Circuit du Val d’Allier – Castles and villages in the land of Queen Margot (cyclo loop n°7)
Sauxillanges
No dogs allowed
Distance 62Km
Duration 3h08
Hiking route BOUCLE
Marking Green
In pictures
Route description
This tour, between the Livradois and the Val d’Allier, takes you on a journey around the castles.
Trail highlights
– The villages of Sauxillanges and Usson.
– Parentignat castle.
– Vernet-la-Varenne lake.
Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
Step 1 : From Sauxillanges, at the gateway to the Livradois mountains, you reach Usson and climb up to the chapel, built on top of a rocky spur. You’ll discover a panoramic viewpoint enjoyed for 20 years by Queen Margot, then in exile in Auvergne.
Step 2 : Then on to Parentignat and its château dating from the end of the reign of Louis XIV, remarkable for the rigor of its court of honor and its rich library.
Step 3 : From Sarpoil, a narrow, winding road takes you up to Saint-Etienne-sur-Usson, before reaching Le Vernet-la-Varenne, home to a 3-hectare lake and the Château de Montfort, now home to the Maison de l’Améthyste.
Approx. 3 hrs. 10 min. at an average speed of 20 km/h.
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Opening hours
All year round daily.
Additional information
For your own safety, check that your bike is in good working order (tires/brakes) and take the necessary repair kit, take a refill (water and food), encourage a little development and pedal smoothly.
Environment
In the country
Access
D39 – Car park opposite the village hall
Downloadable :
Photo credits : Norbert Dutranoy – Pays d’art et d’histoire, Norbert Dutranoy – Pays d’art et d’histoire, Norbert Dutranoy – Pays d’art et d’histoire, Norbert Dutranoy – Pays d’art et d’histoire, Norbert Dutranoy – Pays d’art et d’histoire
Updated on 19 May 2026 by Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme