The Prades Valley

Châtel-Guyon

Dogs allowed

Distance 11.5Km

Duration 3h30

Hiking route BOUCLE

Marking Yellow

In pictures

Route description

A magnificent walk through the Prades valley to the Château de Chazeron, (guided tours, treasure hunt, Romanesque weapons room). Beautiful views of the Chaîne des Puys, the Riom basin, the Limagne plain and the Livradois-Forez mountains.

Trail highlights

– Château de Chazeron.
– Views over the Combrailles and the Chaîne des Puys.

Guidebook with maps/step-by-step

Step 1 : Opposite the pond, turn left into the woods and continue over the pond for 350 m. At the crossroads, fork left onto the track. After the gate, turn right at the road to the crossroads of forest tracks.

Step 2 : Follow the Tour du Char path. Climb between oak and chestnut trees to the educational marker (Scots pine).

Step 3 : Fork right (start of fitness trail) and continue along Chemin des Planelles to the picnic shelter. Climb to the right to reach the road.

Step 4 : Cross the road and follow the path that runs alongside and rejoins it. At this point, take the private driveway leading to Château de Chazeron. Continue right along the road through the hamlet. At the crossroads, take the right-hand road to the corner of the last house.

Next step

Step 5 : Turn left up the gravel path (view of the Puys) and continue along the left-hand track alongside the road. After 50 m, cross the ditch to the right and go through the grove to the road. Go straight ahead, after 50 m, turn left and then right again. After an open passage (view of the Combrailles), go down through the woods to the Grosliers stream. Cross the stream and climb up to a road. Take the track opposite, cross the village of Bois d’Agnat and follow the road to the right as far as a cross.

Step 6 : Take the wide dirt track (at the highest point (cross), view of the Combrailles hills and the Chaîne des Puys on the right) and continue for 500 m. At the crossroads, ignore the two paths on the left (another yellow PR), and continue straight ahead until you come to a boulder.

Step 7 : Turn right onto a narrow path, descending through deciduous trees to a wider, sandy path on a balcony overlooking the Vallée des Prades. Leave the Chemin des Espagnols on your left, go down to the road and keep left to reach the parking lot.

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

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Opening hours

From 01/01 to 31/12 daily.

Subject to favorable weather.

Comfort, facilities and services

Car park
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

From Riom, head for Châtel-Guyon on the D227. On entering Châtel-Guyon, take the D78 towards Manzat, then follow the signs for “Vallée des Prades”. 1 km further on, a large parking lot at the bottom of the valley.

Downloadable :

GPX – ITI0014