Banson pond
Gelles
Dogs allowed
Distance 12.5Km
Duration 3h30
Hiking route BOUCLE
Marking Yellow
In pictures
Route description
From Gelles, which was a Gallo-Roman center crossed by the Clermont-Limoges Roman road, we walk to the foot of the puy de Banson to discover the ruins of the castle of the lords of Banson, then the pond and chapel of Banson. Beautiful panoramic views.
Trail highlights
– Étang de Banson.
– View of the Sancy massif.
– Common oven, drinking trough, shoeing loom.
Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
Step 1 : From the start sign, follow the small road and turn left to cross the Gelles stream on a wooden footbridge ; continue straight ahead to reach the road. Cross the road and head uphill for 500 m to a track on the right.
Step 2 : Follow this for 200 m, join a wider track and continue straight ahead. At the T-junction, turn left as far as La Vergne. Go through the village (watering place, cross) on a small tarmac road (view of the Sancy massif) to the D567.
Step 3 : Turn left towards Banson, take the first track on the right for 100 m, then turn left back onto the D567. At the entrance to the village (communal oven, drinking trough, shoeing loom), turn right onto rue de l’Etang. At the fork in the road, turn right towards the pond, then left at the next intersection. Go around the pond to the left, then up the first path to the left. Continue, then at the intersection above the small stream, wind right up to a T-junction.
Step 4 : Turn right downhill. At the first crossroads, go straight ahead and, at the next one, turn left up to the main road. Go left for 300 m, then right up the road for 400 m (view of the puys), to the path on the right.
Next step
Step 5 : Follow this track down to Montel. At the crossroads at the entrance to the village, go straight ahead, then immediately left. Follow the D134 to the left and take the first track on the right. Cross the next crossroads, go straight on to a T-junction and turn right to get back to the start.
Proposed and managed by the Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme – PDIPR.
/* col-6_sm-12 */ ?>
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, Presence of livestock and guard dogs
Access
In Gelles (35 km west of Clermont-Ferrand, between Pontgibaud and Rochefort-Montagne) : parking lot and start sign opposite the Maison familiale et rurale.
Downloadable :
Photo credits : DSA
Updated on 29 May 2026 by Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme