Discover Avèze: trails, gorges and heritage

Avèze offers several starting points for planning your trip: the Les Plantades circular hike, the Gorges d’Avèze, historic buildings and an annual flower tradition. If you’re looking for a hotel for a trip to Avèze, consider in advance whether hiking, scenery, culture or a particular time of year matters most to you. The places and activities below offer different points of interest.

Hiking and scenery

Les Plantades is a 10 km circular hike in Avèze, with a stated duration of three hours. The route starts at a trail sign near Avèze town hall on the D987. Along the way, there are views of the Dordogne Valley and the Sancy Massif. The distance, stated duration and starting point give you practical details for planning. Check the route conditions before setting out.

The Gorges d’Avèze offer a different aspect of the landscape: the steep, rugged-looking gorges were carved by the Dordogne. The terrain drops steeply from the cliffs to the river, and the gorges can be explored on foot. Avèze also has an arboretum. This gives you a choice of different points of interest: a circular hike with named viewpoints, a gorge landscape and an arboretum.

Buildings and history

The Château de Chazelles has a probable construction date and a precisely dated renovation: the main building was probably built at the beginning of the 17th century, and the main door was renovated in 1691. The date for the main building remains a probable estimate, while the year of the door’s renovation is specified. The rectangular main building is flanked by four corner towers.

The Romanesque church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption in Avèze is worth a visit. Its furnishings include a Baroque altarpiece and polychrome wooden statues. The church therefore draws attention both to its Romanesque architectural style and to its later artistic furnishings. Another ensemble consists of a washhouse and a livestock watering trough: the washhouse was used for washing clothes, and the trough for watering animals. The two parts can also be distinguished by their respective functions.

Flower tradition and cheese

The traditional flower-float parade takes place every year on August 15 during the patron saint’s festival. In July, around 30 volunteers make the roses and floats for the tradition. The preparations in July and the parade in August take place at two different times of year. Check the current local program before your trip.

At the Ferme des Croix de Chazelles, there are cheese-making demonstrations and tastings, with a stated duration of about one hour. The offering is seasonal. Check the reservation conditions before your trip as well. The farm sells Bleu d’Auvergne and Fourme d’Ambert, both protected by AOP designation. As product availability may change, confirm before visiting whether both cheeses are available.

Discover more destinations: La Bourboule, Pérignat-Lès-Sarliève, Le Vernet-Sainte-Marguerite, Egliseneuve-D'entraigues, Chamalières, Neuf-Église, Coudes, Dallet.

For the broader travel overview: Puy-De-Dôme.