Discover Chapdes-Beaufort

In Chapdes-Beaufort, you can tailor your stay to a range of interests: the founding history of the Chartreuse Port-Sainte-Marie, the sculptures along the Chemin Fais’Art, routes with different distance and difficulty profiles, or a visit to the Ferme de la Marinette. These destinations differ in whether architectural history, art, a hike or animals take centre stage.

Chartreuse Port-Sainte-Marie: monastic history and architecture

The Chartreuse Port-Sainte-Marie was founded on the banks of the Sioule in 1219. Its ruins preserve a double row of cells, a lay cemetery and a fortified tower. These different architectural elements give the site a tangible variety: as well as the cells, its surviving features include both a burial place and a fortification. For those interested in cultural history, architecture and the history of its founding offer related yet distinct perspectives.

Guided discovery visits explain the architecture of a Carthusian monastery. The activities of the association dedicated to preserving and bringing the site to life are also presented. These visits depend on the programme. If the guided explanation is important to your stay, check in advance whether it is offered during your planned dates.

Sculptures and trails in Chapdes-Beaufort

The Chemin Fais’Art is a discovery site featuring monumental sculptures by Gilles Perez, made from Volvic stone. The sculptures have been installed since 1992. The material and artist give the site a distinctive artistic focus, setting it apart from the monastic architecture of the Chartreuse.

You can choose a route based on its distance, format and time required. The easy out-and-back Circuit poussette – Le chemin Fais’Art is 1.9 km long and open to the general public. The route to the Vierge de Beaufort, by contrast, is a moderately difficult 10.5 km loop marked in yellow; it takes approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes. It leads to the summit of the Puy de Beaufort at 886 m and to the Vierge de Beaufort, with views of the Sancy massif and the Chaîne des Puys. This means you can choose between a shorter, easy out-and-back route and a longer, moderately difficult loop with a summit destination and scenic views. This distinction can help you work out how the distance and time fit into your stay. Route details may change; check them locally before setting out.

Visit to the Ferme de la Marinette

The Ferme de la Marinette offers a visit to its educational farm, which has 15 animal species and 34 different breeds. The visit includes a shaded walking route with access to some animal enclosures. Visit arrangements may change; check in advance for the current conditions.

Donkey hikes are also offered from the farm, either guided or self-guided. As booking details may change, it is advisable to enquire in advance. The farm visit and donkey hike offer different focuses: the walk centres on the farm and animal enclosures, while the hike is about the tour with the donkey. This distinction can help you choose which activity to include in your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Vertaizon, Messeix, Pérignat-Lès-Sarliève, Naves, Gelles, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, Biollet, Saint-Flour

Return to the regional travel overview: Puy-De-Dôme.