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Ridge walk
Description
A circuit in the highlands of Ste-Catherine (14th-century church) with panoramic views of the Dôme, Dore and Cézallier mountains, as well as two beautiful crosses at the hamlets of Moulin à vent and Peslières.
Technical Information
Altimetric profile
Starting point
Steps
Additional information
Tips
- Village of Sainte-Catherine and its church.
- Off trail: orientation table with panoramic view of the Livradois.
- Stone cross.
Updated by
Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme - 03/06/2026
www.puydedome-tourisme.com/
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Environments
In the country
Forest location
Mountain view
Presence of livestock and guard dogs
Distinctions
Listed PDIPR
Open period
From 01/01 to 31/12 daily.
Subject to favorable weather.
Location complements
From the village of Saint-Germain-L'Herm, take the D999 towards Le Vernet-la-Varenne. On leaving Saint-Germain l'Herm, turn left onto the D33 towards Sainte-Catherine. After 4 km, turn right onto the D132 to reach the village of Sainte-Catherine.
Contact
Phone : 04 73 72 05 95
Email : contact.saint-germain-lherm@vacances-livradois-forez.fr
Website : https://www.auvergne-livradois-forez.com/
Reception complements
For your own safety, always take a bottle of water, a hat, warm clothing and footwear suitable for walking.
Depending on weather conditions, certain itineraries are not recommended in bad weather (fog) or are not practicable, or even forbidden, during the winter season.
Some sites are fragile, so stay on the marked trails. Avoid picking wild flowers and disturbing wildlife. Pick up your garbage.
Animals are not allowed on some routes.
Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
1/ Take the D266 towards Le Vernet-la-Varenne as far as the cemetery. Then, along its boundary wall, climb the path for about 250 m. Turn left onto a track that joins the D266. Follow this road to the right. 250 m further on, take the left-hand track; cross the stream and climb up to Farges. In the hamlet, take the tarmac road which rises to the right and joins the D266. Follow this road to the right for about 100 m, then turn left onto a track towards Recolles. After approx. 600 m, take a track on the right which leads to the lower part of Recolles.
2/ You don't go through the whole hamlet of Recolles. Take the first track on the right, which runs for about 80 m. You will then come to a fork in the road (the blue PR for Sainte-Catherine goes off to the right). Take the left-hand path towards Edmesse. At this hamlet, follow the D266 to the left for 20 m, then turn immediately right onto the road; continue towards Vinfaud. At the edge of this hamlet, cross the D33 (you can make a return trip to the viewpoint indicator 300 m below, on the edge of the D33).
3/ Take the dirt track directly opposite, passing to the left of the water reservoir and heading into the forest. At the crossroads, turn right onto another track. After approx. 600 m, turn right onto a grassy path. Leave the forest at "Moulin à vent", where there is a sawmill. Once on the D702 (level with a stone cross), turn right onto the road to Lospeux, then slightly left down to Peslières.
4/ At the end of the village, opposite a cross, turn right onto a downhill track. Follow the first track on the right as far as the Gardet stream, which you cross. After a climb of around 800 m, you reach the hamlet of Viade. Take the D266 to the right, and 250 m further on, turn left onto a path that climbs. At Les Cotes, you're finally on level ground. The church of Sainte-Catherine-du-Fraisse is in sight at 800 m.
Proposed and managed by the Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme - PDIPR.
Animals
Yes. Dogs must be kept on a leash due to the presence of herds.
Data author
