In these large, wide-open spaces…
On the northern slopes of the Massif du Sancy, the hillsides, pastures, valleys and forests come together harmoniously. If you feel like taking flight and getting away from the growling engines and urban hubbub, you’ve come to the right place. On foot, by mountain bike, by fat bike or by electric scooter, you’ve entered a protected area in which outdoor activities reign supreme, and the silence is golden!
At the point at which the GR hiking routes converge, you’ll pass through the woods of Pessade in the shade of the fir and larch trees. Further on, following the sound of tinkling bells, you may come face-to-face with a herd of cows nonchalantly munching the grass of the green pastureland. Troughs and old shepherds’ huts feature one after the other as you continue your stroll. While you’ll come across sheep and horses here and there, you may also be lucky enough to spot a fox, a deer or some species of bird of prey on the horizon.
You’ll then leave these wide and almost flat pathways behind you and pit yourself against the Puy de Baladou or the Puy de Monténard. From the top, the views will leave you mouth agape: on one side, the Massif du Sancy; on the other, the Chaîne des Puys; in the distance, the mountains of Le Forez; and all around you, the volcanoes will be highly pleasing to the eye. This is when you should be breathing in that fresh air deeply and getting your camera out! Here, the landscapes reveal themselves one after the other, and you never see the same scene twice.
Here, the landscapes reveal themselves one after the other, and you never see the same scene twice.
