Apchat

Ardes

Dogs allowed

Distance 11Km

Duration 3h30

Hiking route BOUCLE

Marking Yellow

In pictures

Route description

Hike located in the Cézallier mountains.

Starting point – From the starting sign, go down towards the centre of the village, turn right into rue du Chapiot and then turn right into a street that leads to the retirement home. At this point, turn left onto a road that turns into a good path and goes(…)

Trail highlights

– View of the Cézallier.
– The ruins of Mercœur castle.
– The Allagnon valley.
– Léotoing castle.
– Small heritage sites : cross, fortified house, church.

Guidebook with maps/step-by-step

Step 1 : From the start sign, head back down towards the village center, turn right into rue du Chapiot and then right into a street that leads to the retirement home. At this point, turn left onto a road which becomes a good path and descends to the bottom of the valley. Climb up (with a view of the Cézallier and the ruins of the Château de Mercoeur) to the crossroads at the entrance to the village of Zanières.

Step 2 : Take the small road opposite. At the top of the hill, at the crossroads, take the left-hand road towards Bord (before the hamlet, view of Margeride, Allagnon valley, Cézallier, Léotoing castle). At the end of the hamlet, the road becomes a footpath ; at the T-junction, turn right until you reach another T-junction.

Step 3 : Head left towards Apchat, ignoring the side paths (view of Apchat village). Join a road, turn left for 50 m and take the first street on the right to enter the village (towards the town hall), as far as the square (cross, fortified house, church).

Step 4 : Turn left, go around the church and cross part of the village. At the well, in the middle of a crossroads, continue straight ahead on a wide track. At the crossroads, go right, ignoring the right and left tracks (view of Ardes) and come to a crossroads. Take the road on the left to reach Ardes via avenue du Maréchal-Leclerc and rue des Écoles ; pass the post office, turn left and then right into rue du Chapiot to reach the starting point.

Proposed and managed by the Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme – PDIPR.

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Opening hours

From 01/01 to 31/12 daily.

Subject to favorable weather.

Comfort, facilities and services

  • Pets welcome

Additional information

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.

Dogs allowed Dogs must be kept on a leash due to the presence of herds.

Environment

In the country, Mountain view, Presence of livestock and guard dogs

Access

Take the A75 towards Saint-Germain-Lembron (approx. 50 km south of Clermont-Ferrand). Take the D214 to Ardes-sur-Couze, then the D125. Parking lot at the top of the village on the place de l’ancien Foirail.

Downloadable :

Updated on 29 May 2026 by Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme