Saint-Flour walks

Passing through Auvergne? Take the opportunity to enjoy a pleasant break in Saint-Flour. From the banks of the Anver, climb up to discover the upper town via the Chemin des Chèvres and don't forget to stock up on cheese!

Starting from Saint-Flour, this tour of the northern part of the Planèze de Saint-Flour allows you to appreciate the diversity of the landscapes of this high basalt plateau in just three days of walking. The stages in Paulhac and Valuéjols offer accommodation in stopover lodges. The route follows part of a variant of the GR® de Pays de Saint-Flour and part of the GR®4.

This is the first of three stages of the Saint-Flour Planèze tour. It is the longest stage, passing through several small villages typical of the Planèze with their bread ovens, which provide welcome shelter for a short break in rainy weather. The very quiet paths and small roads run alongside meadows grazed by numerous herds of cattle in season.

A walk that allows you to explore the old town of Saint-Flour, perched on its volcanic rocky outcrop, which forms a natural rampart.

Third and final stage of the Planèze tour. Entirely on the GR®4. This stage crosses varied environments and allows you to discover some very interesting, albeit little-known, sites. In particular, the route runs alongside the Narse de Nouvialle (a remarkable wetland) and passes close to the Château du Sailhant and the Babory waterfall.

Over the centuries, the Truyère has carved out deep gorges which, with the rising water levels caused by the construction of the Grandval and Lanau dams, have given way to a natural landscape of surprising and contrasting beauty: islands and peninsulas, cirques with distant shores, mysterious meanders, narrow gorges opening onto vast expanses of water, a wooded valley… Following the PR la Mourache route, the walk offers magnificent views from the embankment supporting the Alleuze road. Walking the route in the opposite direction offers more shade, but do keep an eye out for the signposting – which, to be honest, is rather sparse.

Starting from Loubaresse, near an exit from the A75 motorway, this route follows the GR® de Pays circular Boucle de la Truyère and a variant that "turns" around the Truyère river to the village of Chaliers, which is well worth taking the time to explore. The route takes small local roads on both the left and right banks of this river with its wild gorges, crossing it twice via footbridges at Valadour and Terran. The actual duration of the route is 4 hours and 40 minutes (GPS watch data), including a short stop in Chaliers.

Discovery hike around Paulhac, very easy and ideal for those new to mountain biking, especially children. It is also accessible to pedestrians, horses and even people with all-terrain pushchairs (3 wheels).

Second stage of the Saint-Flour Planèze tour. This is the shortest and highest stage. It takes place in the foothills of the Plomb du Cantal and crosses the wildest parts of the circuit.

Circuit no. 1 in the guidebook of walking, horse riding and mountain biking routes in the commune of Paulhac.

A short, gentle walk with views of the surrounding mountains and the Monts du Cantal. This walk follows a forest track through the woods. It is accessible on foot, by mountain bike and on snowshoes.

An encounter with nature in the heart of the Monts du Cantal, with a complete change of scenery guaranteed.

Route through rolling countryside with views of the Lanau dam. Magnificent houses in Orcières.

Discover the history of this part of the Cézalier through the archaeological and historical remains that dot this route. Prehistoric rock shelters, tumuli, Merovingian sarcophagi, medieval forest trails, 12th-century churches, a monumental 15th-century cross, a communal oven, a wash house and beautiful old houses.

Setting off from the charming village of Saint-Just, numerous granite boulders are scattered here and there across the landscape. The most unusual is undoubtedly the Recoux Calvary, an imposing mass of granite topped by three majestic crosses, a testament to the skill of local stonemasons and to an era when men erected calvaries to the glory of God. On the way back, you cannot miss the Roc del Burre, better known as the Pierre Branlante. It’s up to you to find the right spot to make this 400-tonne boulder move with just one hand.

The route passes through the old town of Murat and then two religious buildings on their respective promontories. These offer views of the town of Murat and the Cantal mountains.

Walk in the hills above Murat. Beautiful views over the Alagnon and Benet valleys. Beautiful old houses in the village of Bredons and the remarkable site of Bredons Church, an 11th-century Cluniac site.

Although it takes a while to get there, this walk takes you along a wild trail through pastureland, where you can see several peat bogs at different stages of development and enjoy magnificent views of the Cantal mountains and the Planèze plateau on the Saint-Flour side.

This walk takes in two iconic sites in the Alagnon Valley: the ruined Château d'Aurouze and its beautiful view over the valley, followed by the vineyard terraces (known in our valley as "Palhàs") of Molompize.

Take a break from the A75 for a pleasant and informative stop!

This walk, on small roads and paths between Cantal and Haute Loire, takes you through five villages and farms and offers superb views of the Livradois to the east and, above all, the Monts d'Auvergne (Cantal, Cézallier, Sancy and even Puy de Dôme) to the west from La Fage.

A superb hike, mostly through woods, to discover the wild and little-known Truyère gorges. Suitable for experienced walkers only due to the distance and elevation gain.

This route takes you to Lac du Pêcher, La Roche du Pic, the Frau de Collanges peat bog and Lac de Sauvages. I encountered a wolf in this area in the winter of 2017. Then I forgot about it until early 2025. It then reappeared, attacking livestock multiple times between winter and summer. I tracked it down and know its favourite spots. This does not guarantee that you will see it, but it may increase your chances of an encounter.

A walk dotted with wayside crosses, which once served to guide travellers but also served as a reminder to the local population of their duty of devotion to God. By the way, how many did you count?

A walk through woods and meadows to explore the medieval site of Apcher.

A walk alternating between forest sections and stretches across meadows. Best enjoyed on foot or by mountain bike, following the small, unspoilt paths.

A short walk leads to a majestic natural site and a perfect view of the Truyère Gorges. Be careful in rainy weather, however, as the area around the Porte des Fées can be slippery.

This is an easy family trail that allows you to discover the rich local flora and fauna. Only a stony section at the start and end of the lake may make this short hike difficult for those who are less mobile.