The Shepherds’ path
Courgoul
Dogs allowed
Distance 8Km
Duration 3h00
Hiking route BOUCLE
Marking Yellow
In pictures
Route description
A beautiful hike in the gorges of Courgoul (couze) via a pretty path that leads to an old bridge and then to Auzollette : fountain, carved stone cross, bread oven…. Courgoul is appreciated for its pailhats (terraced gardens).
Starting point – From the starting sign, take the path parallel to the road (view on the “Pailhats”, terraces supported by dry stone walls), cross the bridge and go up to the right. 100m further on, turn right onto a wide, steep path. At the top of the hill, ignore(…)
Trail highlights
– View of the “Pailhats” (terraces supported by low dry-stone walls).
– View of the Cézallier, the Sancy massif, the Chaîne des Puys, the Courgoul gorges and the Brionnet peak and chapel.
– Small heritage features : cross and bread oven.
Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
Step 1 : From the start sign, take the path parallel to the road (view of the “Pailhats”, terraces supported by low dry-stone walls), cross the bridge and climb to the right. After 100 m, turn right onto a wide, steep track. At the top of the slope, ignore the left-hand path, continue straight ahead and head downhill until you reach a retrograde path halfway down the slope.
Step 2 : Turn left and climb steeply to reach the plateau, where the track continues through meadows to a T-junction.
Step 3 : Turn left and continue for approx. 500 m (views of the Cézallier, Sancy massif, Chaîne des Puys, Courgoul gorges, Brionnet chapel). Ignore the left-hand path and continue straight downhill. At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead until you reach the intersection at the entrance to the village of Auzolette.
Step 4 : Drive through Auzolette on the main street (cross, bread oven). At the end of the hamlet, turn left and 100 m further on, left again. Go downhill on a winding track (view of the peak and Brionnet chapel), leaving a track on the right, continue straight downhill to reach the Couze valley and, turning left, return to the starting point.
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
- 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 Champeix, take the D28. Turn right at Saint-Floret, then right at Saurier. Take the D26 to Courgoul. Park at the village entrance, near the start sign.
Downloadable :
Photo credits : Norbert Dutranoy
Updated on 29 May 2026 by Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme