Puy Griou from Les Chazes

Start this hike from the hamlet of Les Chazes (note: not Les Basses Chazes or Les Chazes Petites). Coming from the N122, cross the hamlet and park near the Sacré-Cœur Chapel and Puy Griou.

(S/E) Continue along the road.

(1) Take the first path on the right, marked with^a yellow^{PR®® sign}, towards Puy Griou. This climb already offers beautiful views of Puy Griou.

(2) At the T-junction with a path, follow the left-hand path towards Puy Griou. Ignore a path on the right further on. At the next junction, at a sign pointing in the opposite direction to "Vacherie du Griou Retour", go up to the right, ignoring the counter-markings. Ignore the first path on the right (which is not shown on the map), then a second one at a green sign. You will come to a sign for "Vacherie du Griou" at a fork in the paths. The cattle farm is located in the pasture below.

(3) Follow the path on the right, marked in yellow, which climbs straight up towards Puy Griou, then slants across its eastern flank. Cross a first, fairly short scree slope, then a second, longer one. Shortly before reaching the end of the scree slope, the path turns right to reach the shoulder, just below the summit of the puy. Beautiful view.

(4) It is possible to continue the ascent to the summit, but be careful! This is very technical and not described here. With the summit on your left, head right towards the barrier below to join the red and white marked path via the^GR®®400. Follow this path to the left towards Mandailles.

Further on, pass a barrier for summer pastures (for Salers cows and their calves), then leave Griou's little brother, Griounou, on your right. At a fork in the path, continue left on the^GR®® towards "Mandailles". The path enters a beech forest.

(5) At the next intersection, continue on the^GR®® towards "Mandaille". Please note! Over the next few hundred metres, there are numerous trail junctions. Follow the description carefully and look out for the various markings mentioned in the description.

Further on, ignore a path on the right and then, just after, follow the^GR®® on the left. Shortly afterwards, look for a wooden post on the left, further down, and follow the path towards this post. Shortly afterwards, leave the^GR®® markings and turn left, following the yellow markings. Ignore a path on the right (which is not shown on the map, yellow cross), then arrive at a T-junction, where you will find directional signs.

(6) Follow the signs to the right towards Col du Gliziou. At the fork just after, follow the signs to the right towards Col du Gliziou. At the next fork, follow the shell (Saint-Jacques) markings to the left. Then ignore a path on the left, just before a right-hand bend.

(7) The path crosses a scree slope and offers a view of Le Griou. Further on, ignore a path on the left and continue straight ahead towards Saint-Jacques-des-Blats. Cross a mountain pasture (scallop shell sign). At the next intersection, at the wooden signs, ignore the path on the right and continue towards Saint-Jacques-des-Blats (scallop shell sign).

(8) Cross a mountain pasture gate marked with a scallop shell sign. Further on, ignore a path on the right and continue to follow the signs, then cross another gate.

(9) At a buron (mountain hut), ignore a path on the left. The path is then lined with twisted beech trees. Ignore a path on the left that leads to Saint-Jacques-des-Blats and continue straight ahead on a path that offers beautiful views of Le Griou.

Pass to the left of a spring that feeds a drinking trough. Further on, near a road, pass through a gate and then turn left immediately afterwards to find an orientation table.

(10) Retrace your steps and go through the barrier again, then descend to the right towards Saint-Jacques-des-Blats (Coquille signpost). Further on, ignore a path on the right that leads to the road. Further still, cross a mountain pasture.

(11) Ignore a path on the left and continue straight ahead towards Saint-Jacques-des-Blats. When you reach a road, follow it to the left towards Saint-Jacques-village. You will come to the N122. Follow it to the right , then cross this road carefully (it is a disaster for this valley) and take the first street on the left (D559).

(12) Ignore a street on the left that leads to Les Gardes and continue straight ahead for a round trip to the village centre, a stopover for pilgrims on the Way of St James. Note the beautiful carved cross and bas-relief above the church door. Retrace your steps, ignore the street on the right that leads to a housing estate, then pass by a set of scales to reach the intersection with the street that leads to Les Gardes.

(12) Follow this street to the right. Shortly afterwards, notice the carved oratory of the scallop shell on the left, at the entrance to a house. Further on, ignore a street on the left (which is not shown on the map). At the fork in the road, at the signs, follow the road to the left towards Les Boissines.

(13) At the T-junction, follow the signs for Les Boissines again on the right and rejoin the N122. Follow it to the right for a few metres, crossing with caution! Then take the small road on the left towards Les Boissines. Shortly afterwards, follow the path on the right, still towards Les Boissines.

Then start climbing towards Les Chazes. You will first arrive at the hamlet of Les Boissines Basses. At the intersection, follow the road to the right towards Les Chazes. At the next intersection, at a signpost, follow the signs for Les Chazes again, going straight ahead.

(14) At the intersection of paths near a reservoir, keep right, still towards Les Chazes. Pass near a buron (mountain hut). At the next signs, follow the direction of Les Chazes.

(15) Take a footbridge and then cross a mountain pasture gate. Shortly afterwards, cross a passage at the signs and follow the signs for Les Chazes. At a stream, continue in the same direction and then cross a gate to reach Les Chazes Petites. Follow the road to the left to reach the crossroads marking the start of the circular route.

(1) Continue straight ahead on the road to the chapel.

(S/E) To explore the hamlet, continue straight ahead and ignore a street on the left. Pass a fountain and wash house and, at the next intersection, turn right. Ignore a street on the left. Pass a small stone cross and, at the end of the street, take a path on the right.

Go up to the right along a grassy path to reach a street and follow it to the right. Pass a large wooden cross, turn left at the next intersection and then left again to reach the chapel (S/E).

Difficulty: Moderate, but be careful on the final climb to Les Chazes, which is quite tiring at the end of the route.
The climb to the summit of Puy Griou is very steep and technical and is not included in this route.

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Photo album here

Lots of blueberries on the hillsides in September, a few blackberries lower down.

Due to its position in the centre of the Cantal mountains and its very slender conical shape, Puy Griou has long been presented as the eroded chimney of the Cantal Volcano. However, it has since lost this status and geologists now consider it to be a phonolite dome which, although occupying a central position, is of similar origin to other peaks in the massif, such as the Roc d'Hozières. It is thought to have formed around 6 million years ago, after the paroxysmal eruptive phases experienced by the Cantal between 8.5 Ma and 6.5 Ma. During the cold periods of the recent Quaternary, repeated freezing and thawing broke the rock into slabs to form a sleeve of scree. As you walk on this scree slope, notice the resonance of the phonolite stones.