an open-air geological museum. At the end of the itinerary, you'll find a beautiful path along the Ance River.

Set off to explore the pretty little village of Cerzat, with its oven, church and wash house. Along the way, you'll enjoy beautiful views of Margeride and the plateau. The highlight of the walk is entering the Pié du Roi volcano and discovering the small lake that occupies what remains of the crater. You'll love this walk through the nature of the Hautes-Pyrénées.