The Butte de Montgacon

Guidebook with maps/step-by-step

Step 1 : Follow boulevards du Foirail and du Chéry, then right to Place François Seguin and Les Halles (PP1 : former halles au blé – Hôtel des Ducs de Bouillon, 15th-17th centuries). Turn left onto Grand’rue, then rue du Baraban. At Place des Récollets, turn left ; continue straight ahead. At the end of the village (rue des Récollets), cross the road and take the chemin de la Croix de Bois to the crossroads (PV1 : view of the Chaîne des Puys, the Sancy massif, the Montagne Bourbonnaise, the Monts du Forez and the Butte de Montgacon).

Step 2 : Turn right at the road and go straight on to the hamlet of Fourniers. At the calvary, turn right and, at the crossroads, turn left onto rue des Peupliers, then follow the road to Vensat. At the road, climb up, then turn right into rue des Vignes. Continue along the track and at the crossroads, turn left. 30 m before the water reservoir, turn right into Montgacon. At the village entrance, turn right for an A-R (5 min) to the top of the hill (PV2 : Dore valley, Montagne bourbonnaise, Bois Noirs, Forez, Livradois, Chaîne des Puys and Sancy massif). Continue as far as the bread oven, go straight on and down the road until 20 m before a wash-house (on the left).

Step 3 : Turn right onto a grassy path. At the T-junction, turn right. At the next fork, go left as far as La Barbine (PP2 : bread oven, wash-house). At the crossroads, follow the road to the right for 100 m, then fork left. Continue straight ahead until you reach the road, ignoring the side paths. Cross the road and follow signs for Vialle. At the calvary, go 100 m along the road to an esplanade.

Step 4 : Take the path on the right. Immediately after the bridge over the Morge, turn left for an A-R (20 min) to the banks of the Allier (PV3 : view of the river). Back at the bridge, continue straight ahead on a wide path along the right bank of the Morge. At the intersection, turn right to reach a ruined adobe wall in a grove. Turn left onto a wide track and follow a dead branch of the Allier. Continue to the middle of a straight stretch before a large oak tree.