On the Limagne Fault in Ceyrat

In Boisséjour, leave your vehicle in the small hiker's car park in the hamlet of Préguille: from Avenue de Royat, at the eastern end of the village of Boisséjour, at a crossroads with traffic lights, turn onto Rue Pierre Curie, then cross the bridge over the Artière and you will immediately find the car park. There are numerous signposts for hikes offered by Ceyrando.

Écureuil trail (Les 2 Villages)

(S/E) Return to Rue Pré Lavert, follow it to the right and cross the bridge over the Artière. On the other side, turn left onto Rue Pierre Curie. At the end of the tarmac road, continue along the path, which then narrows into a trail, still overlooking the Artière. The path then winds upwards and ends with a few steps before reaching a T-junction. Turn left. Further on, notice the Rocher de Gargantua on the left, on the other side of the Artière, and ignore the path that descends to the left. You will come to a path.

(1) Follow it to the left and cross the Artière. Ignore a path that climbs to the right and arrive at a fork in the path, with the Rocher de Gargantua below on the left.

Markings for Rocher (Chaos de la Faille) in the opposite direction

Leave the Écureuil markings and follow the Chaos de la Faille markings on the right, indicated by a rock, in the opposite direction to this description. Further on, leave the path and climb up a few steps on the right. Note the enamelled lava rocks that are part of a botanical trail (which this route does not follow) and, at the top of the steps, continue climbing up the path. Ignore a path on the right (marked Salamandre) and pass in front of the Rocher des Bénitiers.

(2) At the intersection, continue to the left. Further on, ignore a path on the left and then ford a stream (see Practical Information). Ignore a path on the right.

(3) At the T-junction, turn left. Ignore a path on the right and go straight down a few steps, passing the Rocher du Géant and then the Rocher du Diable.

(4) At the fork in the path, go down to the left for a round trip to the Devil's Tooth and Devil's Finger rocks.

(4) On the way back, continue to the left. At a trail intersection, ignore the trail that goes straight ahead and go up to the right. Pass Rocher de la Croze, ignoring a trail on the left. At the T-junction, turn left and you will come to a path not far from a road.

(5) Turn left and immediately ignore the path that climbs to the right, then ignore another path on the right further on. You will arrive at a path with a water catchment on the left.

Squirrel and Salamander markings

Cross over and follow the path marked with squirrel and salamander signs, leaving the inverted rock behind. Further down, you will come to an old road.

No markings

(6) Leave the markings and follow the signs for Variant 2 Villages on the left, then continue along a street in Ceyrat that leads to a busier road. Cross carefully and follow the road opposite towards Camping le Chanset. At the entrance to the campsite, you will see Ceyrando hiking signs.

Écureuil signposts

Continue straight ahead on the Écureuil marked trail that runs along the campsite fence. Note the sculpture of the bionic character, reminiscent of a heroine from Guardians of the Galaxy. Ignore a trail on the right and continue along the campsite. You will come to an intersection with a trail at a pedestrian gate in the campsite.

(7) Turn left. Shortly after, at a bench, ignore the path on the right and continue straight ahead on Chemin de Boucherade. At another bench, ignore a path on the left and turn left at a third bench, where the path changes its name to Chemin de Boisséjour. Ignore all paths on the left and cross a passageway, ignore a path on the right and arrive at a street in Boisséjour that leads to a busy road.

(8) Cross carefully (pedestrian crossing on the left), then turn right onto the pedestrian path and take the first street on the left. Cross the bridge over the Artière. At the intersection, take the second street on the left, Rue Gabriel Peri, and arrive at the church square (two beautiful altarpieces inside). Continue straight ahead, noting a covered fountain on the square above on the right, and continue straight ahead along the one-way street. Pass a covered wash house and note the plaque representing the Declaration of Human Rights on the other side of the street. At the intersection, take the second street on the left, Rue Pierre Curie. At the traffic lights, continue straight ahead on the same street until you reach the bridge over the Artière and the small car park just behind it (S/E).

This is a moderately difficult hike, although quite short, as some of the paths through the rocky terrain are quite steep. Standard hiking equipment is required.
The ford at Ruisseau de Thèdes can be difficult to cross after heavy rain or when the snow melts.
The Ceyrats trails are marked, maintained and developed by Ceyrando.

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

Photo album here
In the first part of the hike, the trail runs along the Limagne Fault, the geological boundary between the Plateau des Dômes and the Allier Valley, dotted with rocky outcrops. There are a few information boards.
At the end of the route, you will pass through the old wine-growing village of Boisséjour with its traditional houses, a covered fountain and a covered wash house.
Some sections of the route run alongside the Artière river.