Saint-Diéry walks

A walk through plains and forests along part of the Couze Pavin river valley.

A short hike rich in discoveries: the beautiful pagan calvary of Lomprat, the troglodytic site of Jonas, Pic Saint-Pierre topped by its chapel and offering a beautiful panorama of the Couze Pavin valley, not to mention the villages you pass through with their old houses, fountains and wash houses.

North of Saint-Nectaire, the Plateau de Sailles offers beautiful views of Murol and the Couze Chambon valley. You will discover an ancient troglodyte settlement and some of the megaliths that dot the area around the village, known for its beautiful Romanesque church and cheese.

This route takes you to the Châteauneuf Caves, ancient cave dwellings, then the small Freydefond Menhir, with its viewpoint, and the Dolmen de la Pineyre burial mound. The return journey follows a wild and steep path through the undergrowth.

Cross the Malvoisière valley and then the Courbanges Forest, and discover the Cheix Waterfall before descending into the refreshing Courbanges Stream valley.

If you only have one day to spend in Besse and its surroundings, this long hike will take you to the medieval village of Besse, the Couze Pavin, the Fontaine Goyon, the Puy de Montchal and Lac Pavin, a countryside dotted with farms where you can buy Saint-Nectaire cheese, and finally the Chiloza waterfalls.

The route starts in the hills above the Couze Chambon valley and is circular, looping back via Saint-Nectaire and its unmissable Cornadore Basilica. There are numerous viewpoints along the route, particularly over the Couze Chambon valley, dominated by the hilltop Château de Murol, and the entire Massif du Sancy.

This mystical route takes you past two menhirs, one of which has been Christianised, a tumulus and its dolmen, and the beautiful Basilica of Notre-Dame du Mont Cornadore, a jewel of Auvergne Romanesque architecture. This hike also passes by the Châteauneuf Caves, which offer a beautiful view of Murol Castle, the Couze Chambon valley and the Sancy massif.

Hike on both sides of the Couze Pavin valley between the feudal villages of Saint-Floret and Saurier. Each has remarkable medieval bridges and highly historic sites such as the Château de Saint-Floret, the Église du Chastel and the Maison du Louvetier de Saurier.

This is a shaded hike with very little traffic on three-quarters of the route. You can contemplate the beauty of nature. Pass through the undergrowth on wide footbridges to discover the marshy areas and viewpoints over Lake Chambon, not forgetting to take a look at the Monts du Sancy and the rock of La Dent des Marais.

Stage 2 of the 5-day route. This stage takes you to theGR®4trail through the countryside. You can visit Murol Castle at the start of the stage, then the troglodyte caves of Chautignat.

A wander among the underbrush along the Couze Pavin, from bank to bank, flowing in cascades.

What a pleasure it is to leave "home" on foot, taking a path through the woods along a beautiful stream to discover one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Auvergne!

A return trip to the summit of Puy de Gourdon, offering a beautiful panoramic view, is added to a circular route around and on Puy de la Rodde, starting from the medieval village of Montaigut-le-Blanc.

A walk along the most pleasant part of Lake Chambon, starting from Murol Beach and continuing to the wetland, which can be explored via a boardwalk, then returning slightly higher up via the Bois des Bouves.

A very beautiful route that takes you along the ridges of Sancy and through the medieval villages of Besse and Murol, betweenGR®4andGR®30. This route can be done in stages, staying in hotels or lodges. The addresses where we stopped will be indicated in the stage descriptions.

First stage of a 5-day route. This stage takes you through the mountain pastures to the medieval town of Murol. A very pretty route ending near Lake Chambon.

Starting from the Le Clos hotel in Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise, this loop takes you around Lac Pavin using the discovery trail and theGR®30.

Hike starting from the town of Besse, located an hour's drive from Clermont-Ferrand. This hike is mainly in open countryside. It allows you to admire Lake Pavin, overlook the town of Super-Besse and, above all, enjoy a 360° view from Puy de Sancy.

Hike in the Auvergne Volcanoes Park, starting from Besse (located an hour's drive south of Clermont-Ferrand). The discovery trail starting from the Hôtel le Clos combines wooded areas and open countryside, passing by Lake Pavin and Lake Montcineyre (swimming is prohibited in both). The trail is very well marked throughout (markings and signs).

A circuit that forms a figure of 8 around Lac Chambon, with panoramic views of the lake and the Sancy range, the Valley of Chaudefour and a section through Murol via its castle.

During the hike, you will discover the white water of the Couze Pavin, the rocky landscape of Puy de Lavelle and its brightly coloured flora, magnificent views of the Couze valley and, of course, the village of Saint-Floret with its rich heritage.

Immerse yourself in the coolness of the superb Monne Gorges. On the heights, enjoy absolute calm in a Mediterranean atmosphere on large rocky plateaus. Discover places of worship from yesterday and today: the Allée Couverte de la Grotte and the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Randol (modern). Please note that the path through the gorges is narrow and slippery, with ropes in some places.

A peaceful hike, far from tourist sites, on the plateaus overlooking Saint-Nectaire, cow country. A route with constant unobstructed views of the Sancy and Guéry mountains and the Chaîne des Puys.

A circular route on the heights of Saint-Nectaire to discover some of the megaliths of this region of Auvergne, which is rich in them. The site of the megaliths of Puy d'Alou, at its summit, offers a beautiful panorama. This circular route is extended by a return trip to another viewpoint at the summit of Puy de Châteauneuf.

North of Saint-Nectaire, the high plateaus are home to the cows that produce the delicious cheese. It is a peaceful and uncrowded countryside that nevertheless offers superb panoramic views.

Starting from Beaune-le-Froid, this is a very accessible hike, passing by the Château de Murol, with superb views of the Couze Chambon valley and the village of Murol, the Dent du Marais and Lake Chambon, and further afield, the Chaudefour Valley and the Sancy. The last part of the hike takes you to the iconic Saint-Nectaire, with a circular route through the cow pastures and a visit to the village via the Rue des Caves.

A circular offering superb views from the heights over Lac Chambon and the Dent du Marais, then over the Château de Murol, passing at the foot of the aforementioned peak before skirting the lake as closely as possible.

Visit a must-see in the region, Lake Chambon, starting from the village of Beaune-le-Froid, on the heights preserved from tourist crowds. Pass by some beautiful viewpoints.

Discover the Chaudefour Valley, located in the nature park of the same name.

On the heights of Murol and Lac Chambon, discover the Rajat caves, Murol Castle, the Cirque and the Dent du Marais, as well as the villages of Chautignat and Beaune-le-Froid.

A very short circular path on a wooded ridge, between the valleys of two small streams on the Plateau des Dômes, after a visit to Beaune-le-Froid.

The route starts in Champeix, passes through the hills with views of the Couze Chambon valley, crosses the large site of the Saint-Julien cellars, then wanders through the pretty village of Montaigut-le-Blanc, before following the Couze back to Champeix, where you can visit the old Marchidial district and its gardens.

On the snowshoe routes at the Pertuyzat resort, a very pleasant hike around Lake Pavin. You may be asked to pay €2.50 per person for the right to use the routes, for signposting and maintenance.

From Ludesse, on the plateau, descend into the Couze Chambon valley to explore two citadel villages, Champeix, the City of Gardens, and Montaigut-le-Blanc, the City of Cats (personal name).

The route, mostly through forest, passes by the unmissable Lake Pavin before climbing Puy de Monchal and returning via the only chasm in Auvergne, Creux de Souci.

Walk through the gorse heathland, dotted with rocky outcrops, where cows and sheep sometimes graze, making up the landscape on the heights of Aydat. Lovely views of the Chaîne des Puys and the Monts Dore. A refreshing stretch along the banks of the Monne.

A medium-altitude hike through pastures and farmland, sheep and cows; a countryside dotted here and there with volcanic rocks. The walk follows the course of the Monne and Ribeyre rivers and offers splendid panoramic views of the Chaîne des Puys.

Discover the Monne, a beautiful Auvergne river, and its valley nestled in high rocky plateaus offering superb views of the surrounding mountains.

A beautiful climb through undergrowth from Mareuge, on the heights of the upper Monne valley, a stream that rises from the Puys de Baladou and Védrine brooks. From the heights, there is a magnificent panoramic view of the Monts Dore, the Chaîne and the Plateau des Puys. Traditional architecture and heritage in the villages of Mareuge and Pessade.

At the foot of the Monts Dore, hike on the plateau criss-crossed by streams, between pastures and coniferous forests.

Starting from Zanières, the first part of the hike is on the top of the plateau, with beautiful views of the Chaîne des Puys and the Monts Dores, to the La Pierre Longue menhir, which marks the beginning of hills dotted with rocky outcrops. Return via the bottom of the valley, along the La Ribeyre stream.

A beautiful hike between the Chaîne des Puys and the Chaîne du Sancy. Gentle slopes and lovely views of both mountain ranges.

A circular route to discover two very different volcanic craters: the Narse d'Espinasse, a marshy maar on the slopes of the Puy de l'Enfer, and the more classic crater of the Puy de Monténard.

On either side of Saulzet-le-Froid, discover the valleys of the Narse to the north and the Labadeau to the south, two streams that converge shortly afterwards to form the Veyre. Climb to the top of Puy de Monténard for a panoramic view of the Labadeau valley and descend into the Narse d'Espinasse, a small marsh with an exceptional biotope.