Discover Leyvaux, Cantal, Auvergne's attractions

From Blesle, we walk through the gorges of the Apcher stream, in settings that inspire the world’s end, immersing the walker in a preserved environment with intact fauna and flora. In the village of Leyvaux, time seems to have stopped. Starting point - Take a wide track opposite when looking at the starting sign. Leave a path on the right and continue down to the edge of the cliff (view of Montfouat, Monts du Livradois, du Devès, vallée de Leyvaux, plateau d'Anliac, Margeride, in the foreground the vallée des Trois Sauts). 1 - Turn right to continue the descent in bends on a balcony path up to the lowest point of the valley. The path crosses the Saroil stream and goes up for about sixty meters before descending to the village of Leyvaux (church with combed bell tower and porch). 2 - Leave the church on the left, take a wide path on the right and continue up the hill in front in the undergrowth. At a fork in the locality "Les Gorges d'Apcher" take the right track, direction Saroil. Go along the steep slopes of the Apcher gorges to the footbridge. 3 - Leave a path on the left (alternative in case of high water) and take a path on the right along the stream (former antimony mines). Cross a second footbridge and start a steep climb up to Sagnes (view of the Livradois, Devès and Margeride mountains). Immediately after the last house, turn right into a path between dry stone walls. Continue until you reach Saroil. 4 - In the village take a path on the left after an old transformer (old gabled houses with stepped gables, stone roofs). Leave the village. At the next crossing turn right (view of Anzat-le-Luguet and signal of Luguet). Continue straight ahead until you reach the start.

Cette balade au cœur des gorges du ruisseau d’Apcher, milieu très préservé, d’une richesse faunique et floristique majeure, vous mènera au village de Leyvaux. L’Eglise et son majestueux clocher à peigne vous surprendront.

A short and easy itinerary, despite a few steep inclines, that leads along the 2 sides of the Bave valley and in the footsteps of the old buronniers. You'll discover the ruins of some very old burons, the "tracs", in a beautiful summer pasture area.

One of the most beautiful hikes in the department, winding through the glacial cirque of Artout and the sumptuous, wild and authentic landscapes of the Cézallier. Not to be missed!

Après s’être hissé au-dessus de Laurie, le randonneur appréciera le charme d’un parcours plat et reposant avec un panorama circulaire : Mont Journal, Brèche de Giniol, Suc de Védrines. Une halte au tumulus du Chouquet apporte une touche d’archéologie.

Petit circuit au relief très varié. La roche du renard se dissimule en début de parcours pour se dresser inattendu derrière vous ! Vues plongeantes dans la vallée de la Sianne…

Quand les roches sont mystérieuses et qu’elles s’en prennent aux fillettes… La tradition orale des légendes est encore bien vivante ! Profitez du panorama sur la Margeride et les 3 Sucs, puis de la Tour de Colombine.

Après le moulin où l’on fabriquait l’huile et la farine, et Auriac-haut, point fort architectural du circuit, les murets en pierres sèches vous escortent puis laissent place aux sentiers plus abrupts des gorges du ruisseau de l’Eglise.

Découvrez le charme de la végétation du Bois d’Anliac, de beaux points de vue sur la vallée de la Sianne et le hameau du Bouchet, à présent déserté par ses héros gallo-romains ou médiévaux.

The high plateaus of the Cézallier massif seduce lovers of the great wild spaces with pastures, valleys, streams and peatlands. The path opens the horizon to the volcanoes of the Puys chain, the Sancy and Cantal massifs. Starting point – Below the starting sign, take the road to Le Buffier. At the farm, go down and follow the path on the left. At the crow's feet, stay on the left until you reach an intersection. Turn right (PV1- view of the Forez, Devès and Margeride mountains). The path goes around the Rocher d'Aulhat, then down to the Artoux glacial cirque (PV2). After crossing a stream, the trail reaches the bottom of the circus. At the intersection, turn right and, 30 m later, go down on the left. After the stream, go up to the road (off course, right on the road, AR 200 m, information sign). 1 - Cross it and go up on the right leaving the GR and the direction of Luguet. At the first constructions encountered, turn right into a path. Go past all the houses, go straight up. At a fork, turn right. Before a small solid shelter near the woods, turn right for about 500 metres. 2 - Leave the path to climb a step ladder on the right. Through the pastures, follow on your right the fence overlooking the circus (PV3). Cross a new step ladder and immediately turn left following the fence. After a third step ladder, go straight ahead until you reach the edge of the woods. Follow it on the left, for about 750 m (PV4: panorama on the Cantal mountains, Sancy and the Dome range). At an intersection, turn left following a fence to reach a wide road. 3 - Take it to the right, pass between the woods of Cézalier and the Croix des Champs and the Signal du Luguet. Go down and take the road on the left for 100 m. Turn right into a summer trail, follow the fence until you reach the finish line.

The Parc Animalier d'Auvergne is a unique reserve for rare and endangered species, with a European reputation. Over a 45-hectare area, you can learn about biodiversity and discover almost 350 rare and endangered animals of 60 different species. Come and meet snow panthers, red pandas, wolverines, tigers, Amur panthers, takins, bears, Rothschild's giraffes, Hartmann's zebras, primates, two-toed sloths, dholes, pygmy hippos, cheetahs and, more generally, 350 rare and endangered animals! The Park is set in an exceptional natural site, where you can admire many incredible views over the Cézallier and discover the various actions put in place for animal welfare and species conservation, while visiting a site that is proving its difference on a European scale. Indeed, the Parc Animalier d'Auvergne stands out in many respects: it is the European park most involved in the conservation of rare and endangered species, with over 80% of the species it hosts being part of a European breeding program. The first park to house Thorold's deer, it also boasts Europe's largest enclosure for Amur panthers. The park was also behind the creation of Science Nature, an association dedicated to ethology, and Biodiv'Educ, another association dedicated to learning about biodiversity through new technologies. Unique mixed-use enclosures and a wide range of immersive activities enable visitors to familiarize themselves with the animals (family safaris, special encounters, vacation courses, etc.). A must-see!

From wine tasting to vineyard walks, come and spend a convivial moment at Domaine Sauvat. Annie, an artisan winemaker, will share her expertise and passion for wine with you in a unique and intimate setting. In the heart of the volcanic landscapes of the Auvergne, I welcome every visitor to Domaine Sauvat as a privileged guest. I'm Annie, and I'm passionate about sharing my terroir and my love of Pinot Noir. I like to take the time to talk, tell and share, whether it's during a free wine tasting all year round at the domaine or a walk through my vineyards. I grow three cuvées of Pinot Noir from our volcanic soil: Anthocyane, a delicate, fruity red, Nymphéa, a more intense, structured red, and Eolia, an airy, gourmet rosé. Each of these cuvées tells a part of my story and that of this unique terroir. In 2026, I've come up with new ways for you to experience the estate. You'll be able to take part in yoga sessions in the vineyards, listen to storytelling walks, learn the art of dowsing, enjoy a romantic starlit evening in the heart of the vineyard or come to an aperitif concert... I want every moment spent here to be an authentic, simple and memorable interlude. I'm also proud that the estate has been awarded the Qualidog, Vignobles & Découvertes and Bienvenue à la Ferme labels, recognizing the value of our welcome, our commitment and the quality of our experiences. I invite you to find me on Facebook and Instagram to follow the life of the estate and discover our upcoming events. I look forward to sharing a warm moment with you.

The Auberge de l'Allagnonette welcomes you to a building full of character. The chef prepares delicious dishes: millefeuille of black pudding with foie gras, duck breast with red fruit, etc. Regional dishes: cantal tart, pounti, truffade, tripoux.

The Hôtel d'Aureilhe (old château de Villeneuve), residence of the Aureilhe de Villeneuve family in the 15th and 16th centuries, is a fortified medieval perimeter that bears architectural witness to the rise of the nobility in feudal Lembron. It features : - An early 11th-century keep, a square tower surrounded by a first enclosure, of which fine remains have been found, and from the top of which you can admire an exceptional panorama. - The mansion itself, a 15th-century seigniorial palace. - The second enclosure and the 16th-century main buildings currently being restored. The building is listed on the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments. The renovations were carried out with the help of the French government, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and the Puy de Dôme department.

Built at the end of the Middle Ages, this château contains some of the most extraordinary furniture and painted decor from the 16th and 17th centuries, a dazzling illustration of the medieval and early Renaissance imagination. 1-hour guided tour only. Château de Villeneuve-Lembron is a seigniorial residence built at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. Reflecting a period of transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the building shows the importance and wealth that the lord of Villeneuve, Rigaud d'Aureille, derived from royal favor, thanks in particular to the preserved furniture and painted decorations. Rigaud d'Aureille (c. 1450-1517), Baron de Villeneuve, was an important figure who enjoyed many privileges. Captain and butler to the king, he earned the trust of the sovereigns and was entrusted with diplomatic missions. The residence he had built away from the old family mansion where he was born was a vast quadrilateral flanked by massive towers and surrounded by deep moats. The lord did not hesitate to depict himself in murals illustrating "dits", short plays with a moral or satirical tone. At the beginning of the 16th century, the land of Villeneuve became a barony and belonged to the Montmorin family. Gaspard de Montmorin embellished the château with a large-scale painted decor, of which some remarkable examples remain in the ceremonial hall and large stables. In 1643, Villeneuve-Lembron was acquired by Isaac Dufour, Treasurer of France, who transformed the inner courtyard, added a porticoed gallery and decorated the ceilings and fireplaces on the second floor. His descendants, who remained in the castle until the end of the 18th century, sold it to the Pélissier de Féligonde family, who kept it until 1919. By decree of May 25, 1926, the château was classified as a Historic Monument. The last owner, Georges Tixier, donated it to the French government in 1937, which undertook its restoration. It is currently managed by the Centre des Monuments Nationaux.

Formerly the Hôtel de Sous-préfecture, this 16th-century building belonged to the Teilhard Laterrisse family. Today, the 4-level Maison de la Faune showcases animal collections of rare quality, presented in reconstructed biotopes. The sub-prefecture of Murat was abolished in 1926, and the building became the Maison de la Faune: this magnificent 16th-century mansion houses over 8,000 species of insects, butterflies and beetles from all over the world, dazzling you with their beauty. There's also a splendid naturalized heritage to discover, with almost 800 mammals and birds presented in reconstituted biotopes. The animals are presented in their natural environment, all with sound.

Sound and light effects taking you through the gallery of pictures enabling you to relive moments from the resistance and the deportation, illustrating how some of the people of Murat survived in the concentration camp during the war. Not advised for the under twelve years old.

In the commune of Anzat-le-Luguet, in the heart of the Cézallier, the late 12th-century Besse tower was built on a pile of rock with a square cross-section, and played a defensive role. Completely restored in 2025, it offers a breathtaking panorama. Built in the second half of the 12th century and completed in the 13th, it played a defensive role in the area. Built on a rocky outcrop, it was defended by a moat and an embankment. It features a square floor plan and a system of barrel vaults (typical of the Romanesque seigneurial towers of southern Auvergne). Since 2005, it has been the property of the commune, including the ditches and embankment, and was completely restored in 2025. The exterior is visible and freely accessible. The interior is very cramped, and can only be reached via a narrow, steep staircase and ladder.

Located at the heart of Cezallier, this endless pasture territory was, in the past, a beech forest and a plantation that was destroyed by clearings and that disappeared in the Middle Ages. Nowadays, this territory is mainly dedicated to pastures and therefore to mountain summer pasture for bovine farming, that’s why there are mountain houses, called “burons”. Tourism expands itself little by little thanks to winter sports, this territory being really favourable towards doing northern ski and hiking with snowshoes (northern domain of Parrot). The Signal du Luguet, made of volcanic rock, is the high point. It saw the light with solidified lava flows, eroded by glaciers. There, there is an unique panorama on the whole territory. Below, you will discover one of the most beautiful valleys of the Massif-Central: the corrie of Artoux, where we still can find moraines on the sides.

The most interesting in Anzat-le-Luguet: La forge du Luguet. A “medieval” blacksmith will take you to the heart of logic filling with life the forge. Phone number : 04.73.71.74.10.

Guides by the blacksmith, you will enter into the workings of the forge. The visit will finish with a demonstration with the fire. The forge is located in a hamlet in the heart of the Cézallier region. The visit, led by the blacksmith, lasts around 1 hour. A store displays the blacksmith's creations as well as other products, and offers crêpes and drinks to enjoy on the panoramic terrace.

At the extreme south of the Puy-de-Dôme, the Luguet signal is the highest point of the Cézallier mountains (1551 metres). It offers a spectacular panoramic view of the Cantal, the Sancy massif and the Livradois mountains. The "Signal du Luguet" is the highest peak of the mounts of Cézallier at 1551m. It corresponds to old lava lakes formed 5 million years ago. The erosion erased the reliefs that overlooked them and the rock found itself in a culminating position. Below, at the east, you can see the crater of Artout. It’s one of the most beautiful glacier valleys of the Massif Central. 20 000 years ago, the snow mopped up by the winds coming from the west accrues at the east. It formed a glacier owing to the weak exposition to sun. We still can find moraines on the slopes. From the hamlet of Parrot, it is possible to go around the "Signal du Luguet". It is a 7,2km hike offering a round trip to the top of the highest peak of the Cézallier, count 2H30 to do the tour. In winter, this hike is also possible with snowshoes.

On the course of the Zauze river, a few kilometers from the village of Apchat, the Gour d'appat waterfall is accessible by a pretty shaded path. The particularity of this site lies in the curious way in which the water smoothed the granitic rock. Geological origin: the world “gour” is an old world referring to deep hollows full of water, formed along rivers. The particularity of this site is the curious way that water hollowed out the granitic rock. The walls are hollowed out, smoothed, curved, and forming a kind of “raised” chapel where water springs in a waterfall. Beforehand, the river is punctuated with “witch pots”, “giant pots” (kind of holes in the rock). Origin of the name: before, people used to fish in these holes, dropping bundle of sticks into the water, with baits in the middle. Pulling them out, crayfishes were trapped, hence maybe the name “gour d’appat” because of “gour des appâts” (baits hole).

La Belle endormie" is strangely solitary, lost in the grasslands of a plateau 1100 meters above sea level, above the Sianne valley. This 11th-century Romanesque jewel is in the purest condition, free of any plaster or whitewash.

The Parc Animalier d'Auvergne is a unique reserve for rare and endangered species, with a European reputation. Over a 45-hectare area, you can learn about biodiversity and discover almost 350 rare and endangered animals of 60 different species. Come and meet snow panthers, red pandas, wolverines, tigers, Amur panthers, takins, bears, Rothschild's giraffes, Hartmann's zebras, primates, two-toed sloths, dholes, pygmy hippos, cheetahs and, more generally, 350 rare and endangered animals! The Park is set in an exceptional natural site, where you can admire many incredible views over the Cézallier and discover the various actions put in place for animal welfare and species conservation, while visiting a site that is proving its difference on a European scale. Indeed, the Parc Animalier d'Auvergne stands out in many respects: it is the European park most involved in the conservation of rare and endangered species, with over 80% of the species it hosts being part of a European breeding program. The first park to house Thorold's deer, it also boasts Europe's largest enclosure for Amur panthers. The park was also behind the creation of Science Nature, an association dedicated to ethology, and Biodiv'Educ, another association dedicated to learning about biodiversity through new technologies. Unique mixed-use enclosures and a wide range of immersive activities enable visitors to familiarize themselves with the animals (family safaris, special encounters, vacation courses, etc.). A must-see!

Located at the South of Ardes-sur-Couze, Apchat has a spring called “Chassolle”, or “Gour d’Appât”. The place has been fitted out at the suggestion of the Protective association of the Areas and Landscapes of Auvergne. This small spring has a weak flow and is not a lot mineralized. In the past, it was called “Eyes spring” because it was visited by the local population who suffered eye disease. For several years, it was the headquarters of a small commercial company, but it was soon abandoned because of its weak flow and its isolation.

In the Cézallier, in the hamlet of Jassy, you can find this little waterfall on the Couze of Ardes.

Specialties include grilled meats and regional dishes: pounti, truffade, Auvergne platters and tasting platters, all served in a bright, open-plan dining room, under a covered terrace or in the open air.

Refrigerated gourmet racks with specialties from Auvergne and other regions. Sweet gourmet racks. Open 24 hours a day.

Menu based on fresh seasonal produce. Licence IV.

In the heart of the Cézallier, magnificent, fully restored buron. Home cooking, local produce, local meat, quality and tradition.

The Auberge de l'Allagnonette welcomes you to a building full of character. The chef prepares delicious dishes: millefeuille of black pudding with foie gras, duck breast with red fruit, etc. Regional dishes: cantal tart, pounti, truffade, tripoux.

The simple pleasure of dining by the lake... a creative cuisine that draws its influences from both land and lake, using the resources of the greenhouse, kitchen garden and forest to create recipes that revisit local produce with the seasons.

Country inn with view on the valley. Wood-fired cooking (truffade and Salers meat). Breeders, producers and transformers, beef and veal sausages, aligot, farm cheeses.

Sandrine and Pascal offer (gluten-free) galettes, crêpes, salads and Auvergne cuisine. A galette and a crêpe of the moment vary every week!

Self-contained gîte with garden and views of the Monts du Cantal and Sancy. Just 5km from Lake Lastioulles and its water sports center. Fully-equipped kitchen, living room with dining area and sitting area with fireplace. 3 bedrooms, shower room and separate WC.

Luxury gîte for 8 to 10 people. All comforts on 1 hectare of land surrounded by forests and set in the owner's Auvergne farmhouse. This tastefully renovated gîte is located in the Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne, with a magical panoramic view of the Sancy massif and close to Lac de Lastioulles, which has been awarded the "Pavillon bleu" label (equipped beach, supervised swimming in July and August). Living room with fully-equipped kitchen, dining room, sitting area with TV, WIFI, library, board games. -2 bedrooms, each with 2 boxspring beds, shower and washbasin. -2 bedrooms with 2 boxspring beds each, using the large bathroom with oval bathtub, shower and two washbasins. This room has 4 additional beds and a cot. -Washrooms and two toilets. -3 terraces equipped with outdoor furniture. -Heated swimming pool surrounded by a deck and adapted furniture as well as changing room, heated shower, washbasin, WC and heated outdoor shower. -Washing machine, dryer and barbecue on request. -private parking Minimum stay 7 days from Saturday to Saturday (less than 7 days on request).

6 cottages in a self-catering village near Lac de Lastioulles. 3 bedrooms, one on the mezzanine (1 double bed - 5 single beds), shower room, shared washing machine and dryer (summer), terrace. Peace and quiet with mountain views. Groups welcome.

Located in the heart of a 5-hectare natural site, near the Lastioulles and La Crégut lakes. Unlimited pitches with or without shade, electric hook-ups, communal washing machine and tumble dryer, children's games, table tennis, peace and relaxation guaranteed. Groups welcome except from 01/07 to 31/08.

Located in the heart of a 5-hectare natural site, near the Lastioulles and La Crégut lakes. Unlimited pitches with or without shade, electric hook-ups, communal washing machine and tumble dryer, children's games, table tennis, peace and relaxation guaranteed. Capacity: 25 pitches