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The five villages
Description
A loop where you can stroll through the 5 villages and where each of them keeps a precious testimony of the past (churches, oppidum, castle...). The path passes from valley to valley and reveals the Dauphiné d'Auvergne and the mountains that border it.
Starting point - From the starting sign, at the back of the castle take the Tourzel road on the right. After the stream follow the alley to Meilhaud's first house. Turn left for 10 m and follow the wall to the right. Continue along rue du Pré Clos. At the tipping point turn left until you reach the fountain.
1 - Turn right into rue des Remparts, then rue d'Antaillat. At the end of the village go straight ahead and climb the Way of the Cross. On the plateau take the grassy path to the left. At the intersection, continue to the right (panorama on the puy d'Ysson, the Sancy massif, the puy de Lavelle, the villages of Chidrac, Saint-Cirques-sur-Couze and Meilhaud). Go beyond the large dry stone walls and continue until you reach the wide stone path.
2 - Turn right on it. At the road go down the wide path to the left (view of the Livradois-Forez mountains and the hillock of Vodable). Cross the Gripet stream and climb to Ronzières. At the intersection, under the farm, turn left and at the sewage treatment plant go up to the right towards the village centre. Continue along rue du Coudrat to the church (Romanesque church) and its enclosure (orientation table).
3 - Exit through the porch, go around the small tower and the church (oppidum) on the right. Go down the path to the left along the fence. At the crossroads in the woods turn right. At the exit of the wood turn left. In view of the Gripet stream, turn left and cross the bridge. Go up to the village of Tourzel. At the fork take the stairs to the left and turn right immediately. Cross the village by the rue du Dauphiné d'Auvergne to a fork at the exit.
4 - Turn left, continue straight ahead, leaving a path on the right. At the T-junction, take the wide road on the right, and continue down to Saint-Vincent. On the asphalt road take opposite rue de la Cure. At the crossroads, turn right into rue des Fontaines and then rue du Mas. At the exit of Saint-Vincent continue on the main road. At a fire hydrant go left, rue de la Tour Madame to enter Saint-Cirgues-sur-Couze and join the castle (Château de l'Anglade, 18th century).
Technical Information
Altimetric profile
Starting point
Additional information
Tips
- Panoramic views of Puy d'Ysson and Lavelle.
- Views over the villages of Chidrac, Saint-Cirques-sur-Couze and Meilhaud.
- Views of the Livradois-Forez mountains, the Sancy massif and the Vodable hillock.
- Ronzières: Romanesque church and enclosure (orientation table).
- 18th-century Château de l'Anglade in Saint-Cirgues-sur-Couze.
Updated by
Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme - 02/06/2026
www.puydedome-tourisme.com/
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Environments
In the country
Presence of livestock and guard dogs
Distinctions
Listed PDIPR
Open period
From 01/01 to 31/12 daily.
Subject to favorable weather.
Location complements
At Champeix, follow signs for Issoire, then Chidrac on the D23. Follow signs for Saint-Floret to Saint-Cirgues-sur-Couze. Parking lot in front of the château.
Contact
Phone : 04 73 89 15 90
Email : tourisme@capissoire.fr
Website : http://www.issoire-tourisme.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/ From the start sign, with your back to the château, turn right onto the Tourzel road. After the stream, follow the driveway to the first house in Meilhaud. Turn left for 10 m, then right along the wall. Continue along rue du Pré Clos. At the weighbridge, turn left as far as the fountain.
2/ Turn right into rue des Remparts, then rue d'Antaillat. At the end of the village, go straight on up the Chemin de la Croix. On the plateau, take the grassy path to the left. At the crossroads, turn right (panoramic view of the puy d'Ysson, the Sancy massif, the puy de Lavelle, the villages of Chidrac, Saint-Cirques-sur-Couze and Meilhaud). Pass the large dry-stone walls and continue on to the wide gravel path.
3/ Turn right. At the road, take the wide track on the left (view of the Livradois-Forez mountains and the Vodable hillock). Cross the Gripet stream and climb up to Ronzières. At the crossroads, under the farmhouse, turn left and, at the water treatment plant, turn right towards the village center. Continue along rue du Coudrat to the church (Romanesque) and its enclosure (orientation table).
4/ Exit through the porch, skirting the small tower and church (oppidum) on the right. Go down the path to the left along the fence. At the crossroads in the woods, turn right. At the end of the wood, turn left. At the Gripet stream, turn left and cross the bridge. Go up into the village of Tourzel. At the fork in the road, turn left up the stairs and then immediately right. Drive through the village on Rue du Dauphiné d'Auvergne until you reach a fork in the road.
5/ Turn left, then straight on, leaving a track on the right. At the T-junction, take the wide track on the right, and continue downhill to reach Saint-Vincent. At the asphalt road, turn right into rue de la Cure. At the crossroads, turn right into rue des Fontaines, then rue du Mas. On leaving Saint-Vincent, continue on the main road. At the hydrant, turn left into rue de la Tour Madame to enter Saint-Cirgues-sur-Couze and reach the château (château de l'Anglade, 18th century).
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
