Plain sideTop 3 family walks

Top 3 family walks

The Grande Limagne region in Auvergne stretches between the Chaîne des Puys (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and the Monts du Livradois Forez. The walks here are modestly uneven, making them ideal for a family outing.

But beware of false flats: Limagne is dotted with pretty hills and slopes. These viewpoints offer unique panoramas of the volcanoes. These 4 walks are an invitation for the whole family to discover the identity of the Auvergne as seen from here: streams and small rivers, villages, mills, wash-houses, dovecotes…

1h30 1. The hill of Montgacon

This once-feudal hillock offers a 180° view from its summit: best enjoyed in the morning or at sunset for the light. The Chaîne des Puys is your horizon, with the Massif du Sancy and the Monts Dore in the background.

The hill to be climbed here is located in a little corner of paradise on the Clermont-Ferrand-Vichy road, on the western edge of the great Limagne region.

You are on the land of theformer barony of Montgacon. In the 11th century, a fortress stood here, demolished in 1633 on the orders of Richelieu. A statue dedicated to N.-D. des Moissons was erected in its place in 1953. A pilgrimage is dedicated to her on the 1st Sunday in July.

Tip: the mound is an ideal spot for a picnic in the countryside.

At the foot of the hill, you can take to the fields. On this land, conquered by man from the marshes, grow the traditional sunflowers, maize and other golden wheat. Their flowers and beautiful ears of corn stand tall in the June sunshine. The crops then slope gently down to the terraced fields on the left bank of the Allier.

Remarkable: on this walk you’ll come across dovecotes that are emblematic of this corner of the Auvergne, charming and nostalgic washhouses, and here a grapevine barrel, shelter for field workers in days gone by. The materials used in the buildings are a reminder that rarity breeds variety. Basements don’t offer much, so the builders were creative. You’ll see adobe, round Allier pebbles, cob and brick, alone or in combination.

Practical info: 1h30 – 4.6km – +95m

Discover the Butte de Montgacon

5 km 2. Forest-coloured region

For a bucolic walk in the undergrowth, head for the north-eastern edge of Terra Volcana in the Auvergne and the first paths of the Randan forest.

This short loop takes you from the original village – Le Vieux Saint Sylvestre – to the edge of the lands of the former seigneuries of La Poivrière and Les Gays.

The path takes you from hamlet to hamlet: La Doualle, les Bénédins, Champlong. Here, too, you will come across buildings made of pisé, a material made from a mixture of earth, pebbles and straw, common in Limagne.

The route never strays far from the course of the Gournaude stream.

Remarkable: this stretch of river forest is an enchanting place to discover plant and animal species. We hope you’ll come across two protected species that are both shy and discreet:

The Middle Spotted Woodpecker, a bird with a bright red cap that lives in the wild in the Randan forest. A sedentary breeder, it excels in the art of climbing thanks to its curved nails and powerful tail.
The yellow-bellied sounder toad is a regular visitor to the ruts in the forest. As an adult, it feeds on insects and, when disturbed, will arch its back or turn around to show off the bright colours of its body.

Tip: the picnic area at the start (no tables).

Download the walk

3. Ambène stream

It’s an enchanting interlude along the Ambène stream, which flows west from the Enval gorges, a wild place known as the “end of the world”.

The Ambène green corridor is a gentle, landscaped walk along the banks of one of the most important streams in the Riemont area. From west to east, it runs through the municipalities of Enval, Mozac and Riom. Around ten kilometres of footpaths and cycle paths have been laid out, along with playgrounds and sports fields.

Recommended starting point: 11 Faubourg de Bardon in Riom

The route starts here with a wide tree-lined path, a section accessible to PRMs. The path is punctuated by diversion bays and small bridges, both old stone ones and more recent wooden ones. As you approach the gardens of Mozac and the first houses in the village, you will be charmed by the narrow passages between the high walls lining the properties, particularly the pleasure homes.

Must-See: At the end of the passage, there’s a nice surprise: the majestic royal (Romanesque) Saint-Pierre de Mozac abbey about 100 metres to your left. Turn away from the path to spend a few minutes discovering its Romanesque capitals and its chases, including the champlevé enamel one.

Turn around and continue your journey through the abbey parks : a vast expanse of green opens up before you. Pass through these magical surroundings and head straight ahead for the next section of the route, which will take you as far as the village of Enval.

To the south of the park, a large gate gives direct access to another place to stroll: the gardens of the Domaine de Portabéraud.

Here’sa tip: there are benches along the way, inviting you to read, observe or meditate. Elsewhere, you can take a break on an older Volvic stone bench.