Saint-Marc walks

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.

From Montchanson, with a rucksack on your back – in place of the schoolbag that children of yesteryear used to carry on their backs to get to school in one of the villages of the Arcomie Valley – let’s follow in their footsteps to discover the hamlets and local heritage. On the way, don’t forget to climb up to the Trois Croix du Bloc du Recoux for an exceptional view, before trying your hand at making the Pierre Branlante de la Roche wobble, north of Saint-Marc.

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.

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

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.

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.

A short route to explore the Gorges du Bès From Valiette, this route descends past the dam before entering the gorges, offering superb views of the valley.

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.

Set off to discover the typical villages of the Margeride and its local heritage. This pleasant walk, offering superb views of the massif and the Cantal mountains, is also accessible by mountain bike.

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.

Discover the highest point of the Margeride and enjoy a 360° panorama of the Auvergne mountains. In good weather, you can also see the Alps and the Pyrenees.

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.

Head towards the hamlet of La Valette, situated 3 km from the village of Prunières in a peaceful spot on the banks of the Truyère. A castle once stood here, whose lords were vassals of the barony of Apcher – another village with a rich medieval history, where you can wander through the narrow streets and enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the whole of the Margeride from the top of the castle keep.

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!

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

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.