Elevation Profile
348–950 m
A fine “climb then descend” route: save enough strength and concentration to enjoy the descent along the Roman road. It also crosses the Grün de Chignore massif through beech woods and granite rocks. The route begins on wide tracks before passing below the imposing Château de Vollore-Ville. A long climb in several sections reaches Sainte-Agathe and crosses the hamlets of Le Pommier, Bonnabaud, Purisse and La Vacherie, then the local ridges near the col de Frissonnet at 702 m. A further long woodland climb over Puy d’Oscot crosses the Chabany road and reaches the route’s highest point at 972 m. The reward is a magnificent mountainside descent, including the legendary, uneven paving of the Roman road. After Chossière, the straightforward return to the Quatre Vents nature centre passes close to Château de Vollore-Ville and its panoramic terrace. This route requires excellent fitness and strong technical ability to handle hazards in the beech woods: stones hidden beneath leaf litter even in spring, numerous off-camber sections in the first part of the descent, and granite paving made slippery by the many springs flowing across it.
At a Glance
- Duration
- 4.0hrs
- Distance
- 36.7km
- Elevation +
- +881 m
- Elevation -
- -883 m
At a Glance
Live Weather
Departure / Arrival · Centre nature des 4 vents (Aubusson d'Auvergne)
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Important Advice
Take care: the entire descent is very difficult and highly technical.
Field notes and images
chemin
Captured by Maison du Tourisme
Explore Nearby
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Fairy Walk
Departure: church square. Walk past the church then follow the road to the railway line. Before this, turn right and follow the street for 500 m. Head towards the D 906. Cross it to take the road opposite, be careful of fast traffic (direction la Brousse). Turn left and join La Brousse. 1. In the hamlet, take the path on the left, just after the fountain. Continue on this same path to the village of Chaumies (viewpoint over the Forez mountains). At the first houses, take the path opposite. The path becomes a road that we always follow. At the last house, leave the road and take the path opposite. Leave the first path on the right which goes down into the woods. 2. At the top of the hill, at the crow's feet, take the path on the right (viewpoint). Go down towards the stream and continue along the same path. Arriving at the road, turn right towards the hamlet of l'Eschalier. At the first houses, turn left to join the road. Cross it to take the small road opposite. 3. At the transformer, turn right onto the road then, 150 meters further, follow the D44 on your left for approximately 1.5 km. 4. At the cross, continue to the right on the D 308 and join the D 906 (be careful of fast traffic). Cross it to reach the church square in Néronde-sur-Dore.
Walk in Bas-Livradois (route route n°25)
Discover this trail through the heart of Livradois-Forez.