The Chemin Fais'Art

Since 1992, this pleasant walk has invited visitors to stroll among Gilles Perez's monumental contemporary lava stone sculptures, which blend in with the landscape and nature. Additional sculptures have been added over the years.

Details

24047229
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.61 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 140 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 140 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 871 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 757 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the village of Chapdes-Beaufort, on Rue des Bruyères, between the church and the cemetery.

(S/E) From the starting point sign, walk up Rue des Bruyères behind the church and cross Rue de la Chartreuse (D62). Turn left onto Rue Tiollet and immediately climb the stairs on the right. At Place de la Mairie, continue straight ahead, ignore the two streets on the left, cross Place du Patural on the left and then turn right. At Place du Séquoia, turn left onto Rue de Beaufort and continue until you reach a stone cross.

(1) Take Rue des Pigères and continue left until you reach the road. Continue straight ahead along a path through the woods until you reach the pontoon.

(2) Take this path and climb up into the beech forest opposite. After a meadow (sculpture of vertical elements), the path climbs to the right, passing a ring-shaped sculpture. At the pond, climb to the left until you reach the "armchairs" site. Continue to the right until you reach the track.

(3) Continue right until you reach the road. Take it to the left until you reach the crossroads.

(4) Turn left towards "Vierge de Beaufort". Go up the path, keeping to the left until you reach the clearing (off the route: a path goes up to the left to the Vierge de Beaufort).

(5) Continue straight ahead then left and follow the walls of an old castle. Descend to the track on the right (sculpture workshop) and continue to the D418.

(6) Take it to the left for 1 km. In a large left-hand bend, leave it and take a path on the right.

(7) At the next crossroads, take the second path on the left, opposite the cross. Go straight to the D62 opposite the church in Chapdes-Beaufort, turn right then left onto Rue Saint-Joseph and return to the starting point (S/E) on the right via Rue des Bruyères.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 775 m - Rue des Bruyères
  2. 1 : km 0.87 - alt. 804 m - Stone cross
  3. 2 : km 1.93 - alt. 775 m - Pontoon
  4. 3 : km 2.79 - alt. 843 m - Track
  5. 4 : km 3.07 - alt. 851 m - Crossroads
  6. 5 : km 3.67 - alt. 870 m - Vierge de Beaufort
  7. 6 : km 4.73 - alt. 786 m - D418
  8. 7 : km 5.85 - alt. 758 m - Crossroads
  9. S/E : km 6.61 - alt. 775 m - Rue des Bruyères

Notes

For your safety, always carry a bottle of water, a hat, warm and rainproof clothing, and wear suitable walking shoes.
Depending on weather conditions, some routes are not recommended in bad weather (fog) or are impassable or even prohibited during the winter season.
Some sites are fragile, so stay on the marked trails. Avoid picking wild flowers and disturbing wildlife. Pick up your litter.
Animals are prohibited on certain routes.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
mimi 63
mimi 63

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk in the Combrailles region, covered in snow, discovering Mr. Perez's Volvic stone sculptures.
Beautiful view from the Virgin of Beaufort.
Not very difficult.

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User 8387401

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A wonderful discovery of Mr. Perez's works. The shaded walkway was much appreciated in the heatwave.

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User 12002577

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hiking in a beautiful and pleasant location.
Not enough signage on site to easily find your way around and see all the facilities. No place to dispose of rubbish.

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63mireille
63mireille

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant path lined with stone sculptures from Vovic.
Some are off the route, so don't hesitate to stray from the path. Beautiful view.

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Eriquet
Eriquet

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route is difficult to follow to see all the works, which are all incredible. There is also a very beautiful view from the Vierges de Beaufort. I recommend it with children.

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AYRAULT DANIELLE
AYRAULT DANIELLE

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 : No

A great trip to do again next year. I've never seen the Virgin Mary. The sculptures are enormous and very imaginative!!!

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hpos
hpos

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb and very pleasant hike. You must climb up to see Beaufort. The round trip is quick and there is a beautiful viewpoint. I recommend it.

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Vincentv
Vincentv

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route, don't hesitate to stray from it to see other works and ND de Beaufort.
Good walk with 1 dog.

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ChrisFlo
ChrisFlo

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

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Gillesmille
Gillesmille
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Do not be discouraged by the walk along the road at the beginning of this short hike.
What follows will bring you some magical surprises!
Gilles Perez's works are astonishing!
This short hike is suitable for children. They will certainly see castles and walls better than we do...

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PATRICK GRADE
PATRICK GRADE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route enhanced by sculptures. Well worth a visit.

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Patie86
Patie86

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We were a little hesitant at first...our parking spot didn't seem to match the one on the map.
This walk past Cédric Perez's monumental works is a real treat!
There are a few amenities missing for sitting down to admire the works and/or taking a snack break.

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