La Sauvetat (Puy-de-Dôme) walks

Between Issoire and Clermont-Ferrand, the broad, agricultural Limagne plateau boasts a number of beautiful villages with a rich built heritage: forts and ramparts, towers and keeps, fine winegrowers' houses, fountains and wash-houses.

A walk in the countryside around La Sauvetat, followed by a tour of the village centre, home to the beautiful Commandery of the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem.

A walk in the Plauzat countryside before exploring this beautiful village in Limagne: rich winegrowers' houses, crosses, fountains, wash houses and a beautiful Romanesque church.

Starting from Montpeyroux, this circular route takes you to the banks of the Allier and the village of Coude. The medieval fortress of Montpeyroux, "the most beautiful village in France" built with local golden arkose stone, can be visited at the end of the route. You can climb up to the keep-museum, which offers a beautiful view.

This walk on the plateau allows you to walk on paving stones from the old Montpeyroux quarry, visit this magnificent wine-growing village and discover the banks of the Allier in the undergrowth.

The hillsides of the Allier in Puy-de-Dôme were once an important wine-growing area, as evidenced by the architecture of the villages you pass through on this hike. Among them is Montpeyroux, one of the most beautiful villages in France.

In the Pays des Couzes, set off to explore the villages of Chadeleuf and Sauvagnat-Sainte-Marthe along wide paths criss-crossing an agricultural plateau offering superb views of the Monts Dore, the hilltop villages of the Limagne and the Puy de Dôme.

The winegrowers' houses in the village of Corent are huddled together on a narrow terrace on the eastern slope of the Corent Plateau. On the plateau, an archaeological site highlights the remains of an important Gallic and then Roman settlement. The slopes of the plateau are covered with vineyards producing the Côtes d'Auvergne Corent AOP. You may even spot some chamois. At the bottom of the plateau, the banks of the Allier are rich in carbonated springs.

A circular route offering beautiful panoramic views of the Chaîne des Puys, the Limagne and the Sancy massif, passing through the ancient villages of Parent, Yronde and Buron. Of note: a pretty church in Yronde (open every time we passed by), the basalt mound of the old feudal castle of Buron called the Citadelle de Buron, fountains, wash houses and traditional dwellings.

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.

A walk through the plain where there used to be many orchards, now reduced to just a few. Depending on the season, the Veyre and its tributary, the Monne, have a good flow. As you climb, there are lovely views of the surrounding plain.

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.

From Ludesse, on the plateau, descend into the Couze Chambon valley to explore two citadel villages, Champeix, the City of Gardens, and Montaigut-le-Blanc, the City of Cats (personal name).

Between Saint-Maurice and Mirefleurs, two former wine-growing villages, the Vallon des Bouys, overlooking the Allier, consists of dry grasslands whose flora and fauna are protected. Below the valley, old lime kilns bear witness to the local exploitation of limestone. On the site of the former Sainte-Marguerite spa, a geyser awaits your arrival, perhaps to wake up.

A stroll through the countryside with views of the lavender fields, passing close to the horses at Château de la Ronzière, ending by crossing the once-fortified village of Chadeleuf; do make a detour to visit the church.

The route starts in Champeix, passes through the hills with views of the Couze Chambon valley, crosses the large site of the Saint-Julien cellars, then wanders through the pretty village of Montaigut-le-Blanc, before following the Couze back to Champeix, where you can visit the old Marchidial district and its gardens.