La Roche-Blanche (Puy-de-Dôme) walks

Starting from Chanonat, a pretty medieval village, stroll along the Auzon before climbing to the heights of the Montagne de la Serre. This inverted relief, which rises above the Limagne Plain, was created by the erosion of the sedimentary rocks of the surrounding plain by rivers, including the Auzon on its northern slope.

Discover two ancient villages typical of the region, located on either side of the Serre Mountain, an ancient lava flow overlooking the Limagne, offering views of the puys, the Monts du Forez and the Monts Dore.

From Opme, climb up to the limestone plateau of Jussat, then on to the famous Gergovie Plateau for a circular route offering beautiful views of the Chaîne des Puys and the Monts du Forez. Discover the beautiful fortified village of Opme and its castle (remarkable gardens).

From Opme and its castle overlooking the Auzon Valley, descend into the valley to discover the beautiful Château de la Batisse and the ruins of Château de Chanonat.

A peaceful hike in the countryside and on the heights of Tallende, passing through the neighbouring village of Saint-Amant. The route takes you past numerous orchards, some older than others and more or less well maintained, which are a speciality of this village on the edge of Limagne. The heights offer extensive views, and the route crosses two beautiful rivers, the Veyre and the Monne, several times.

A circular route with ascents and descents to discover some beautiful viewpoints on the heights of Monton: the Puy de la Vierge, the Puy de Marmant (nature reserve) and the Plateau de Corent (archaeological site), and also to enjoy the banks of the Veyre at the bottom of the valley.

From discovering sculptures by a contemporary artist to exploring the remains of this site famous for the Gauls' victory over the Romans, this hike also offers views of the Chaîne des Puys and the wooded areas near the city of Clermont-Ferrand.

Circular route around Puy de Peyronère, whose northern slopes are covered with orchards, which are characteristic of this part of the Monne valley. The route offers beautiful views and passes through two ancient villages rich in architectural heritage: Saint-Saturnin (castle and remarkable church) and Saint-Amant (castle, old bridge, etc.).

This route is linked to a quiz walk that allows you to discover the town's iconic sites and learn about its history and heritage in a fun way. Find the "Au fil de nos histoires" poster on the church square and scan the QR code to start the game (free, no registration or app download required). You can choose the "adult" trail or the "adult + child" trail (with additional questions for children aged 6 to 11). The description below refers only to the "adult" route.

From Romagnat, in the north, cross the Gergovie Plateau to discover the village of Gergovie on the south side. On the plateau, there are beautiful views of the Chaîne des Puys and, in the distance, the Massif du Sancy and the Monts du Forez.

Near Chanonat, this short walk takes you across the Auzon twice and past several ponds. It's a great way to stretch your legs, alone or with your family, in the forest. Moderator's note: some difficulties with orientation on this route. See reviews.

The climb up Puy Giroux offers magnificent panoramic views of the Chaîne des Puys and Mont Dore. Descend through the pretty villages of Opme and Chanonat to reach the banks of the Auzon and the Chaos de la Flore. A short stretch across the Redon plateau to return.

The village of Saint-Saturnin, one of the most beautiful villages in France, boasts one of the five most beautiful Romanesque churches in Auvergne. On the other side of the Veyre valley, discover the nine fountains of the wine-growing hamlet of Chadrat, built on the slopes of the Montagne de la Serre, amidst ancient terraces.

Circular walk to enjoy a pretty walk along the Auzon, a beautiful river well preserved in this urban environment, before climbing a little higher up the Puys de la Chèvre and Marmant.

This is a short walk on an urban route that follows the green corridor in the village of Le Cendre. A family walk that will allow you to discover this small, welcoming and friendly village.

This walk begins in Saint-Saturnin, a village between the Monne Gorges and the Veyre Valley. The village is home to one of the most important Romanesque churches in Auvergne and a royal castle. The walk continues to Notre-Dame de Randol Abbey, passing through green, rolling countryside.

This hike allows you to discover the Montepo site, which has been developed by the Arkose Association. You will discover stromatolites, a geological curiosity of the tertiary limestone rocks of the Limagne plain. The view before you highlights the Limagne Fault and the associated volcanic activity (informative panels are provided). In May and June, many species of orchids bloom on these dry grasslands. Finally, the balcony trail along the cornices of the old terraces cultivated in the last century offers beautiful views of the medieval village of Saint-Saturnin and its castle.

Starting from Saint-Saturnin, immerse yourself in very different mystical atmospheres: the Monastère Notre-Dame de Randol, a modern Benedictine monastery where monks make cheese, the megalithic site of the Allée Couverte de la Grotte, and the unmissable Église Notre-Dame de Saint-Saturnin, one of the most beautiful Romanesque churches in Auvergne.

From the pretty medieval village of Saint-Saturnin, I suggest a walk on the heights of the Monne, then a tour of the Puy de Peyronère, before returning to the banks of the Monne to discover the old village of Saint-Amant.

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.