The Valley of the Saints (fairy chimney trail)

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Boudes, its vineyards and the Vallée des Saints, known as the Colorado of Lembron.

Details

n°53730
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.03 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 394 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 394 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,798 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,503 ft
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Photos

Fairy chimneys
Romanesque church in Boudes
On the way to Bard
Geological explanations about the soil

Description of the walk

(S/E) Park in the small car park at the entrance to the village of Boudes (very full on Sunday afternoons).

Pass by the Old Fort and the Little Church, then cross the Couzilloux.

(1) Turn right at the top of the road opposite the cross, then continue uphill for 500 metres.

(2) Turn left. This is where the Vallée des Saints begins: the little Colorado of Lembronnais.
The path is well maintained. At the bottom, you will find the Bard gas spring and its Gallo-Roman basin.

(3) Descend to the left towards the very typical village of Bard.

(4) Turn left to return along the vineyards towards Boudes (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,503 ft - Parking at the entrance to the village of Boudes.
  2. 1 : mi 0.58 - alt. 1,693 ft - Turn right at the cross
  3. 2 : mi 1.11 - alt. 1,798 ft - Valley of the Saints
  4. 3 : mi 1.59 - alt. 1,627 ft - Turn left towards Bard
  5. 4 : mi 1.74 - alt. 1,572 ft - On the left, return to Boudes.
  6. S/E : mi 3.03 - alt. 1,503 ft - Parking at the entrance to the village of Boudes.

Notes

Boudes: wine tasting available (in moderation) in one of the village's cellars.

Worth a visit

Don't hesitate to go back and forth to the various viewpoints along the route.
Valley of the Saints

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 71 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 18673818

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely spot well worth a visit

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Marie-Brigitte Destouches
Marie-Brigitte Destouches

A lovely route, well signposted, but… the area is in need of maintenance; a number of the views are obscured by vegetation – which, of course, must be respected – but what is the point of this route? To discover the ‘Auvergne Colorado’ and the imposing, magnificent Fées and Saint… what a shame… Boudes wine is little known; it’s good, but admittedly rather expensive…

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Wall-E
Wall-E

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

It’s a nice walk, but it’s best to stick to the official route – otherwise you won’t see a thing! Otherwise, it’s a lovely, easy walk with plenty of shade.

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User 22476008

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk. Allow a good two hours to take in the various views. Best done in the morning if it’s very hot

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User 2628801

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with beautiful scenery.

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User 24228155

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 01, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with magnificent landscapes

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User 21313126

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant short hike in dry weather

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Gibus 57400
Gibus 57400

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk with magnificent views

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Marcheur solitaire
Marcheur solitaire

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice walk, short, beautiful scenery.
Best done in dry weather, as some areas can be slippery.
It's a sight worth seeing at least once, and the wine from Boudes is very good, but a bit pricey.

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Marie-Brigitte Destouches
Marie-Brigitte Destouches

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The circuit is well designed; you should follow it in the direction indicated and view the "statues" last, as the site is somewhat disappointing: too many trees obscure what you want to see, the fairies (or saints) sculpted by erosion... a pity

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catherinedidier
catherinedidier

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice hike, but a shame there's so much vegetation around the chimneys.

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michaud_francois
michaud_francois

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A practical route in winter. The main attraction is the geological features. The trail is marked and often maintained.
Please note that during the season, there appears to be a charge for parking at the start of the trail.

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nogentsuroise
nogentsuroise

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pleasant route, beautiful countryside with incredible colours.

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Tophe Panda
Tophe Panda

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike. Less spectacular than described online.

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papi rené
papi rené

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great trail, only minor issue: the area around the fairy chimneys needs a bit of clearing, otherwise they'll soon be hidden from view.

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