Springs and fountains near Chez Pierre

If you're allergic to tarmac, beware! There are many small roads on this route, although they are very, very quiet.

When you arrive in Allagnat via the D52 from the Col de la Moréno, before entering the village, park on the left-hand side of the road, just after a cross, on a grassy area near a picnic area.
Please note! This hike is not fully signposted.

(S/E) Head south, perpendicular to the D52, on the very small tarmac road that crosses the picnic area. Note the beautiful beech trees at the edge of the forest ^(a). Further on, ignore a path that goes straight ahead and continue along the road. Then ignore a no-entry road on the left and look for an information sign about the Château d'Allagnat ^(b).

Continue along the road. At the T-junction, turn left away from the village. Enter the hamlet of Trézaret and ignore the farm road on the left.

(1) At the next fork, turn left onto Route des Bramauds. Ignore a road on the left and pass a red cross on the right.

(2) Further on, at a simple iron cross on a stone base on the right, turn right onto the path. Continue to a T-junction with a grassy path on the left.

(3) Turn right onto the main path, which joins a small road to follow on the left. At the intersection, keep left to go straight towards the "30" sign and enter Bravant. At the reservoir and a small iron cross, follow the street to the right, pass in front of a bread oven that is still in use, then take the first street on the left. At the T-junction, turn left and go to the fountain and back.

Then return to the crossroads and continue straight ahead towards the "Abri du Berger". Continue in this direction, turning left at the next crossroads. Pass to the left of a dry fountain and continue along the road, veering slightly to the left. Ignore a street on the left just after this, then a farm road on the right a little further on.

(4) At a house and a shed, turn right onto a path (the dogs that will bark loudly as you pass are tied up, but be careful). The path joins another path at a T-junction at Source Fontane. Turn left.

(5) Pass under the D2089, join a road on the other side and follow it to the left to enter Monteribeyre. Pass to the left of a calvary, then turn right at the fork to pass near the bread oven and then a drinking fountain, both on the left side of the street.

At the next intersection, continue left and arrive at the Fontaine de Joséphine ^(c). Head towards an old shoeing machine ^(d) behind the fountain and take the path on the right. Continue in the same direction, downhill, and walk along the gable of a house on your left.

(6) At the intersection with the street and paths, continue straight ahead, following the red and white markings of^{the GR®®441B}. From now on, follow these markings until further notice. The path makes a wide turn to the right.
Shortly afterwards, you will see a sign for "Petit pont de pierre sur la Sioule, 100 m" (small stone bridge over the Sioule, 100 m). Turn right for a short detour to this very pleasant site.

Retrace your steps and continue to the left until you reach a road. Follow it to the left. The road approaches the Sioule ^(e). Ignore the ford on the river to the left and continue along the road until you reach a small stone bridge. Continue along the road.

(7) About 100 m further on, leave the road and take a path on the left. Ignore another path on the left further on, then keep left at a fork.

(8) You will come to an intersection with yellow directional signs. This crossroads marks the junction between the^GR®®441Band 441 trails. Continue along the^GR®®441towards Olby. A hundred metres further on, follow the path that branches off to the right and, at the next fork, keep right to pass under the D2089. On the other side, continue to the right, then to the left.

(9) Cross the Sioule at a diversion on the left which, if the place name is to be believed, used to supply a sawmill. Continue along the road to a crossroads at the entrance to Olby, marked by the "Olby" sign. Note the fountain on the right, the town hall and the post office, which has retained its historic façade, then continue left towards La Gardette and the^GR®®.

At the church, turn right and climb up to the foot of the majestic lime tree ^(d), then descend along the same street and continue straight ahead. Pass in front of a fountain-trough, topped with a small cross, and continue along this street. Further on, walk along the cemetery wall.

(10) Leave the^GR®® trail and turn right at the corner of the cemetery. At the sports field, turn left. Continue along this path, ignoring the paths on either side, until you reach a simple iron cross, the Croix de Bey, on the left side of the path.

(11) Turn left and, at the next fork, keep to the right. Cross a road and continue straight ahead. Continue along this small road until you reach the first houses of Chez Pierre.

(12) Note, on the right-hand side of the road, an information sign for the old "Chez Laquet" mill ^(e) and a small water diversion canal. Continue along the street and note, on the right-hand side, slightly higher up, an old wash house.

At the next crossroads, at the "Chez Pierre" signpost, turn right and walk to the water collection station ^(f), about 50 metres away.

Back at the "Chez Pierre" signpost, turn right towards Allagnat. After about 100 metres, turn right onto a grassy path. At the next intersection, turn left to rejoin the road and follow it to the right to reach the village of Allagnat.

(13) Pass a bread oven on your left, then a wash house. At the intersection, continue straight ahead on Rue Saint-Martin until you reach a monumental cross. Turn right to see the large horseshoe forge ^(d), then turn left, passing behind the cross, and continue right towards the church.

Continue straight ahead along the wall of the castle grounds, then take the first path on the right to return to the picnic area (S/E).

Moderate difficulty hike, standard hiking equipment required.

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here and more generally in the Puy-de-Dôme here

Some photos here

^(a) The Allagnat beech forest is a 100-hectare forest consisting of tall trees and labelled a "Natural Area of Ecological, Floristic and Faunistic Interest". It is home to the European nightjar, black woodpecker and Tengmalm's owl.

^(b) The oldest part of Allagnat Castle is its^14th-century keep, a remnant of the original castle. Together with the adjoining church and park, it forms a beautiful ensemble overlooking the village. Information panel at the start of the "From Medieval to Troubadour Style" walk.

^(c) Josephine's Fountain. A spring captured at Antérioux was channelled to supply the Château de Monteribeyre. In 1867, the owner of the château granted the villagers the right to 7 litres of water per minute, on condition that the fountain be named after the château owner's mother.

^(d) The shoeing stands, once found in every village, were used to restrain large domestic animals, mainly horses and draught oxen, for shoeing or treatment.

^(e) The Sioule, a beautiful river in Auvergne.

^(d) Sully d'Olby lime tree.

^(e) At the end of the 18th century, there were seven mills in the commune of Ceyssat. The Chez Laquet mill operated until 1956. People came there mainly to grind rye. The "Chez Laquet" information panel explains the architecture and operation of this mill.

^(f) The Chez Pierre water catchment and information panel. It was the abundant water from Chez Pierre that powered the bucket wheel of the Chez Laquet mill. This water, now captured but still overflowing to form a stream, supplies the municipalities of Ceyssat, Chamalières and the summit of Puy de Dôme.