Notre-Dame de Roche from Saint-Julien-de-Coppel

Hike in the Auvergne's "Tuscany" starting from Saint-Julien-de-Coppel and passing through several hamlets and the very pretty site of the Notre-Dame de Roche Chapel, which offers a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.48 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 971 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 968 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,103 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,437 ft

Description of the walk

Parking on the esplanade/picnic area opposite the town hall of Saint-Julien-de-Coppel, at the "Notre-Dame de Roche" hike sign in the Livradois-Forez Regional Nature Park, which is a longer hike than the one proposed here. Alternative parking for those coming from the Allier side at Col de Potey (picnic area on the edge of the D229).

(S/E) Opposite the "Notre-Dame de Roche" hiking sign, go straight ahead and turn left in the direction indicated by the small yellow PR® sign on the grass of the picnic area, towards the stadium. When you reach the stadium, turn left onto Route de Sallèdes. Further on, leave the road and take a path that goes straight ahead to the left of the road (do not take the hairpin bend to the left towards Jarliat). Ignore a path on the left.

(1) At the next fork, keep left. You will come to a small road; follow it straight ahead until you reach the intersection with another road. Turn right to enter Roche. Continue along the street until you reach the intersection with a cross and drinking troughs. Then turn right, following not Rue du Rivet, but the path on its right, Chemin des Prades. You will arrive at a small road higher up. Follow it to the right to reach a small car park. Climb the steps of the Way of the Cross on the right to reach the foot of the statue. Take a look at the orientation tables, then return to the foot of the statue and descend towards the chapel.

(2) Then continue along the path that runs alongside the small basalt columns and leads to the small car park. Continue straight ahead and go down the steps to the right of the water catchment to reach a street. Follow it to the right. At the intersection, continue straight on Rue du Rivet, which soon turns into a path. Further on, you will come to a three-way junction.

(3) Take the path on the right. Further on, pass a pond on your right and you will come to a T-junction.

(4) Turn right. You will come to a small road at the Rue de l'Olière sign, where you should turn left. Stay on this road to cross the hamlet of Pointilloux and join a wider road.

(5) Follow it to the right for about 100 metres, then turn onto the first path on the left. Shortly afterwards, follow the path that curves to the left after a water catchment, ignoring the path that continues straight ahead. At the next bend to the right, ignore another path on the left (not shown on the map). Further on, cross the Lide estate (a beautiful residence and farm).

(6) Turn left into this hamlet, Rue des Landais, then, at the fork just after Rue de Champagnat, keep left. The street quickly becomes a path. Follow the bend to the right, ignoring the path that goes straight ahead and, further on, ignore a path on the right. You will come to a T-junction.

(7) Turn left and, at the next T-junction, turn right.

(8) At the next T-junction, go straight ahead, ignoring a path on the right and then, shortly afterwards, a path on the left that is not shown on the map. You will come to a T-junction.

(9) Turn right, then right again at the next junction. At the bend in this path, continue straight ahead. Ignore a path on the right and you will arrive at a road in Lassias.

(10) Cross it to follow the path opposite. You will arrive at an intersection in the hamlet of La Guesle.

(11) First turn left then right to follow a path.

(12) Carefully cross the D229 and continue straight ahead. Pass a path on the left, Chemin de Larmat, and arrive at the hamlet of Rongheat, at a crossroads.

(13) Follow the road to the right, Chemin de l'Homède. Carefully cross the D229 to follow the path opposite, then at the T-junction, follow the path to the right. You will arrive at a junction at La Boissière.

(14) Follow the road on the left, turn left again at the next intersection tocross part of the hamlet (pass in front of a fountain and wash house), then turn right onto Rue La Grande Charrère, which descends to the village of Saint-Julien. At the intersection, continue straight ahead on the road until you reach the church. Turn right, pass to the right of the fountain and continue along Rue de la Mairie to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,463 ft - Saint-Julien Town Hall
  2. 1 : mi 0.46 - alt. 1,568 ft - Fork in the road
  3. 2 : mi 1.06 - alt. 1,916 ft - Notre-Dame de Roche Chapel
  4. 3 : mi 1.54 - alt. 1,873 ft - Three-way junction
  5. 4 : mi 1.93 - alt. 1,686 ft - Crossroads
  6. 5 : mi 2.33 - alt. 1,637 ft - Road intersection
  7. 6 : mi 2.76 - alt. 1,588 ft - Intersection Rue des Landais, Lide
  8. 7 : mi 3.32 - alt. 1,873 ft - Crossroads
  9. 8 : mi 3.81 - alt. 2,080 ft - Crossroads
  10. 9 : mi 4.13 - alt. 2,001 ft - Crossroads
  11. 10 : mi 4.56 - alt. 1,804 ft - Lassias
  12. 11 : mi 4.91 - alt. 1,654 ft - La Guesle
  13. 12 : mi 5.24 - alt. 1,647 ft - Crossing the D229
  14. 13 : mi 5.55 - alt. 1,604 ft - Intersection of Chemin de l'Homède and Rongheat
  15. 14 : mi 6.02 - alt. 1,519 ft - La Boissière intersection
  16. S/E : mi 6.48 - alt. 1,457 ft - Saint-Julien Town Hall

Notes

Hike of moderate difficulty, leaning towards easy. Standard hiking equipment.

Worth a visit

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Photo album here

Chapel site with orientation table and beautiful views.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

3.3 / 5
Based on 1 review

Reliability of the description
3 / 5
Ease of following the route
2 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
User 9659728

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A minor issue arose during the hike on 28 April. There are two routes on this trail, both marked in the same yellow colour. One is 14 km long, the other 10 km. It would be helpful to mark the 14 km route in a different colour and put up a sign indicating this at the junction of the two routes.

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