Retournac walks

This route runs beneath the watchful eye of the Château d'Artias, perched on its rocky spur. From its ruins, you will discover a unique view of the loops of the Loire as it flows through the dome-shaped hills typical of the region, known as knolls.

This short hike takes you through a cave to reach the Madeleine volcanic plateau, which offers a 360° view. Views of the Loire Valley, the Mezenc, Meygal, Pilat and Forez massifs with three orientation tables.

This walk is an opportunity to discover the natural and historical heritage around the village of Rosières, particularly the Étang de la Plaine lake. This hike was created for the ECHO project, which ended on 1 October 2023. It is still possible to do the hike to discover the heritage. ⚠️ 13 October 2025: GPS strongly recommended for this hike.

The first part of the route follows an old railway line that has been converted into a very wide carriageway. It continues with a tour of the small heritage sites (old bread oven and wash house) in the hamlet of Chastel. Finally, at the end of the route, when the trees open up, there is a view over the unusual Corbœuf ravine.

This short route takes you to Mont Recours in the commune of Beaulieu, north of Le Puy-en-Velay. From the summit of this ancient volcanic vent, you can enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the Emblavez hills.

This circuit allows you to discover the feudal castle of Chalencon (Baronnie des Chalencon), perched on a promontory, nestled in the Ance valley, in the heart of a 25-hectare protected site At its feet lies the feudal village, and spanning the Ance are two bridges: the Pont du Diable with its two arches, one of which is 15 metres high and certainly dates from the 12th century, and the 15th-century Bounery bridge.

A winding hike near the magnificent Lignon Gorges, crossed by a Himalayan footbridge, with beautiful landscapes over the knolls of the Pays d'Yssingeaux. The path on the Greenway to the south will reveal the beautiful landscapes of the Lignon Gorges.

A Cluniac site thanks to its priory and church, Grazac has been famous for some time as one of the two access points to the largest Himalayan footbridge in France. This route will take you there via a short walk through this wooded valley.

Rochebaron Castle is the emblematic site in the Bas-en-Basset and Monistrol-sur-Loire area. Beautiful views, first over the Loire and, on the return journey, over the Meygal massif.

This route takes you on a discovery of the villages of Riou, with its wash house, and La Blache, with its bread oven. It also offers beautiful views of the Emblavez plain and the rounded or slightly pointed hills known locally as "les knolls".

The Bourianne lava flow is the result of an interesting geological phenomenon. Halfway through this hike, walkers will discover an imposing scree slope of basalt columns at their feet and, in the distance, the Forez Massif.

This tour of part of the Chaspinhac plateau offers numerous views of the Puy en Velay basin, Mont Bar and the Loire Gorges. It is an opportunity to discover Saint Quentin, a hamlet abandoned for more than fifty years that enthusiasts have restored and brought back to life in the summer months with exhibitions, shows or simply by sharing a drink.

Short loop starting from the Meygal Forest. After crossing the forest, a balcony path with beautiful views of the surrounding knolls leads you to the village of Queyrières, which is topped by a remarkable basalt dyke. After crossing the village of Monedeyres, you climb back up through pleasant undergrowth.

This hike, in the heart of the Meygal forest, is ideal in the heat of summer. It offers beautiful views, especially from the summit of Testavoyre, where you can look out over the Meygal mountains.

This route is a pleasant way to spend a hot summer's day, with numerous viewpoints (Forez, Pilat, Alps, Mézenc) and climbs through the forest. In particular, it allows you to fully enjoy the unique relief of the massif, with its very numerous knolls. A refreshing stop in Recharinges (fountain, bar) allows you to tackle the final climb in the best possible conditions.

A variation on the climb up Lizieux that takes you to Mounier, a little-known peak overlooking Freycenet and the menhir above Monbuzat-La Chieze.