Sembadel walks

In the heart of the Livradois-Forez Regional Park, a beautiful walk from hamlet to hamlet, through forests and fields, and an opportunity to discover or rediscover La Chaise-Dieu and its rich heritage.

Leaving the village of Cistrières, you will mainly be walking through the forest. These woods are dotted with hamlets that were once home to agricultural activity. Most of the farms have been renovated and are now inhabited. The paths are well maintained and easy to walk on. You will find peace and quiet here, and cool shade from the trees in summer.

This route crosses part of the forest in the municipality of Cistrières, starting from the village of Condat. The hamlets, which are now sparsely populated or uninhabited, were once lively, as evidenced by an old school in Condat and the houses of Béates au Faud and Les Montilles. But during mushroom season, you will encounter many mushroom pickers there.

This route allows you to discover the Senouire valley between Domeyrat and Esbelin, a small "limagne" (flat area) framed by wooded slopes. The Senouire accompanies you with its murmurs all along the route, where you can sometimes hear it without seeing it. The majestic 12th-century feudal castle with its imposing ruins dominating the village is sure to impress, and the old Romanesque bridge completes the medieval feel of the village.

This route passes through the villages on the eastern side of the Paulhaguet basin called Le Chaliergue. It corresponds to the lower volcanic plateau of Paulhaguet, at around 600 m, drained by the Senouire. The name was once written Callianicum and refers to stones, a stony area; it is also known as the Paulhaguet plateau. The panorama opens up from Jaroussier and Scombalou.

Along the Vallée de Dieu (Valley of God), the former name given to the Senouire valley, this walk combines the pleasure of walking with the discovery of the Haute Loire's heritage. It takes us from the village of Lavaudieu, one of the most beautiful villages in France, to the impressive towers of the medieval castle of Domeyrat.

Lavaudieu is one of the most beautiful villages in France. This walk invites you to leave the village and stroll through the surrounding hills, passing through villages such as Buze, whose houses are built of red arkose.

The Bourianne lava flow is the result of an interesting geological phenomenon. Halfway through this hike, walkers will discover an imposing scree slope of basalt columns at their feet and, in the distance, the Forez Massif.

Set off to explore the pretty little village of Cerzat, with its oven, church and wash house. Along the way, you'll enjoy beautiful views of Margeride and the plateau. The highlight of the walk is entering the Pié du Roi volcano and discovering the small lake that occupies what remains of the crater. You'll love this walk through the nature of the Hautes-Pyrénées.

This hike combines a walk through the beautiful beech forest of Miaune with its views of the Loire Valley, the Monts du Vivarais and Mézenc, with the discovery of Roche-en-Régnier and its few richly decorated houses, remnants of a bygone era.

This beautiful hike offers, in turn, a bird's eye view of the Château de Lavoûte-sur-Loire along the banks of the Loire, a distant view of the Château de Polignac and, finally, the discovery of two shepherd's huts in the heart of a vineyard that has almost disappeared.

This circuit allows you to discover the feudal castle of Chalencon (Baronnie des Chalencon), perched on a promontory, nestled in the Ance valley, in the heart of a 25-hectare protected site At its feet lies the feudal village, and spanning the Ance are two bridges: the Pont du Diable with its two arches, one of which is 15 metres high and certainly dates from the 12th century, and the 15th-century Bounery bridge.

An easy hike that shortens the PR®4 (yellow markings) and offers shaded trails rising above Usson en Forez. It is not particularly difficult and offers beautiful shaded sections. The climbs are not particularly difficult and are mostly in the woods. The few sections on roads are in areas with little traffic

This short route takes you to Mont Recours in the commune of Beaulieu, north of Le Puy-en-Velay. From the summit of this ancient volcanic vent, you can enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the Emblavez hills.

A beautiful long loop, rich in scenery and built heritage, on the heights of the Allier.

Starting from Le Vernet, this walk offers beautiful panoramic views of the Devès at the summit of La Durande.

A beautiful trail with, halfway through the hike, the discovery of the Montpeloux volcanic crater and its many informative panels (geology, history of the volcano, fauna, flora, etc.), an undeniable bonus for curious children!

This circular walk passes by two must-see sites in the area: the Creux de l'Oulette and its waterfall, and the volcano of Montpeloux, a former basalt quarry converted into an open-air geological museum. At the end of the itinerary, you'll find a beautiful path along the Ance River.

This tour of part of the Chaspinhac plateau offers numerous views of the Puy en Velay basin, Mont Bar and the Loire Gorges. It is an opportunity to discover Saint Quentin, a hamlet abandoned for more than fifty years that enthusiasts have restored and brought back to life in the summer months with exhibitions, shows or simply by sharing a drink.

Starting from Le Puy-en-Velay, this route takes you to the summit of the volcanic Mont Denise. From the top, there is a breathtaking view of the Polignac fortress, the town of Le Puy and, in the background, the Mézenc massif.

This loop between Aiguilhe and the village of Polignac, classified as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France", combines sustained climbs, flat sections and fast descents. As you climb, it offers beautiful views of the town of Le Puy-en-Velay and the Polignac Fortress perched on its volcanic hill. Return via the path along the Borne.

Twenty to thirty thousand walkers set out from Puy-en-Velay every year to do the pilgrimage along the Way of St. James. Discover the Way of St. James by doing the first stage by foot. You can return to Puy-en-Velay in the evening in a special coach.

This route takes you on a discovery of the villages of Riou, with its wash house, and La Blache, with its bread oven. It also offers beautiful views of the Emblavez plain and the rounded or slightly pointed hills known locally as "les knolls".

As you follow this route, discover Le Puy-en-Velay (the starting point of the Way of St James) and its monuments: the cathedral, Rocher Corneille and the Statue of Notre-Dame de France, the Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe Chapel, the cloister, the town hall, the theatre, the Crozatier Museum and the Henri-Vinay Garden.

This route is the first stage of a complete journey along the Chemin de Stevenson between Le-Puy-en-Velay and Alès. Please note that the signposting to follow the Chemin de Stevenson has been modified since 2016. On this first stage, following road repairs on the Le Puy bypass, this description follows this modified itinerary.

A 13-stage journey along the famous route described by Robert Louis Stevenson in his 1878 travel notes. This tour follows the complete route from le Puy-en-Velay to Alès.

Discover the Chibottes Valley, a site classified as a landscape of outstanding beauty since 8 March 2016. These small dry stone huts, built from stones cleared from the plots of land, were used as shelters by shepherds and farmers who cultivated orchards and terraced vineyards (known as "chambées"). This trail forms a loop, partly following the Way of St James on the way back.