Le puy d’Éraigne

Saint-Nectaire

Dogs allowed

Distance 7Km

Duration 2h15

Hiking route BOUCLE

Marking Yellow

In pictures

Route description

After climbing the puy d’Éraigne, you plunge down to the Couze Chambon and the Saint-Nectaire-le-Bas dolmen, mentioned by Prosper Mérimée in 1838. The route offers fine views of the glacial valley of Chaudefour, Murol castle and the Livradois.

Trail highlights

– View of the Col de la Croix Saint-Robert and the Sancy massif.
– View of the Petite Couze Chambon valley and the Livradois-Forez mountains.
– Dolmen.
– Saint-Nectaire : Romanesque church.

Guidebook with maps/step-by-step

Step 1 : From the start sign, take the bridge over the stream and climb the small, winding road (chemin du Say). At the first house, take the path on the right and 100 m further on, the path on the left, until it intersects with a road.

Step 2 : Follow this road to the right for 50 m, then take the left-hand path up the hillside. At the top of the hill, at the crossroads, continue straight ahead (view of the Col de la Croix Saint-Robert and the Sancy massif). At the fork, take the right-hand path which descends steeply (in a left-hand bend : stone cross) to the hamlet of Les Granges.

Step 3 : Take the lane on the left. At the last houses, continue straight ahead on a wide track. At the top of the first hill, leave the left-hand path and continue straight ahead (view of the Petite Couze Chambon valley and the Livradois-Forez mountains). At the fork, go right into the forest. Leave a bad track on your right and take the next one 50 m further on. Go downhill to reach a road (chemin du Say).
30 m and turn left into Allée du Casino (stone cross) to the entrance to the casino parking lot.

Step 4 : Cross the parking lot and take the footbridge over the RD996. Climb the staircase to the right. At the crow’s feet, take the path on the right, which winds up into the park (dolmen). Take the small road on the left to reach Saint-Nectaire (view of the Romanesque church). Leave rue de l’École on your left and continue along rue du Viget and then chemin de Lachaume to reach the town hall (Romanesque church 100 m away). Cross the main street and take rue des Grottes de Châteauneuf opposite. Take rue Mandon on the left, then rue des Basses Cours, and finally the stairs back 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

Forest location, Mountain location, Presence of livestock and guard dogs

Access

On leaving Saint-Nectaire, heading for Murol (RD996), park on the right at the entrance to the “Grottes du Cornadore”. The start sign is opposite, on the other side of the RD.

Downloadable :

Updated on 29 May 2026 by Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme