Saint-Nectaire walks

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

A hike on a volcanic plateau with views of the Chaîne des Puys, a world of stones and pastures; a few isolated villages, cows and a glimpse of the civilisation of the Arverni (Gauls of Auvergne) through standing stones and dolmens. A magnificent walk in all seasons.

A circular route starting from Cournols, on the volcanic plateau in the eastern part of the solidified lava flow of Aydat, in the pastures of the monks of Randol, passing through the medieval village of Saint-Saturnin, rich in old houses, a beautiful Romanesque church and a very beautiful castle. Two short return trips can be added to this circular route to discover a wash house in Saint-Saturnin and a covered walkway in Cournols.

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.

Circular route around the heights of Lake Aydat, in the middle of pastures, to enjoy beautiful views of the Chaîne des Puys and the Massif du Sancy.

A circular trail to discover different aspects (leisure activities, wild spots, landscaped marshes) of Lake Aydat, with a passage along its heights for beautiful views of the Chaîne des Puys and the Sancy massif, and passing by a menhir, the Pierre Longue. On the way back, the route takes you to the beautiful 13th-century church of Aydat.

This is an easy hike that allows you to explore the Puy de Vichatel, whose crater is the second deepest in the Chaîne des Puys. You are allowed to go down inside! From the summit, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the other puys further south, Lake Aydat and the Sancy massif.

An easy hike with one of the most beautiful panoramic views in the region, overlooking both the Chaîne des Puys and the Sancy Massif. Between May and October, sheep graze on these puys, much to the delight of young and old alike!

An easy and enjoyable hike on this little-visited volcano. Despite the path being in the woods, there are several viewpoints offering views of both the other volcanoes in the Chaîne des Puys and the Sancy massif. A good option for hot days.

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

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.

Starting from the village of Fontclairant, an 8-shaped route allows you to bypass Puy Charmont before circling and climbing Puy de Vichatel, whose summit offers a beautiful panorama.The downside of this hike is its proximity to the D2089 road between the two peaks.

Between these two small puys in the south of the Chaîne des Dômes, two streams flow, the Narse and the Labadeau, which converge shortly afterwards to form the Veyre. Shortly before this confluence, the Narse feeds a small marsh of volcanic origin, the Narse d'Espinasse.

Go back 8,600 years, to the day when two young volcanoes were born, the Puys de la Vache and Lassolas. Their two lava flows joined together as they flowed eastwards and met the River Veyre. After a battle that was lost before it even began, the bubbling river was diverted eastwards, creating two lakes, Aydat and Cassière.

Hike on the Plateau des Dômes to discover the natural site of the Narse d'Espinasse. This narse is a peat bog which, together with the Puy de l'Enfer that borders it, forms an exceptional volcanic complex of geological and ecological interest, as it is home to a unique flora.

A charming walk around the lake with beautiful views of the lake and surrounding hills and modern buildings that blend in perfectly with the setting.

A return route to Mont Dore, taking care to avoid the same paths as the previous day.

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!

Stage 3 of the "Between Puy de Sancy and Monts Dore" route. A very pretty stage, starting with a route at the bottom of the valley and ending with passages along the ridges of the various puys before Mont-Dore.

A very beautiful and varied hike, between 1,300 and 1,500 m, which can be completed in half a day, in medium-altitude mountains (pastures, forests, peaks). Superb 360° panorama of the Sancy mountains and the Dômes chain. Good paths.Bring a map or GPS, essential for the return journey through the forest.

Hike on the high plateau of Pessade offering beautiful views of the Chaîne des Puys and the Massif du Sancy, with the Labadeau stream as your guide from its source to Saulzet-le-Froid.

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).

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 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).

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.

Walk dedicated to exploring the small Puy de Vichatel: its slopes covered with mixed forest, its crater, and its summit reached by a beautiful trail offering a stunning panorama.The only downside to this hike is its proximity to the D2089 at the start and end of the route.

The hike takes place mainly in the forest that covers the Cheires Hautes, an ancient solidified lava flow from the Puy de la Vache and Puy de Lassolas, passing by Lac de la Cassière, an ideal place for a break, just over halfway along the route.

This hike allows you to discover the Montepo site, which has been developed by the Arkose Association. You will discover stromatolites, a geological curiosity of the tertiary limestone rocks of the Limagne plain. The view before you highlights the Limagne Fault and the associated volcanic activity (informative panels are provided). In May and June, many species of orchids bloom on these dry grasslands. Finally, the balcony trail along the cornices of the old terraces cultivated in the last century offers beautiful views of the medieval village of Saint-Saturnin and its castle.

This walk begins in Saint-Saturnin, a village between the Monne Gorges and the Veyre Valley. The village is home to one of the most important Romanesque churches in Auvergne and a royal castle. The walk continues to Notre-Dame de Randol Abbey, passing through green, rolling countryside.

As you walk around the Puy de la Vigeral, which marks the western end of the Montagne de la Serre, you will almost always be overlooking the surrounding landscape and enjoying beautiful views of the more distant Chaîne des Puys and Sancy mountain ranges. In the village of Rouillat Haut, take the time to discover the enamelled lava plaques on display in the streets.

Long maintained by humans for livestock farming and crops, the Montagne de la Serre is now only partially cultivated and is returning to its original state, with alternating grasslands, fallow land and woods, which you can discover on this hike. This diversity of landscapes is much appreciated by wildlife, particularly migratory birds, many of which stop off at this site.

Starting from Nadaillat, a pretty village on the Montagne de la Serre, this circular route takes you through fields and meadows to the shores of Lac de la Cassière in the Veyre valley. On the way back, the route passes through Rouillat Haut, another pleasant village with a beautiful collection of enamelled lava street signs.

On the Montagne de la Serre, the inhabitants have exploited every inch of land for livestock farming, surrounding their small pastures or pailhas with dry stone walls that provide shelter for shepherds in bad weather. On the slopes, there are also rocky outcrops such as the Chaos de Flore, on the banks of the Auzon, in the centre of which a beautiful dolmen has been built.

Nadaillat and Rouillat Haut are ancient hamlets typical of the Montagne de la Serre. This short loop follows pleasant paths, often lined with low stone walls, through terraced plots that were once farmed. Along the paths, you will also discover numerous fountains and small stone shepherds' shelters, known as "courtas". The hamlet of Rouillat Haut is distinguished by its beautiful enamelled lava street signs.

The village of Saint-Saturnin, one of the most beautiful villages in France, boasts one of the five most beautiful Romanesque churches in Auvergne. On the other side of the Veyre valley, discover the nine fountains of the wine-growing hamlet of Chadrat, built on the slopes of the Montagne de la Serre, amidst ancient terraces.

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.

Between the Chaîne des Puys and the foothills of the Sancy, the high plateau is criss-crossed by numerous waterways. During this hike, you will encounter the Gorce and the Sioule, as well as smaller streams such as the Sioulet and the Gigeole. You will also discover villages rich in beautiful old stone houses with slate roofs.

At the foot of the Chaîne des Puys, a peaceful walk from hamlet to hamlet to discover traditional rural architecture, small built heritage (fountains, wash houses, ovens, etc.) and the Château de Voissieux.

Walk through the meadows, frequented by cows and sheep, crossing the valleys of the Ruisseau la Gigeole and the Rivière la Gorce. The route offers numerous views of the Chaîne des Puys and the Guéry massif.

A loop on the Plateau de Dôme, starting from Vernines and passing through several hamlets where the inhabitants have preserved the traditional way of life, with fountains, wash houses, blacksmith's forges and communal ovens. A few sections on small roads at the end of the route, which are very quiet and offer unobstructed views of the Chaîne des Puys.

This route is linked to a quiz walk that allows you to discover the town's iconic sites and learn about its history and heritage in a fun way. Find the "Au fil de nos histoires" poster on the church square and scan the QR code to start the game (free, no registration or app download required). You can choose the "adult" trail or the "adult + child" trail (with additional questions for children aged 6 to 11). The description below refers only to the "adult" route.

Circular route around Puy de Peyronère, whose northern slopes are covered with orchards, which are characteristic of this part of the Monne valley. The route offers beautiful views and passes through two ancient villages rich in architectural heritage: Saint-Saturnin (castle and remarkable church) and Saint-Amant (castle, old bridge, etc.).

An interesting hike due to its diversity: peat bogs, volcanic lakes, chasms and, depending on the season, a few orchids between (6) and (7).

A Grand Tour of the beautiful and mysterious Lac Pavin, passing by the Puy de Montchal and the Creux de Soucy chasm.

This hike takes you to four volcanic lakes: Lac Pavin, which is 92 metres deep and 700 to 800 metres in diameter; Lac de Montcineyre, formerly owned by the Michelin family; Lac de Bourdouze, which is partially covered by peat bog; and finally Lac de l'Estivadoux, which is almost completely dry.

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.

Take quiet paths to discover one of the most beautiful Romanesque churches in Auvergne. This route offers beautiful landscapes and passes through hamlets rich in beautiful farms, fountains and wash houses.