Mountain bike trail – Pays d’Issoire on the Cézallier side – Stage 4

Crossed at the start of the itinerary, the Lembron offers itself to you once again, but from a different angle. Once you’ve left the Couze d’Ardes valley, you’ll arrive on a vast fertile plain, with a few volcanic buttes forming the relief on the horizon. However, there’s no time to(…)

Crossed at the start of the itinerary, the Lembron offers itself to you once again, but from a different angle. Once you’ve left the Couze d’Ardes valley, you’ll arrive on a vast fertile plain, with a few volcanic buttes forming the relief on the horizon. However, there’s no time to rest just yet, as you’ll have to climb some of these hills. First of all, the tour passes through the wine-growing village of Boudes, at the start of which is a hiking trail leading to the Vallée des Saints, a rare geological site of reddish-orange fairy chimneys. From here, you’ll head for Chalus, a hilltop village topped by an ancient fortified castle. From here, the plains of the Lembron and Allier valleys come into view, with sensational landscapes stretching to the Livradois, Sancy and Cézallier massifs. The last hurdle is the climb up to the medieval village of Le Broc, classified as a “Petite Cité de Caractère”. The volcanic black stone that makes up the walls of the houses and castle can be seen as you stroll through the narrow streets. Finally, you’ll catch sight of Issoire, bringing your journey between Lembron and Cézallier to a close.