Puy Gros from Niervèze

de fr

From the village of Niervèze, this route, mainly on summer pasture tracks, takes you to the summit of Puy Gros and its plateau, passing by some magnificent restored burons (privately-owned) and the old Cantal chapel, of which only a few ruins and a basalt cross remain.
There is a magnificent view over the Cère valley and the main peaks, Puy Chavaroche, Puy Mary, Puy Griou, Peyre Arse, Téton de Vénus and Rocher du Bec de l'Aigle.

Details

n°39751812
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.87 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 576 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 580 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,594 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,000 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Thatched roof
Communal oven
Niervèze
Buron

Description of the walk

Start from the centre of the hamlet of Niervèze.

(S/E) Take the path towards the thatched houses (Chaumière Granier) and follow it to a stony track.

(1) Continue up this path until you reach a fork in the road.

(2) Turn right, walk alongside the1st restored buron and continue to climb the path, which becomes grassy.

(3) At the2nd buron (private), continue uphill on a grassy track and at the foot of Puy Gros reach the start of a small path on the right.

(4) Follow this path, which runs along the side of the hill, and after passing a double fence, joins a path (GR®) that is almost invisible on the ridge.

(5) Turn left towards Puy Gros and reach the ruins of the Chapelle du Cantal.

(6) Continue upwards, taking the left-hand track after the fence to reach the summit of Puy Gros with its metal cross.

(7) After enjoying the view, return to the hamlet of Niervèze on the opposite path.

(S/E) Go past the bread oven on the right, then take the1st path on the left. Follow this to the mill.

(8) Then take the opposite route back up to the hamlet of Niervèze S/E::.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,029 m - Centre of the hamlet of Niervèze - Niervèze
  2. 1 : km 0.22 - alt. 1,070 m - Stony path
  3. 2 : km 1.67 - alt. 1,292 m - Bifurcation
  4. 3 : km 2.34 - alt. 1,410 m - Buron
  5. 4 : km 2.59 - alt. 1,459 m - Small path on the right
  6. 5 : km 3.44 - alt. 1,536 m - Path
  7. 6 : km 3.85 - alt. 1,574 m - Chapelle du Cantal
  8. 7 : km 4.11 - alt. 1,594 m - Le Puy Gros
  9. 8 : km 8.54 - alt. 1,000 m - Mill
  10. S/E : km 8.87 - alt. 1,028 m - Centre of the hamlet of Niervèze - Niervèze

Notes

Niervèze.

In the centre of Niervèze, note the communal oven that was in operation until the Second World War, the fountain (drinking water) and the shoe loom.

Passing through pastureland, remember to close the fences.

Dogs are strongly discouraged. Salers cows are very protective animals and will not hesitate to charge your four-legged friend.

Worth a visit

Bread oven.
Mill.

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.

Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Alouette Lulu
Alouette Lulu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We chose this tour for our first day of holiday in the Cantal. We really enjoyed it. There were no orientation difficulties with the Visorando software and the 1:25,000 map base. The route is perfect. The hike wasn't difficult and the panorama was beautiful from start to finish, from the village of Nierveze to the summit of Puy-Gros. The weather was cool but often sunny and, in this month of June, the meadows are covered with multicoloured flowers.
The only downside is that the road up from Saint-Jacques-des Blats to Nierveze is very narrow. We didn't come across anyone that day. So much the better. I was very apprehensive.
Despite this drawback, I highly recommend this walk. Thanks to Denis26 for sharing.

Machine-translated

Calou51
Calou51

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It's a good idea to start the route in the pretty hamlet of Niervèze, where you can learn about the traditional architecture of the villages in the region. As for the route, it's simple: you go almost straight up, then straight down. It's hard to get lost.
Interesting if you want to get to the ridges quickly and enjoy superb views over the whole western part of the massif. Or if, like me today, you want to have the amazing experience of going from a few minutes of a calm sunny day to a ground covered with a good layer of snow and a low-angled wind that will knock you off your feet.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Puy Gros, Cirque d'Encloux and Grandval and return via Niercombe

Visorando member
Puy Gros, Cirque d'Encloux et de Grandval et retour par Niercombe
↔16.63 km ↗+1,027 m ↘-1,012 m ◔7h 40 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Thiézac (Cantal)
This hike allows you to discover "forgotten" places, away from the GR®400, on the section between Puy Gros and Plomb du Cantal. You will discover many restored burons (stone huts), amazing sites and, especially in spring, a rich variety of wild flora and animals with their young. However, this circuit is often off the beaten track, taking you closer to the wildest areas where you are most likely to encounter animals or see rare plants.

Walking Niervèze and Chaos de Casteltinet

Visorando member
Niervèze et le Chaos de Casteltinet
↔6.77 km ↗+297 m ↘-288 m ◔2h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Thiézac (Cantal)
A walk in the mountains among cows and typical Cantal landscapes. Niervèze, a lively mountain village, and the geological curiosity of Chaos de Casteltinet and its impressive Lion's Gate are on the programme. Yellow markings.

Walking Le Puy Gros and the Sources du Goul

Visorando member
Le Puy Gros et les Sources du Goul
↔11.74 km ↗+295 m ↘-295 m ◔4h 10 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Clément (Cantal) (Cantal)
A beautiful walk along the Cantalian ridges. Open landscapes and magnificent views. To be done in good weather.

Walking Jordanne Valley via Élancèze and Courpou Sauvage

Visorando member
↔12.90 km ↗+849 m ↘-852 m ◔6h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Mandailles-Saint-Julien (Cantal)
Starting from the Col du Pertus, climb quickly to the heights for a long walk along the ridge, which offers beautiful views. Then discover a few villages in the Jordanne valley before climbing back up to the pass through the pastures.The Visorando app is useful for following this route at the end of the walk.

Walking Élancèze from the Col du Pertus

Visorando member
L'Élancèze depuis le Col du Pertus
↔3.36 km ↗+262 m ↘-262 m ◔1h 45 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Mandailles-Saint-Julien (Cantal)
This is a fairly easy short hike to a beautiful promontory offering a panoramic view of the main Monts du Cantal and the Jordanne and Cère valleys.

Walking Puy de l'Usclade from Col du Pertus

Visorando member
Le Puy de l'Usclade depuis le Col du Pertus
↔6.81 km ↗+270 m ↘-270 m ◔2h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Mandailles-Saint-Julien (Cantal)
Puy de l'Usclade is little known, but offers a beautiful view of Puy Griou and the other surrounding peaks. The first part of the walk, up to Col de Gliziou, is easy and shaded, and fairly busy, while the second part is less frequented and ends with a steeper section.

Walking Jordanne Valley from the Col du Pertus

Visorando member
↔13.33 km ↗+486 m ↘-486 m ◔5h 10 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Mandailles-Saint-Julien (Cantal)
From the Col du Pertus, discover the village of Mandailles and the hamlets of Larmandie and Liadouze on the banks of the Jordanne. On both the outward and return journeys, gaps in the forest offer beautiful views of the valley, the Chavaroche and Puy Mary massifs, as well as the Gliziou and Puy Griou. Update 2025: see practical information

Walking Puy Griou from Col du Pertus

Visorando member
Le Puy Griou depuis le Col du Pertus
↔10.56 km ↗+514 m ↘-514 m ◔4h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Mandailles-Saint-Julien (Cantal)
An easy, shaded approach to this iconic peak in the Monts du Cantal, with its perfect cone shape and superb views. However, the final climb is quite technical and challenging.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.