The Gour de Tazenat

Route around the Gour de Tazenat, which occupies an ancient volcanic crater. You can even swim in the lake that has formed inside it. Don’t worry, the volcano has been dormant for 40,000 years.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.87 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 79 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 80 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 716 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 631 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From Manzat to Charbonnières-les-Vieilles, via the D19. Park at thefirst car park at Gour de Tazenat.

(S/E) From the signpost at the end of the car park, take the path to the lake.

(1) Continue along the path on the left at the edge of the gour: sign explaining the legend of the Gour de Tazenat and view of the gour. At the entrance to a large estate, continue along the path opposite until you reach the road.

(2) Go straight on along this road, passing an information sign (view of the Chaîne des Puys). Follow the main path to a road. Take the road on the right and continue to the junction after the white house.

(3) Leave the road leading to the reservoirs and turn immediately right onto the path that descends into the woods until you reach the junction as you approach the first houses of the hamlet of Les Forges.

(4) Go down the path on the right until you reach a wooden gate on the right, go through it and continue along the path to the edge of the gully. Turn left to walk along its edge.

(1) When you can see the houses, turn left and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 637 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 0.08 - alt. 636 m - Start and end of the Tour du Gour route
  3. 2 : km 0.54 - alt. 661 m - Road crossing
  4. 3 : km 1.83 - alt. 716 m - Path on the right
  5. 4 : km 2.8 - alt. 694 m - Junction, turn right
  6. S/E : km 3.87 - alt. 636 m - Arrival

Notes

For your safety, always take a bottle of water, a hat, warm and waterproof clothing with you, 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; please stay on the designated paths. Avoid picking wild flowers and disturbing wildlife. Please take your rubbish with you.
On some routes, pets are not allowed.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Paris Cevenol
Paris Cevenol

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk in the countryside

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Marspi
Marspi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant, easy walk, done in the morning in September, so there weren’t many other walkers about.
Beautiful views of the Gour and the surrounding area at the start, then a stretch through the woods towards the end.

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Miccri
Miccri

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk at the end of a sweltering summer’s day. (38°C in the morning and 27°C during the walk). Mostly shaded.
Perfect for the occasion and a lovely walk with views of the Puy de Dôme and surrounding peaks...

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MDM_1
MDM_1

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A pleasant walk, but nothing to write home about.
Lovely views of the Gour and the surrounding area at the start, then a stretch through the woods towards the end.
However, I don’t understand the estimated time given; 45 minutes or even an hour, if you stop to admire the view, is more than enough.

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