Notre-Dame de Roche in the Auvergne region of Tuscany

Parking on the esplanade/picnic area opposite the town hall of Saint-Julien-de-Coppel, at the "Notre-Dame de Roche" hiking sign in the Livradois-Forez Regional Nature Park. Alternative parking for those coming from the Allier side at Col de Potey (picnic area on the edge of the D229).
The route is fully marked in yellow by Livradois-Forez Rando.

(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 and follow not Rue du Rivet, but the path on your right, Chemin des Prades. You will come to a small road, which you should follow 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.

(2) Take a look at the orientation tables, then return to the foot of the statue and descend towards the chapel. Continue along the path that passes by the small basalt columns and ends at the small car park. Continue straight ahead and descend the steps to the right of the water catchment to reach a street. Follow it to the right. At the intersection, continue straight ahead 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 arrive at a T-junction.

(4) Turn right. You will arrive at a small road, at the Rue de l'Olière sign, and 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 a hundred 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. In the next bend to the right, ignore another path on the left (not shown on the map). Further on, cross the Lide estate (beautiful house and farm).

(6) In this hamlet, turn left onto 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) Ignore a path on the right and then, shortly after, a path on the left that is not shown on the map. You will come to a T-junction.

(9) Turn right, ignore two paths on the right, then, at a traffic island on the right, turn onto a path on the left.

(10) Further up, follow the bend to the right, ignoring a vague path on the left. Ignore two paths on the right, not shown on the map, then arrive at a road.

(11) Follow it to the right, cross the D229 very carefully at Col de Potey (alternative starting point for this hike) and continue on the road opposite, towards Montagnes (among other destinations), for about 100 metres.

(12) Turn right onto the path.

(13) Pass the Calais house and continue straight ahead.

(14) Ignore a path on the right. Further on, you will arrive at the village of Contournat, on Rue des Charettes.

(15) Follow this street to the right. Ignore a street on the right in the left-hand bend. At the intersection with a cross, turn right and you will arrive at Place des Marronniers (beautiful trees, circular fountain, wash houses). Continue straight ahead along the square and the street that crosses it on your left. At the intersection, turn right onto Rue Benoit Flaget. Stay on this street, ignoring two streets on the left, pass in front of the chapel and arrive at the entrance to Château de Contournat.

(16) Turn left to pass below the château, then turn left onto the small road Chemin de Pradailloux. You will arrive at the hamlet of Rongheat.

(17) At the first intersection in the hamlet, make a short detour to the right, to the fountain. Retrace your steps and continue straight ahead. Turn right at the T-junction, then continue straight ahead, leaving the hamlet, ignoring the road on the left. Leave Chemin de Larmat, turn right and continue straight ahead on the path.

(18) Cross the D229 very carefully and continue along the path opposite. You will arrive at the hamlet of La Guesle.

(19) Stay on the street that turns left into the hamlet. Further on, just before reaching a road, turn left onto a path, passing in front of a stone cross. Ignore a path on the left and arrive at a road.

(20) Follow it to the left, cross part of the hamlet of La Boissière (passing in front of a fountain and wash house), then turn right onto Rue La Grande Charrere, 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).

Difficulty: Moderate to easy, with no particular difficulties. Standard hiking equipment.

Photo albums here and here

Quite beautiful built heritage in the hamlets, with, in particular, a beautiful fountain and wash house complex on the Place de Contournat, which also has some very beautiful chestnut trees.

Beautiful panorama and several orientation tables at the Notre-Dame de Roche site. Beautiful unobstructed views on many parts of the route.