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Discover Saint-Babel, a gem in Auvergne

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Welcome to Saint-Babel, Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne! This charming town offers a variety of activities and attractions to explore. Embark on discovering its rolling landscapes and pristine nature through various hiking routes, ideal for outdoor enthusiasts.

Strolling through the center of Saint-Babel, don't miss its unique Romanesque church steeple, a testament to a rich historical past. Lovers of ...
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Walking around Saint-babel

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Discover the nature of Saint-babel on foot.
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From fountains to washhouses
0 m

From fountains to washhouses

This walk will delight sports enthusiasts eager for vertical drops and contrasting paths. In Saint-Babel, a panoramic view of the Issoire basin and the cereal plain. This hike offers beautiful unobstructed views and crosses many small built heritage sites. Starting point - From the starting sign, at the foot of the city, follow the signs "Direction Table d'orientation", "Butte du Château". Climb to the top (360° view) of the site of Château d'Ybois. Go around the hill to the left and go down to the starting point. 1 - Take the direction of Sauxillanges. At the fountain, go down on the left rue des Charnats. Continue rue de l'Abattoir. Cross the road. Take the rue des Pageix and go down towards Bas Maisons (washhouse). Cross a small bridge and continue on the road to Les Fougères. At the fountain, turn left. At the fork, turn right, go through Suchère, to the left of Château de la Suchère (view of Nonette and Montcelet). 150 m after the houses, go down left on a grassy path to La Malcourtie. On the square (fountain), stay to the left and go down a stony path ignoring the street on the right. 50 m further on, turn to the right on a grassy path. At the crossroads with the road, continue opposite, then turn right onto the grassy path that leads to the first houses of Flat. Turn left and go to the D9. 2 - Take the D9 on the right, go past the fountain, turn left before the War Memorial, then go to the right of the church. Continue to the right, then to the left on the D9 for a few meters. Turn right on Chemin de la Pellière. When you arrive in Les Echallats, keep to the left. Take the first road on the left and continue straight ahead towards Les Escures. At the entrance to the hamlet, ignore the road on the left and the street on the right and walk along the houses. At the crow's feet, leave the road and take Les Eversins road. Climb (view of the Livradois). Pass in front of the Ybois castle. Go down to La Barberie (view of the Sancy massif and then Issoire), ignoring a path on the left. Just after La Barberie, take the first grassy road on the left. At the crossroads, continue in front. At the next intersection, turn right. Ignore the path on the right. At Les Escures, take the road on the left and follow it, ignoring the roads on the right and left. At the fork, go down to Naves. 3 - At the 1st street, turn right, take left on rue de la Fontaine. Place de la Fontaine (cross and fountain), turn right. Cross the Issoire road and go up the small street opposite. Continue along the steep path in the undergrowth. Turn right. At the Straw exit, take the road to the left. At the first road on the right, go down and at the first curve, turn left. Cross the Fumades. Take the road on the left towards La Laye, before the small bridge, leave the road and turn left, then immediately to the right, a long and ravine climb. At the crow's feet (cross), go down to the right by a road. Cross Roure by the main street (washhouse, fountains). At the next fountain, turn right. Continue on the road ignoring the right lane. After the bridge, turn left on the grassy road. Continue up to the road. Cross it and continue straight ahead until you reach the starting point.

5 h
16 km
Medium
Parking au "Poids de ville" Le Bourg 63500 Saint-Babel
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The Abbey of Bouschet
3.9 km

The Abbey of Bouschet

One of the most beautiful itineraries in the area, which offers a panoramic view over the entire region. From the village of Yronde-et-Buron and its bright arkose houses (blond stone), we travel south... and to the magnificent and nearby Forest of the Comté. Starting point - Cross the departmental road, take the "Chemin de l'Abbaye". At the bottom of the valley, cross the bridge and turn left. Go past the ruins of the Abbey of Bouschet (commemorative plaque), cross the D760 and go up in front. Take the first path on the left, first in the undergrowth and then in the middle of the vines up to a T-junction. 1 - Take the track which rises to the right. Leave the first path on the left (view on the castle of Buron, the hills of Lembron, the Cézallier, the Sancy massif, the Puys chain). At the crossroads of five paths, continue on the main path to the top of the hill. 2 - Turn right. Take the first road on the left at the level of a large scree, then the first road on the right which joins a road on the left to Yronde-et-Buron. After the first houses, turn right and take the street "Sous les Treilles" until you reach a crossroad (crossroads with other PRs). 3 - Take the small road on the right which goes down between gardens, go up leaving a path on the right up to a road. Turn right for about 400 m to reach another road. Take it to the right. 150 m further on, take the path on the left in the undergrowth, until the next crossing. 4 - Turn left up into the forest. At the T-junction, turn left. Leave a path successively to the left and then to the right. At the fork, after leaving the wood, turn right. At the next crossing, continue straight ahead (viewpoints: Livradois, Lembron, Cézallier, massif du Sancy and the Puys chain). Go down to the undergrowth, leave the first path on the left and go up to the right. The itinerary describes a wide loop on the right while going down quickly (views on the Val d'Allier, Issoire, Lembron and Cézallier). Continue, leaving a path on the right, until you reach a large T-junction. 5 - Turn to the right and continue on a good path which goes down towards Fontcrépon. Before the first houses, take a path on the left, cross the village and get back to the starting point.

4 h
12 km
Easy
Village de Fontcrépon - Parking à gauche 63270 Yronde-et-Buron
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The Citadel of Buron
6.4 km

The Citadel of Buron

A tour in a beautiful area between the Allier and the " Nid d'aigle " of Buron through a path that is both village-like and country-like, leading to the summit of the puy Rousset, from where you can overlook the ruins of a 13th century feudal castle. Nice views. Starting point - From the starting sign, go up rue de Chabonat (fire brigade). At the last house, the street becomes a path (view on the Sancy and Montpeyroux massif). Continue on this path, ignoring the right and left paths, until you reach the entrance of the village of Buron (passage near an old washhouse). 1 - Go up the street to the left and ignore the path of the Buron fountain. Go up the main street for 30 m, turn right into rue de Fontbuisson and go up rue de la Forge to the main street. Take it on the right for 150 m, go through the car park and go up on the left towards the church. To the right, go down the path under the wall. Ignore the dead end on the left and turn left. At the Buron exit sign, at the fork, turn left onto the D 760. In Les Verdiers, go down the main street to the right. 30 m before the Calvary, turn right on Chemin de Largeleix. At the cemetery, continue to the left to enter Yronde. At the crossroads take the rue de l'Horloge on the left. Walk along the church and take the path of the Vias. Take the left track (other yellow PR on the right) to go up to the intersection (cross). 2 - Go straight ahead, ignoring the right and left paths, then continue straight ahead until you reach a crossing on the plateau. 3 - Turn left (radio relay / 180° panorama on the Cézallier, Sancy, Chaîne des Puys) and continue until the road. Follow it on the right for 50 m and then take the first road on the left. At the first intersection go down on the left. At the road, go opposite and follow the D 760 for 50 m. At the metal cross, take the right track. At the first intersection, turn left and continue straight ahead until you reach a crossroads of 5 paths. 4 - Go up in front then stay on the left on a grassy path. At a cross, go straight ahead (view of Montpeyroux). At the entrance to the village of Parent, at a fountain, go down to the left. At the next fountain, follow the direction of the VVF, on the left to return to the starting point.

3 h
12 km
Easy
Parking à droite au dessus du village-vacances 63270 Parent
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The Puy Neyrand
7 km

The Puy Neyrand

From Sauvagnat, a former Carolingian courtyard, we progress on the slopes of the Puy de Neyrand with long rows of lavender blending with orchards and beautiful vegetable gardens in front of wealthy houses dating back to before the phylloxera crisis. Starting point - At the top of the square, take the Trézins path. Go up to the first track on the left. 1 - Follow it towards the grove. At the top of the hill take the small path on the left, access to "Puy Neyrand": AR 20 minutes (view on Chaîne des Puys, Sancy and Cézallier). On the way back, continue the balcony trail (view of St Yvoine, Issoire, Le Livradois), and go down to a T-intersection. 2 - Go to the left. Before the power line, go down the path on the right. At the crow's feet, follow the grassy path down towards the valley until you reach the D 712. 3 - Go down this road for 100 m. Turn right before the bridge. Cross a garden area. When you arrive at rue J. Aujame, immediately turn left onto chemin de la Tarraie until you reach the first path on the left. 4 - Follow it to the top (Racoulat rock), turn off towards the two pylons and turn immediately to the left to go down towards Sauvagnat. Go up rue de la Dray then rue de la Conche. At the fountain, go down rue du Bac. Turn left into the main street. Place de la Fontaine, enter the Fort district. Turn left into a dead end and then turn right. Go up the stairs, take the rue de l'Eglise on the right and then on the left and then turn left again to return to the starting car park.

2 h
6.5 km
Very easy
2 Place du Creux-de-la-Grave 63500 Sauvagnat-Sainte-Marthe
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The Valley of Civadoux
7.6 km

The Valley of Civadoux

We discover the remains of a great clunisian priory where four popes stayed. The walk continues in the narrow gorges of the Chaméane valley with views of the puys mountain range, Sancy, Cézallier, Allier valley and Forez. Starting point - From the starting sign at the bottom of the car park, go down the main street. Turn left, cross the Place de l'Ancienne Poste, follow the rue des Coufferts. Cross the bridge (bief or "béal"), take opposite the Petite rue des Coufferts then turn left on the D214 for 200 m and then left again on the D144, go up the road on the left (view on Sauxillanges, Val d'Allier, puy de Dôme, massif du Sancy) and continue until the D144. 1 - Take the D144 to the right. After the transformer, turn left on a steep slope through the woods. At the T-junction, turn left. At the crossroads, turn right towards Ventre. Enter the hamlet from the left. Go down the first path on the left until you reach the fork of the pond. 2 - Turn to the right and then immediately to the left. At the bottom of the valley, cross the stream wading. Go up to the right in the woods. After the clearing, walk along a softwood forest. At the road, turn left towards Chabreyras (view of the Puys chain). Cross the hamlet while staying to the left, then turn left into a wide dirt road. Ignore the side roads up to the D144. 3 - Turn left for 200 m. Turn right into a forest road. At the fork, go left. Follow the path on a steep slope towards the Chaméane river. Cross the wooden bridge and the D49 at Civadoux. Walk between the hostel buildings (old oat mill) and up into the woods. At the intersection, turn right. Go along pastures (view of the Dômes mountains and the Sancy massif). At the exit of the hamlet of Bonnefont, go down the road on the left until you reach the D706. 4 - Go to the right and at the hairpin bend take the road on the left that leads to Saint-Quentin-sur-Sauxillanges. Cross the road and then the square, pass the church (Romanesque church with bell tower) and go straight ahead in the path below which runs along a surrounding wall, ignore the adjacent paths. At La Coierie, turn right on the D49 for 20 m, turn left, cross the footbridge over the Chaméane stream and follow the path on the right. Go down the wooden staircase on the right, cross the bridge downstream of the confluence of the streams of Astrou and Chaméane, continue following the Eau-Mère. In Sauxillanges continue straight on the same road and at the end of the dead end go to the right rue des Tanneries, find rue des Coufferts on the right and get back to the starting point.

5 h
15 km
Medium
Place du 8 Mai 63490 Sauxillanges
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The Queen Margot’s path - The walks of Léa and Tino
8.3 km

The Queen Margot’s path - The walks of Léa and Tino

Usson, classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France, was strongly influenced by Queen Margot, who stayed there for a long time. From the summit, you can enjoy an exceptional panoramic view of the Puys mountain range, the Sancy massif and the Livradois-Forez mountains. Starting point - Facing the starting sign, go to the right. Climb a few steps, take the path in the park, then the stairs. In the village, facing a wall, turn left (direction historical centre) and go down the rue des Condamines. Pass the Tourist Information Point and turn right into rue de la Mairie. Continue straight ahead and turn left into rue de l'Église Saint Maurice. Go to the square in front of it. 1 - Turn right, go past the War Memorial and then go up immediately to the left (chicane and stone steps). Continue on this landscaped path up to the top of the hill (statue of the Virgin Mary, 360° view: Livradois-Forez, Margeride, Chaîne du Sancy et des Dômes). 2 - Go down on the other side of the hill by the path that starts with basalt stones until you reach the path used for the ascent. Go to the right and, at the stone chicane, go opposite towards a grassy area. Walk past large organs and a water tower to reach the asphalt road. 3 - Go to the left ("Tour de la butte, remparts "), go down between the houses. At the bend, take the path to the left, go up on the road (view on the Monts du Forez and Sauxillanges) and pass between the remains of the feudal castle. Go up the rue de l'Église St Maurice, go down to the right of the porch and cross the grassy square (place de Jaude). Continue opposite, turn right then left on rue de l'Echanson. Turn right and go down to the left to reach the starting point.

1 h
2.5 km
Very easy
Parking en bas du village 63490 Usson
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What to do in Saint-babel

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Explore the many bookable activities in Saint-babel and make the most of every moment.
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What to visit in Saint-babel

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Discover the local markets of Saint-babel.
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The Shire Forest
4.5 km

The Shire Forest

Recognized as one of the richest forests in Auvergne, the Comté forest is a Sensitive Natural Area, unique for the diversity of its flora and fauna. Hiking trails are available to discover these natural treasures. Recognized as one of the richest forests in Auvergne, the Comté forest is an Espace Naturel Sensible (ENS - ens.puy-de-dome.fr/nos-actions.html), unique for the diversity of its flora and fauna. Hiking trails are available to discover these natural treasures. This emblematic forest, the largest lowland oak grove in Auvergne, is also the first and largest site acquired by the Département when it set up its Espace Naturel Sensible policy, and now covers more than 610 ha. The Comté forest covers a total area of 1,500 ha. Bordered to the west by the Allier valley and to the east by the granite plateaux of the Livradois, it is one of the most diverse and floristically rich massifs in France. The Comté massif stretches across several buttes belonging to Europe's oldest volcanic complex (-25 million years), such as the Pic du Cheix Blanc (817 m altitude), the Pic de Dimond (734 m) and the Pic des Fleurides (676 m). The area's geographical location and geological and historical past are factors that explain the great diversity of habitats (varied forest stands, gully forests, residual alluvial forests, pioneer grasslands on rocky domes....). In fact, the Comté forest is home to a wealth of flora: for example, the knotty cranesbill, a mountain species that reaches its northern limit on national territory in this forest. And four protected species: the martagon lily, the superb carnation, the pulsatilla anemone and the red cephalanthemum. The forest's wealth of flora is matched by a remarkable wealth of fauna, including large wild animals (deer, wild boar, foxes), small mammals (bats: Daubenton's murin), birds (buzzard, red kite, pileated woodpecker), insects and amphibians, with emblematic species such as the spotted salamander and yellow-bellied sounder, both considered rare and threatened in France. The Conseil Départemental offers a program of events, some of which take place at the Forêt de la Comté with the ENS.

Maison des espaces naturels Route départementale 225 63270 Sallèdes
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Issoire, “Most beautiful detour of France”
7 km

Issoire, “Most beautiful detour of France”

Issoire is a member of the “Most beautiful detours of France” association, which gathers almost 100 cities proud of their character and heritage. This membership is comforted by the label of the Flowered City, with a classification of 3 flowers region-wide. The town centre, with its coloured frontages, is to discover walking. The Romanesque abbey-church (masterpiece of the Romanesque art), the Nicolas Pomel’s centre, the Réné Cassin’s square, the Republic place with its beautiful frontages from the Renaissance and the 18th century, the Clock Tower, the Jean Prouvé area; all these monuments are major stopping places for people who want to combine discovery and culture. On the evening, the city lights up to let people see countless architectural details. Thanks to the presence of numerous reaches that supply the city in water and that serve supplying fountains, gardens Issoire has a thick water system. A “Green Slide” has been fitted out along the Couze Pavin in order to protect the fauna and flora in that green area. Easy to reach for pedestrians and cyclists, it links up the historical heart of Issoire to the sports and play activities area of the Mas. The Couze, long of 46.7 km, takes its source in the Sancy mounts and ends up with the Allier River at the level of Issoire. It is well-known for trout fishing. *the word Couze refers to all the small rivers going down from volcanic mountains and ending up in Allier River.

7 Place Altaroche 63500 Issoire
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Where to eat in Saint-babel

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Where to sleep in Saint-babel

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Caution!
We have no information on the difficulty of this circuit. You may encounter some surprises along the way. Before you go, please feel free to inquire more and take all necessary precautions. Have a good trip! 🌳🥾