Puys de Montaudoux and Gravenoire

At weekends, park in the car park of the Clinique de la Châtaigneraie in Beaumont. The trail starts in the north-west corner of the car park.

Please note! This route is not signposted.

(S/E) Take the path to the right of a no motor vehicle sign, marked with a wooden signpost bearing a yellow disc, which you will follow for much of the route. Continue westwards, along the edge of the chestnut grove on your left.

You will come out onto a larger path with an old pozzolan quarry on your left. Turn right onto the path and continue to the next crossroads. Turn left between the mare's field and a property. Shortly afterwards, you will see a beautiful wrought-iron gate in the property's fence on your left. Continue along this wide path, which climbs gently up the slopes of Montaudoux.

(1) Caution! The climb to the summit of Puy de Montaudoux is dangerous in wet weather and in case of snow or frost. Some people have come back down by helicopter! (thanks to Dragon 63). See alternative route in practical information.
At the signpost marked "Puy de Montaudoux (steep climb)", turn left onto this path and follow the yellow butterfly and white bear markings to the summit of Montaudoux. There are some beautiful views on the way up.

Descend on the other side following the same markings and you will come to a wide path. Follow it to the left. Shortly afterwards, the path leads to a small road in front of some houses. Note the Puy de Dôme opposite, in the distance. Turn left onto the road and continue to a crossroads with the Chemin des Montagnards, which is shaped like a small roundabout.

(2) Continue straight ahead and shortly afterwards you will find Parc Bargoin on your right. Walk along the park on your right until you reach the entrance.

(3) Leave the yellow markings and enter the park to admire its beautiful trees. After your visit, exit through the same gate.

(3) Continue to the right, following the yellow markings again. Shortly afterwards, at the crossroads, go down the small street on the right. Continue to the crossroads with a wider and busier street, Boulevard Dr Barrieu. Note the Hôtel Parc-Majestic on the right.

(4) Walk a few metres along the road on the right to admire the beautiful façade of the Pavillon Majestic, then return to the crossroads and continue straight ahead along the boulevard. Shortly afterwards, note two very beautiful buildings, one on the right and one on the left opposite, the Victoria, with yellow shutters.

Cross the boulevard (carefully!) and take the covered passageway opposite, just to the right of the Victoria. Continue down the stairs that extend from it to reach a busy street, Boulevard Vaquez. Turn right for a short detour to the Buvette Eugénie and the Royat thermal baths. Then return to Boulevard Vaquez.

(5) Cross it and continue into the car park opposite, along the Tourist Office and the swimming pool on your right. At the end of the car park, enter the park.
From this point to the Royat cemetery, follow this description rather than the yellow disc markings that this route alternately follows and leaves.
Continue straight ahead, with the Tiretaine stream on your left. Soon, cross it via a bridge, then continue straight ahead between the stream on your right and the cliff on your left.

When you reach the bottom of a rock topped by a small tower with a kiosk, climb the steps and go around the other side of the rock. Continue to the left, passing by a beautiful fountain built into the cliff. Take the arched bridge to cross the stream again and continue to the left.

You will come to a car park. Take the wide bridge on the left. Immediately turn right and walk along the stream on your right to reach the lift.

(6) Take it to go up to the Old Town. When you exit the lift, notice the "Stairway of Time" on the wall to your right. Immediately after, go up the stairs on the right to reach the foot of the church. Go around the monument on the left.

When you reach the foot of the cross, turn your back to the church and you will see Rue A. Cohendy opposite. Turn into this street. You will come to Rue Nationale. Turn right and walk a few metres to Rue de la Grande Porte. When you reach the car park on Rue du Liaboux, continue straight ahead, cross Rue JB Romeuf and then take Rue Jean Grand opposite. Turn right and continue to the roundabout.

Cross it and continue straight ahead. Enter the small park on the right and climb the stairs. You will come to Rue de la Chapelle; follow it to the left. Soon you will see the chapel on your left.

Climb up onto the forecourt, pass between the entrance to the chapel and the war memorial, then descend to the right via the red gravel ramp towards Royat cemetery. Go around it on the left, find the yellow disc markings and continue to the end of the street, walking alongside the cemetery on your right.

(7) Continue along the path, which is closed to motor vehicles and marked with a signpost, towards Gravenoire quarry. Climb, still following the yellow markings, along a beautiful forest path.

At the top, find a signpost and follow the signs to Ceyrat on the right. Shortly afterwards, climb the hairpin bend to the left of the Gravenoire signpost, towards Ceyrat. On the road (D5F), continue to the left, then take the D5 road on the left towards Ceyrat.

(8) Shortly afterwards, in the bend, turn right onto a road closed to traffic, still heading towards Ceyrat. At the fork shortly afterwards, continue to the left. Descend along an old golf course on your left. You will come to a large esplanade under construction. Continue in the same direction, just before reaching the road.

Take the path on the left, still following the yellow disc markings. You will come to some houses; walk along them on your right. Go down the steps and then turn right onto the path. You will come out onto Allée Renoir, in a housing estate. At the crossroads with Avenue du Chorigier, turn left.

(9) Shortly before a cross, leave the yellow markings and turn left onto a driveway. Continue along the footpath that extends from this driveway, cross Rue de la Fresnaie and continue straight ahead. At the fork, turn left towards the semi-circular building (nursery).

Go around it on the left, cross the roundabout, and continue straight ahead, walking alongside the buildings on your right. Continue straight ahead on Chemin de la Petite Morie for about 200 metres until you reach a crossroads.

(10) Find the yellow disc markings and turn right. At the houses, turn left, leaving the yellow disc markings, to continue behind the houses and enter the chestnut grove.

Continue along the main path, ignoring all the paths branching off to the left. The path approaches more houses further on, then the clinic. Do not take the first path that leads to the car park on the right, but continue straight ahead for a short distance to reach the north-west corner of the car park on the right, the starting point (S/E).

Difficult hike, easily converted to Easy, see below. Standard hiking equipment.

During the week, it is almost impossible to find a parking space around the Clinique de la Châtaigneraie. It is therefore preferable to choose a different starting point on the route. For example, it is very easy to park near the Royat cemetery, just before (7).

If you don't like lifts, just before (6), on the right, there is also a ramp leading up to Vieux Bourg.

The main difficulty of this short route is the climb to the top of Montaudoux. Although the climb to Gravenoire is longer, it is on a beautiful path. The Montaudoux trail is much more difficult because it is very steep and, in places, covered with gravel, making it difficult to keep your footing. The descent is also very steep. So I suggest an alternative: at (1), continue along the wide path. Further on, notice the trail on the left that descends from the summit of Montaudoux. You are now back on the route. Continue straight on towards (2).

Between (S) and (1) then between (10) and (E) In a very small area, the natural site of La Châtaigneraie still resists the urbanisation of the Clermont-Ferrand conurbation. This site offers real diversity. The origins of the Chestnut Grove date back to the 16th century. The presence of these very old chestnut trees is remarkable because they are quite rare in the Puy de Dôme. Certain species find refuge in these ageing and dead trees. These trees also create a special atmosphere that is pleasant to walk through. In addition to the chestnut grove, the site is also home to remarkable habitats: pioneer grasslands on mobile scree (linked to the presence of the former pozzolan quarry), thickets and oak and hornbeam woods.

(3) Bargoin Park.

Just before and after (5) The Royat thermal baths with the Buvette Eugénie. Take a drink with you and you can quench your thirst at this refreshment bar, which distributes water from several springs (bottle refilling is prohibited).
The park along the little Tiretaine river, with numerous information panels on volcanic rocks.