Collanges: Hiking and Heritage

Collanges lies halfway up the slope descending from the Plateau de Montcelet to the Couze plain. For a stay, two described circular hikes offer practical guidance: they differ in length, estimated time and scenery. A GR® de Pays route also passes through Collanges. This makes it possible to get to know the area through both its old streets and surrounding hills, as well as its traces of cultural history.

Hiking around Collanges

The “Entre béal et pigeonniers” circular trail is a moderate hike covering 10.0 km, with a stated duration of 2 hours and 45 minutes. It follows the banks of a Couze before climbing through the orchards on the slopes of Collanges. It then passes through the village’s old streets, revealing traces of its medieval past. The park of Château de Collanges is also along the route; within the castle grounds, the trail points out a domed building. The route brings together a watercourse, orchards, historic streets and architectural features. If you would like to combine different landscape and cultural themes on a hike, this circular trail offers a clearly defined focus.

The Saint-Gervazy–Vichel circular hike is 9.5 km long, with a stated duration of three hours. It passes through Collanges to the town hall, then follows a path reached about 200 m after leaving the village. The route then crosses the plateau towards the summit area of Montcelet, through an area described as an astonishing savannah landscape. Compared with “Entre béal et pigeonniers,” this hike is 0.5 km shorter, but its stated duration is 15 minutes longer. The routes have different emphases: one takes in village streets, orchards and the banks of the Couze; the other, the plateau and Montcelet. Check the route details before setting out, as this information may change.

Landscape and history

The Plateau de Montcelet is considered a former defensive and religious site. Collanges is also close to the north–south corridor of the Val d’Allier, which was followed over time by a Celtic route and two Roman roads. These connections add to the landscape perspective, but have different emphases: the corridor represents the region’s history of travel routes, while the plateau reflects its former use for defensive and religious purposes. Together, they place Collanges within a historic landscape without equating the two sites or their histories.

A piece of cultural heritage

The Church of Saint-Eutrope et Saint-Martial houses an 18th-century altar cross. Made of repoussé, chased and silver-plated brass, it forms an altar set together with four candlesticks. The altar cross is protected under protection order No. 2010-01, dated 10 March 2010. Its date, material and craftsmanship provide a specific historical context, while its protected status adds another aspect. For culturally minded travellers, the cross is a clearly identifiable example of Collanges’ heritage, alongside the medieval traces revealed by the “Entre béal et pigeonniers” circular trail.

Discover more destinations: Ardes, Saint-Bonnet-Lès-Allier, Saint-Saturnin, Pontgibaud, Chastreix, Saint-Gervais-Dʼauvergne, Biollet, Champs.

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