La Pierre Branlante

Combronde

Dogs allowed

Distance 10.5Km

Duration 3h00

Hiking route BOUCLE

Marking Yellow

In pictures

Route description

A forest walk in the Combrailles foothills that leads to the site of the ‘Pierre Branlante’. A block of granite has been removed by erosion and balanced. According to legend, this block oscillates by human effort alone.

Trail highlights

– natural site of the Pierre Branlante
– View over the plain and the Bourbonnais mountains.

Guidebook with maps/step-by-step

Step 1 : From the start sign in front of the town hall, take rue de l’Hôtel de Ville. Turn left into Grande Rue, then right into rue St-Genès as far as the crossroads with rue du Général Desaix. Turn left into rue Guynemer and continue uphill. At the crow’s-foot, turn right into rue des Santoux, then leave the road at the bend to follow chemin des Combes. Continue straight ahead along the meadow, crossing the stream. At the first crossroads, turn right into chemin des Borots, then left into the next street and continue for 50 m to a fork.

Step 2 : Take the street on the right, continue to a T-junction at the end of Rue des Randonniers, turn left and keep to the right, skirting a property until you reach a crossroads. Go straight ahead along the vineyard path (winegrower’s arbour) (view over the plain and the Bourbonnais mountains). Go straight ahead to the next crossroads, then right down through the woods to the road. Follow this road to the left for 1km and, at a sharp left-hand bend, turn right onto a track below the road. Continue until you reach a fork in the road, climb left to a T-junction at the hamlet of Les Ballages.

Step 3 : Turn right, and keep right to reach the Pierre Branlante site (natural site of the Pierre Branlante) 20 min. RETURN JOURNEY. Return to point 2, turn right, cross the village, go straight down and up to the road. Turn left and, at the first bend, follow a track to the right. Continue through the woods to a T-junction. Turn right to reach the next T-junction.

Step 4 : Go downhill to the left and, at the first house, keep right until you reach a T-junction. Turn left to return to point 1. Go right, then take the first track on the left, cross the stream again and continue straight on to return to the starting point.

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

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Opening hours

All year round 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, Forest location, Presence of livestock and guard dogs

Access

On leaving Riom to the north, take the D2144 towards Montluçon as far as Combronde. In the village, turn left into rue de l’Hôtel de Ville. Parking in front of the town hall.

Downloadable :

GPX – ITI00051_2023