Murat (Cantal) walks

The route passes through the old town of Murat and then two religious buildings on their respective promontories. These offer views of the town of Murat and the Cantal mountains.

Walk in the hills above Murat. Beautiful views over the Alagnon and Benet valleys. Beautiful old houses in the village of Bredons and the remarkable site of Bredons Church, an 11th-century Cluniac site.

Although it takes a while to get there, this walk takes you along a wild trail through pastureland, where you can see several peat bogs at different stages of development and enjoy magnificent views of the Cantal mountains and the Planèze plateau on the Saint-Flour side.

The Cirque de Chamalière was formed by a glacier that reshaped the landscape after the formation of the Cantal stratovolcano. It is a very pleasant place for summer grazing and, incidentally, for picnics. The small streams that run down its slopes feed into a brook, the Benet. This hike follows the valley of this short brook, a tributary of the Alagnon.

Les Prés Marty are summer pastures on the slopes of Plomb du Cantal, where beautiful Salers cows graze on lush grass. On the way there, discover three beautiful waterfalls, and on the way back, a renovated buron (shepherd's hut), an oratory and a fourth waterfall. In season, dessert will be provided by the many wild raspberry bushes that line the path.

This route invites you to discover the pretty village of Albepierre-Bredons and explore the Pays de Murat national forest, which is home to many remarkable trees. In the cool woods, the Prés Long, Vergnes and Prapsou waterfalls are the main attractions of this shaded route. Route not accessible from December to April due to snow.

A short hike but with a steep climb through the woods, the Roche Percée site is well worth a visit.

Tour of the Cantal in seven stages: Murat [Laveissiere] - Meije Costes - Le Falgoux - Le Fau - Mandailles - Le Lioran - Prat de Bouc - Murat [Laveissiere] Very beautiful stages between the Cère, Jordanne and Alagnon valleys. Between the ridges offering unforgettable views (360° panoramas), the ascent of the puys adding a touch of "mountain" to the experience, the summer pastures dotted with flower-filled meadows and encounters with both the flora and fauna and the people who live in this corner of the Cantal and are happy to share their territory.

Stage 1 of our Tour du Cantal / GR®400 First "glitch" of the route from Murat. It turns out that the GR®400 route has been changed due to right of way issues (from what we understand). So, instead of climbing from Murat up to the ridges and following them to the Bec de l'Aigle rock, we had to descend to the village of Laveissière and climb back up from La Bourgeade. We decided to start from Laveissière.

This route is ideal in hot weather. You will enjoy the coolness near the waterfalls and especially in the forest. In spring and autumn, this route will undoubtedly allow you to discover the wild flora and fauna in the Cirque. You will leave the coolness behind at the Col de la Molède, just long enough to descend towards Albepierre. ⚠️ At the point (3) , the hamlet of Raveyrol is replaced by Buron de Joaniol haut. This is a naming error on the IGN map.

Discover the history of this part of the Cézalier through the archaeological and historical remains that dot this route. Prehistoric rock shelters, tumuli, Merovingian sarcophagi, medieval forest trails, 12th-century churches, a monumental 15th-century cross, a communal oven, a wash house and beautiful old houses.

A family walk offering beautiful views of the Limon Plateau on the other side of the Santoire Valley.

Third and final stage of the Planèze tour. Entirely on the GR®4. This stage crosses varied environments and allows you to discover some very interesting, albeit little-known, sites. In particular, the route runs alongside the Narse de Nouvialle (a remarkable wetland) and passes close to the Château du Sailhant and the Babory waterfall.

The summit of Rocher de Laqueuille is covered with magnificent moorland, ideal for a picnic. To get there, you will pass close to the pretty Château de la Cheyrelle. On your return, don't miss a visit to the beautiful village of Dienne, which has a remarkable 12th-century church with a bell tower and some very beautiful old houses.

Hike on the mountain pastures of the Limon Plateau, where beautiful Salers cows graze from May to October. From these heights, you will enjoy beautiful unobstructed views of the surrounding valleys and mountains, in particular the Puy Mary. This circuit follows part of the Sentier des Quirous, remarkable for its ancient stone signposts.Visorando app essential

A partially shaded hike in the Lagnon valley offering views of two waterfalls.

A very short walk, with water as its theme, to discover a magical place.

Hike on one of the must-see sites in Cantal, preferably outside the tourist season, when the Lioran chairlifts are not in operation. After the tranquillity of the summer pastures on the Prés Marty, the Plomb du Cantal reveals superb landscapes. A return trip along the ridge to the Chapelle du Cantal allows you to make the most of these heights.

Its height of 1855 metres make Plomb du Cantal the second highest peak in the Massif Central after the Puy de Sancy. Starting from the Col de Prat de Bouc, this hike initially leads to the summit ascent and descent on the northern slope, followed by a climb up the slopes of the Puy du Rocher before returning to Prat de Bouc.

The highest peak in Europe's largest volcanic complex, the Plomb du Cantal (1,855 m) offers unobstructed views of the Monts-Dore (Puy-de-Sancy) to the north and the Cézallier and Aubrac plateaus to the south.

The Plateau de la Planèze starting from Prat de Bouc. N.B. Following the route with the Visorando app can be very useful in the forest due to the numerous trail intersections encountered.

Stage 7 of our Tour du Cantal. This is the final stage of the Tour du Cantal, with another change to the GR®400 route: instead of returning to Murat, we head back to Laveissière (where we left our vehicle, see episode 1). Most of this stage is in the shade, but the descent brings the heat..

This route takes you to Lac du Pêcher, La Roche du Pic, the Frau de Collanges peat bog and Lac de Sauvages. I encountered a wolf in this area in the winter of 2017. Then I forgot about it until early 2025. It then reappeared, attacking livestock multiple times between winter and summer. I tracked it down and know its favourite spots. This does not guarantee that you will see it, but it may increase your chances of an encounter.

Stage 6 of our Tour du Cantal. A beautiful climb from the Lioran resort to the Plomb du Cantal, starting with a forest section, then a steep climb to reach the Puy du Rocher via the Aiguillon; cross over to reach the cable car station and a final (moderate) climb to the Plomb du Cantal.Panoramic views in all directions. Discover the landscapes of several valleys as you pass through. It's a feast for the eyes!

Visit this peak overlooking Super Lioran, avoiding climbing (or descending) the ski slopes. This route via theGR®4is remarkable. Attention hikers: the IGN map shows theGR®4on the Alpins ski slope, but theGR® is now further east on a very pleasant path. To avoid this, follow the route described below.

Walk along the Impradine, from pastures to villages rich in beautiful old houses. Like us, you may encounter a herd of horses, deer and a fox.

Short hike along the ridges with breathtaking views of the Cantal mountains. You can reach the starting point by taking the cable car from Le Lioran or by following the same route in the opposite direction. After enjoying the view from the highest point in this beautiful department, you will reach the Pas des Alpins by following the GR®4/GR®400 marked trail. You will then climb up to the Puy du Rocher to enjoy another breathtaking view of the Plomb du Cantal and its surroundings. Then you will descend towards the Lioran resort on the ridges. The walk ends in the Lioran forest.Please note: after passing Puy du Rocher, two areas may seem a little difficult for some as they require descending the rock, but aids have been put in place.

Waterfalls, undergrowth, stream, at the bottom of the magnificent Brezons valley. Forests and pastures, magnificent Cantal landscapes; old stone burons, summer pastures, view of the Plomb du Cantal peaks. Three options: easy (40 mins), medium (1 hr 30 mins), complete (3 hrs 30 mins). Well-designed facilities to make the most of the beauty of the site without spoiling it.