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Saint-Gervazy
Description
An abundance of images awaits us on this tour: medieval winegrowing villages, fields of red earth, the magnificent lime of Montcelet and a watchtower in a savannah decor. Nearby, Lake of the Prior and castle of Collanges.
Starting point - From the starting sign, Place de l'Église in Vichel, go to the back of the car park, behind the church, and turn left into Rue de la Croix Vieille. Go up in the village to the crow's feet at the end of the village.
1 - Follow a stone path on the right (on the plateau, at the picnic car park, nice view over the valley and the peaks of Nonette and Usson). Ignore the small paths and go down towards the village of Collanges while staying on the right. Go straight through the village of Collanges until you reach the town hall. Take the road to the left towards the cross. Turn right under the cemetery and then take a path on the left about 200 m after leaving the village until you reach the crow's feet.
2 - Go up the path to the left. At the crossing on the plateau, continue straight ahead until the road.
3 - Go to the right until the village of Saint-Gervazy, go up the asphalt road called the Moncelet on the left, in front of the bridge (beautiful outcrop of red earth. At mid-coast, view of the village of Augnat and the Couze d'Ardes valley). Continue straight ahead until you reach a crossroads.
4 - Turn left, continue for 100 m and take a right path through oaks and junipers (arrived on the plateau, point of view on the Puys chain). Cross the plateau towards the hilltop of Montcelet (astonishing "savannah" landscape) until you reach a crossroads.
5 - Turn right on the grassy path and follow the sign "Butte de Montcelet" until you reach the entrance to the woods.
6 - Leave the path on the left that goes up to the hill and continue until you leave the woods. Follow a trail through a dry meadow that extends into the woods (water tower on the left). At the crossing, go down the path on the right to reach the starting point.
Technical Information
Altimetric profile
Starting point
Steps
Additional information
Tips
- Church at Vichel.
- View of the valley and the Nonette and Usson peaks.
- View of the Chaîne des Puys and the Butte de Montcelet (astonishing "savannah" landscape).
Updated by
Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme - 03/06/2026
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
From Issoire, head for Saint-Germain-Lembron. In Saint-Germain-Lembron, turn left onto the D909 towards Morlat, then after 4 km turn right into the village of Vichel.
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 at Place de l'Église in Vichel, go to the back of the parking lot, behind the church, and turn left into Rue de la Croix Vieille. Go up through the village to the crow's-foot at the exit.
2/ Follow a gravel path to the right (on the plateau, at the picnic area, there's a lovely view of the valley and the Nonette and Usson peaks). Ignore the small paths and descend towards the village of Collanges, keeping to the right. Go straight through Collanges village to the town hall. Turn left towards the cross. Turn right under the cemetery, then left about 200 m after leaving the village as far as the crow's-foot.
3/ Take the left-hand track. At the crossroads on the plateau, go straight on to the road.
4/ Turn right as far as the village of Saint-Gervazy, and climb the tarmac track known as the Moncelet to the left, opposite the bridge (beautiful red earth outcrop). Halfway up the hill, you'll see the village of Augnat and the Couze d'Ardes valley). Continue straight ahead to the crossroads.
5/ Turn left, continue for 100 m, then take a path to the right through oaks and junipers (on the plateau, view of the Puys range). Cross the plateau towards the butte du Montcelet (amazing "savannah" landscape) to a crossroads.
6/ Turn right onto the grassy path and follow the sign "butte de Montcelet" until you enter the woods.
7/ Leave the path leading up to the mound on your left and continue until you reach the end of the wood. Follow a track through a dry meadow, which continues on a path through the woods (water tower on left). At the crossroads, take the right-hand path down to the starting point.
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
