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The Châteauneuf caves
Description
Ancient troglodytic dwellings crown the puy de Châteauneuf. These caves were carved out of the volcanic tuff by human hands. At the summit, the foundations of an ancient castle are visible. The view takes in the whole valley.
Technical Information
Altimetric profile
Starting point
Additional information
Distinctions
Listed PDIPR
Tips
- The Romanesque church of Saint-Nectaire.
- Lake Chambon.
- Murol and its castle.
- The Sancy massif.
- Off the beaten track: menhir and dolmen.
- View of Saint-Nectaire and the Châteauneuf caves.
- Nearby troglodyte house.
Updated by
Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme - 02/06/2026
www.puydedome-tourisme.com/
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Environments
In the country
Mountain view
Troglodyte site
Presence of livestock and guard dogs
Open period
From 01/01 to 31/12 daily.
Subject to favorable weather.
Contact
Phone : 04 73 88 50 86
Email : otsancy-accueil@sancy.com
Website : https://www.sancy.com/decouvrir/toutes-les-communes/saint-nectaire/
Location complements
In Saint-Nectaire. Parking lot opposite the entrance to the Cornadore caves. The starting sign is on the D996, next to the footbridge.
Topo guides and map references
Topo guides references :
2013 - Randonnez-vous - Discovering the Puy-de-Dôme - Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme.
2019 - Randos volcans - Discovering the Puy-de-Dôme - Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme.
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/ From the parking lot, head towards the church of Saint-Nectaire-le-Haut. After 50 m, take the stairs, then a street to the right, until you reach the church square (Romanesque church). Go down towards the town hall and take the first street on the left, which leads to the Châteauneuf caves. At the fork in the road, turn right up the hill, then right around a pine forest. Climb up to a clearing.
2/ Continue (towards Lac Chambon and Murol), leaving the path on the right (view of Murol castle and the Sancy massif). Pass the stepladder to enter the pastures and climb up to the cross.
3/ After the second stepladder, cross the meadow to the left. Continue along the track and, at the T-junction, turn right onto a partly tarmac road as far as a bend, from where two paths lead off (off the road to the left: menhir and dolmen).
4/ Take the right-hand path and climb to the top of the puy de Châteauneuf. Climb back down the wooden steps (near the troglodyte house), (view of Saint-Nectaire and the Châteauneuf caves). At the crossroads, turn left and take the winding path back to the clearing (point 1). Return to the church square and the starting point along the same route as the outward journey.
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
