Marat walks

Chestnut walking trail in Marat.

If you’re on holiday in Marat, here’s a short route for a walk or a horse ride starting from La Ramie.

Starting from Olliergues town hall, we head uphill along the cobbled path. Most of this third stage follows the white and green-marked ‘Tour de Pays’ trail as far as Le Brugeron. From Le Brugeron, head towards Le Grun de Batailler, passing the Begue mill (waterfall). Cross Le Clef. At La Croix de Sainte-Agathe, take a small road, pass through the hamlet of Rochefolle to reach the village of La Renaudie, where you’ll find the communal lodge.

Circular starting from the village of Bertignat. Along the way, you will see the Virgin of Puybayou and then a beautiful view of the commune of La Chapelle-Agnon.

A pleasant walk in summer thanks to the cool, refreshing air. The stream is well-known to anglers, and the lucky few may even find some chanterelle mushrooms to pick. This is the realm of wild boar and roe deer…You’ll pass through old villages such as La Terrasse (with a very old house on the right), which was very important in the early 20th century. A victim of rural depopulation, Montolas is now nothing but ruins!

A beautiful circular walk starting from the Fossat valley.

On snowshoes or on foot, from the Col du Béal to the summit of Pierre-sur-Haute through the forest. Return via the ridges, still on theGR®3or a variant thereof.

Over two days, discover one of the most beautiful destinations in “France à Cheval”.

Stage 2: the most beautiful stage of the route. Spectacular, with heathland stretching as far as the eye can see, a boundless 360° view where stunted pines bend under the “burle”. Photos, scents – set aside the whole day. GR®3route, partly well signposted.

A circular walk starting from the Col du Béal. The route takes you via Peyre Mayou, the Refuge de la Roche, the Rochers de la Chapelle, Pierre sur Haute and then the burons de la Richarde. The return route is via the Rocher de la Chaize.

A hike in the heart of nature to discover a place steeped in history in the Dore river valley, on the borders of the Pays de Courpière, Cunlhat and Olliergues, in the heart of the Livradois-Forez Regional Nature Park. Part of the route follows "the old path", the ancient medieval road that linked Meymont to Cunlhat via Tours Sur Meymont through Alligier, Les Gouttes, etc.

This fourth stage of the route is the longest and most challenging. We will often be walking at high altitudes (highest point: 1,153 m). We will follow the River Couzon before descending along good paths through the woodland towards Vollore-Montagne. The walk through the Ayguebonne Forest, near the Grun de Chignore, will take us to Sainte-Agathe.

“Here, more than anywhere else, one perceives the notion of infinity, and the concept of solitude takes on a new dimension.” This is how the famous geneticist Axel Kahn expressed his feelings during his journey through the Monts du Forez.

Here, more than anywhere else, one gets a real sense of infinity, and the concept of solitude takes on a whole new dimension. This is how the renowned geneticist Axel Kahn described his experience during his journey through the Monts du Forez.

A discovery walk through the birthplace of Emmanuel Chabrier, which still has a few half-timbered houses in its historic centre and some beautiful residences along its avenues. Green spaces are not forgotten, with a visit to the Jardin Chabrier, a short walk along the Ruisseau de Valeyre, and an encounter with the Dore.

For the second stage of the route, we reach the right bank of Lake Aubusson, and after crossing the dam we follow aPR® path that climbs gently to take us to the village of Augerolles. We pass by the Pied de Bœuf site and reach the village of Olmet. We pass the Chamaly cross and descend gently towards the Dore valley to reach Olliergues town hall via a stepped street (Rue des Cors).

A walk in the Monts du Forez, towards the Hautes Chaumes, passing through heathland dotted with heather and blueberry bushes, then through forests.

An ideal hike to do in the morning to enjoy the coolness of the undergrowth, sheltered from the rising sun. You will overlook the Chalmazelloise valley, the Haut Lignon valley and, in the distance, the summit of Pierre sur Haute. Your attention will be drawn to the numerous blueberry fields.

From the top of Roc de l'Olme, a rock climbing spot, you can admire the view overlooking Chalmazel and the Lignon valley. The sound of streams will accompany your steps.

The lodges or shepherd's huts, located on the Hautes Chaumes, were summer pasture buildings from May to October. To get to the start of the hike, after passing the hamlet of Nermond, 200 m away, in a straight line, at the crossroads of this road with the Route de la Combe on the right, turn more to the right and take a stony path, heading for the calvary. Park at the bottom or in the cornfields on the left-hand side of the uphill path.

Spend two days discovering one of the most beautiful destinations in “France à cheval”.

Day hike with little elevation gain in the Monts du Forez and the wild Hautes Chaumes. It is advisable to climb to the summit of Montiallier for the view. This can be done in winter with snowshoes and even cross-country skis. Great spot for snowkiting at the Col des Supeyres.

A long and extensive snowshoe walk (on foot or on cross-country skis) across the vast plateaus and valleys to the west of Pierre-sur-Haute, followed by an ascent to the summit to take in the view.

A pleasant, mostly shaded walk leading to a magnificent panorama from the summit (granite chaos at an altitude of 1,260 metres).

Circular route passing through the Bois de la Frissonnette, then through meadows with unobstructed views, passing through the pretty hamlet of La Prulhière and running alongside the Miodet at the end of the route.

Today, the only remains still visible of the presence of the Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem, who were here from the Middle Ages until the French Revolution of 1789, are scattered: a deconsecrated church, a stone coat of arms serving as a base for a wayside cross, a round tower fitted with a gun port in a former fortified house, a chapel converted into a dwelling, and a few carved stones on the edge of a communal plot. Nothing suggested that the former parish of Courtesserre, which was merged with that of Courpière during the Revolution, would be home to a ‘chief’ commandery in a sparsely populated region described as infertile, far from any town, major transport route or path leading to a place of pilgrimage.

A hike in the tall forests of Haut-Livradois, the ideal habitat for Tengmalm's owls and black woodpeckers. The paths marked with crosses around the priory of Fournols offer views of the Forestier ponds, the Croix des Knolls and the Colombière.

A gentle hike to start your holiday in the Forez mountains.

An easy walk through fields and woods to discover a beautiful rock formation, the Autel de la Baronnie, with its wobbly stone, armchairs and potholes, followed by a large majestic oak tree at the Ferme de la Gilbernie.

A walk in the Netrablaise countryside, across fields, from hamlet to hamlet, to discover an old and majestic chestnut tree.

This is a beautiful hike that is accessible due to its low elevation gain. You will set off to explore the Livradois-Forez plateaus on passable paths with plenty of shaded sections.

This is stage 1 of a mini-trek that can be completed in two days, linking two iconic passes in the Forez region. From the Col des Pradeaux, you’ll make your way to the Col des Supeyres. During this walk, you’ll be able to admire the Pradeaux Dam, the Hautes Chaumes and the iconic shepherd's huts.