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 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.

Walk around Vic-le-Comte, across fields, to climb up to the pretty village of Pignols. You will cross a few streams and enjoy beautiful views of the Chaîne des Puys. Back in Vic, a visit to the old town is a must.

A short circular route following the pretty Ruisseau d'Enval stream to the village of the same name, which has a few troglodytic dwellings, before returning to Vic to explore the old town and Sainte Chapelle.

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.

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.

A visit to the old town of the capital of the Comté region, to discover beautiful medieval houses and the Sainte-Chapelle, a jewel of the French Renaissance.

A walk through an old wine-growing village at the foot of La Motte, a basalt spur supporting the ruins of a feudal castle. Beautiful traditional houses and a pretty chapel to visit to learn about the history of the unfortunate Sir Buron.

From the beautiful wine-growing village of Saint-Maurice, climb to the summit of Puy Saint-Romain for a beautiful view of Sancy, Livradois and the Chaîne des Puys. Then descend to the banks of the Allier to discover the springs of an ancient thermal park.Visorando app useful in certain places.

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.

Walk through the countryside of Issoire from the former wine-growing village of Yronde to discover the superb Domaine de Sarlant.

Hike in the hills of Limagne d'Issoire, including a visit to two old wine-growing villages and passing through the small village of Puy Moriot, old arkose quarries and a stonemason's hut.

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.

Take a loop starting from Mirefleurs to discover this eco-park on the banks of the Allier, a former quarry transformed into a natural wetland. You can observe a number of birds from the observation points, so don't forget to bring your binoculars. There are unobstructed views of the Chaîne des Puys in the first part of the walk. Mirefleurs is a pleasant village with many old houses. There are lots of plum and walnut trees along the route.

A walk around the village of Saint-Yvoine, with views of the Chaine des Puys, the Sancy and the Allier Valley.

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.

A return trip to the summit of Puy de Gourdon, offering a beautiful panoramic view, is added to a circular route around and on Puy de la Rodde, starting from the medieval village of Montaigut-le-Blanc.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A circular route in the Livradois-Forez Regional Nature Park, alternating between high passages with unobstructed views and forays into the Bois de Cheix-Blanc, on beautiful trails and paths. Some sections are on quiet country roads. Visit the pretty village of Pignols, then pass by the Château de la Chaux Montgros. At the end of the route, take a short visit to a wetland and its interpretive trail, a site developed for the Espace Naturel Sensible de la Forêt de la Comté (Comté Forest Sensitive Natural Area).

The route first follows the Couze Pavin, whose white water flows down from the crater lake of the same name, then climbs the plateau towards Chazeras, offering beautiful views of the magnificent village of Saint-Floret, then Tourzel, before descending to Saint-Cirgues-sur-Couze and its château.

During the hike, you will discover the white water of the Couze Pavin, the rocky landscape of Puy de Lavelle and its brightly coloured flora, magnificent views of the Couze valley and, of course, the village of Saint-Floret with its rich heritage.

Semi-urban route along the Auzon and then the Allier rivers near their confluence. A series of two circular routes that you can do separately to shorten the walk.

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.

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).

The hiking trail climbs up to the village of Les Roches, a prehistoric site currently undergoing restoration, then leads to Pardines via the plateau before descending through a beautiful acacia forest. Here you can see the outcrop of ancient lacustrine sediments, known as Lahres.

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.

Hike on both sides of the Couze Pavin valley between the feudal villages of Saint-Floret and Saurier. Each has remarkable medieval bridges and highly historic sites such as the Château de Saint-Floret, the Église du Chastel and the Maison du Louvetier de Saurier.

While the Abbey Church of Saint-Austremoine is the undisputed jewel of Issoire, there are a few other pleasant surprises in store for you in the town, including small canals and beautiful architecture on the Place de la République.

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.

Starting from the historic town of Issoire, this hike follows the Couze Pavin, whose white water flows down from Lake Pavin, then the troglodytic village of Les Roches, which was still inhabited in the first half ofthe 20th century and has been beautifully restored, ending with a gentle slope towards Issoire, in a hilly landscape shaped by the Boulade stream.

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.

An easy walk on the outskirts of Clermont-Ferrand in a cool valley.

Close to Clermont-Ferrand, rolling meadows dotted with a few farms and a fast-flowing stream, the Ruisseau de Saint-Genès, also known as the Artière.

A hike that climbs through a forest of pine, fir, oak, beech and chestnut trees, then winds its way through fields and pastures.

A third, very "geological" stage, allowing you to discover an impressive rock chaos, evidence of the Limagne Fault that borders the Plateau des Dômes, and the small gorges of the Artière. The itinerary also allows you to continue your discovery of Ceyrat with a visit to its second ancient village, Boisséjour.