Stream, marsh and village of Mazaye, via Rey de Saint-Pierre

In Mazaye Basse, park in the car park near the town hall/lodge.

Red and white^GR®®441markings

(S/E) Return to the road and follow it to the left, passing in front of the town hall. Then, at the hairpin bend, leave the road and take the grassy path, which cuts across the bend, passing at the foot of a cross with a ball on top. Back on the road, follow it straight ahead, leaving the church on your left. You will come to an intersection at a cross and the Mazaye Basse signpost.

(1) Turn left onto Rue des Moulins, which quickly turns into a path, and arrive at an intersection with directional signs (marker 712). Continue towards Saint-Pierre-le-Chastel. You will reach a crossroads.

(2) Continue straight ahead, ignoring a path on the right, and arrive at marker 743. Continue towards Saint-Pierre-le-Chastel. Further on, you will find yourself back on tarmac before coming out onto a road in the hamlet of Bonnabaud.

(3) Walk a few metres to the left, then follow the path that branches off to the right and joins a street in the hamlet. Follow it to the left, then take the first street on the right, passing a blacksmith's shop and a fountain. Then turn right and continue straight ahead through the hamlet, ignoring the streets on the left. Pass a wash house and an oven on your right and arrive at the intersection with a path leading off to the left, just before an iron cross on a stone base.
(You can continue for a few metres along the street called Rue du Château, but unless you are very tall, it is hardly possible to see the castle in question).

(4) Follow the path on the left, which overlooks the Sioule valley. After a hairpin bend, the path joins a road. Follow it to the left for a short return trip to the bridge over the Sioule.

(5) Retrace your steps and continue along the road to an intersection, at a vandalised signpost, at the start of a right-hand bend in the road. Follow the path straight ahead and you will come to an intersection with a path equipped with steps leading up to the right, a few metres before a house. Take this path to climb the fairly steep hill called Rey de Saint-Pierre.

(6) At the top, head left towards the first orientation table (panoramic view of the Sancy Massif), then continue along the wide grassy path, leaving the cemetery (with some beautiful enamelled lava rocks) and the church on your right. You will arrive at the car park of the community hall and continue towards a second orientation table (panoramic view of the Chaîne des Puys). View of the Marais de Mazaye, the next stop.

Leave this plateau by following the road down towards the centre of Saint-Pierre-le-Chastel.

(7) Pass the town hall on your left and immediately turn left onto the street. Shortly afterwards, you will see the Saint-Pierre-le-Chastel signpost on your right. Opposite the signpost, turn left towards Bannières, onto the path running parallel to the road below, which looks like an intermittent stream. Join a path at the directional signs, elevation 674.

No markings but directional signs

(8) Turn left towards Saint-Pierre-le-Chastel and join the D579. Follow it to the right for a few metres and you will see an information panel (history and functioning of the marsh) opposite, slightly to the right. Continue either on the footpath on the left of the road or as close as possible to the marsh on the right-hand side (very quiet road), in the direction of La Grande Mare, indicated by a wooden sign. Continue to an information board (discreet inhabitants to discover).

(9) Continue towards La Grande Mare, following the path on stilts to the right. Cross the marsh and the Mazaye stream to reach a path. Follow it to the right. At the directional signs, elevation 672, continue straight on towards Saint-Pierre-le-Chastel until the next intersection.

(10) Walk a few metres along the path on the right until you reach the information sign (amazing flora). Retrace your steps and continue to the right towards Butte de Saint-Pierre, along the tarmac path, until you reach the next intersection.

(11) When the road turns right towards Butte de Saint-Pierre, continue straight ahead on the path. You will soon pass an information sign (worn but still legible) about the church and the castle that no longer exists. Further on, you will find the Mazaye stream on the left side of the path.

(12) Ignore a path on the right. At the next intersection, turn right and head towards the village of Mazaye Basse. Pass the inn and you will come to an intersection you passed on the way there, at the Mazaye Basse signpost.

(1) Retrace your steps to return to the car park (S/E).

Easy hike with just one steep section to climb from the Sioule to the Rey de Saint-Pierre. Standard hiking equipment is recommended, with perhaps a walking stick for this steeper section.
A picnic table is available on the terrace overlooking the marsh on the boardwalk trail.

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here

Photo album here

Superb panorama and overview of the Mazaye Marsh, also known as the Paloux Marsh, from the hill of Saint-Pierre-le-Chastel called Rey de Saint-Pierre.
The Mazaye Marsh is a Protected Natural Area. You will find several information panels.
Beautiful built heritage in the village of Mazaye Basse, and some fine examples, albeit dilapidated, of traditional farms in Bonnabaud.
A glimpse of the Sioule river, which carved out the valley to the west of the basalt promontory of Saint-Pierre-le-Chastel.
The Château de Bonnabaud is barely visible. The path we follow then passes below and reveals very little.