Pérignat-Lès-Sarliève: Hiking, Winemaking and Heritage

The old village of Pérignat-lès-Sarliève lies at the eastern foot of the Plateau de Gergovie, separating the plateau from the Sarliève plain. If you would like to combine a stay surrounded by scenery with a look at local history, two specific themes can guide you: the surviving traces of former winemaking and the trails leading to the plateau and through the vineyards.

Church, Château and Winemaking Heritage

The present-day church was built in 1870 in the Neo-Gothic style. Its features include five stained-glass windows and two wall frescoes signed by Emile Thibaud. It also offers a specific point of interest for anyone interested in architecture and art history.

Surviving cellars, traditional winemakers’ houses and “tonnes de vigne” bear witness to the area’s former winemaking. These features are part of the village’s heritage to be preserved. The “tonnes de vigne” served as shelter for winemakers and a place to store tools. The French name therefore refers not only to a traditional architectural feature, but also to its former practical uses in winemaking.

Since 1976, the town hall has been housed in a former château dating from the 16th century. The building has an octagonal stair tower and projecting turrets. The château grounds include lawns, a small wooded area and a children’s playground; the park is also designated a “Refuge LPO.” The building’s history and the park therefore offer distinct ways to discover the village.

Trails to the Plateau and through the Vineyards

Numerous paths and trails in the west of Pérignat-lès-Sarliève connect the commune with the Plateau de Gergovie. They are accessible on foot or by mountain bike and pass through former vineyards and woods. If you prefer to follow a described route, you can choose between different starting points and destinations.

The Promenade patrimoine passes the old washhouse and nine former winemakers’ houses. It thus links two surviving examples of the local winemaking heritage on a circular walk. The Balade de vignes, by contrast, is a walk through the vineyards south of Pérignat-lès-Sarliève, starting at the town hall square. The Randonnée de Prat also starts there and crosses the Natura 2000 site. Both routes therefore share the same stated starting point but pass through different landscapes.

The starting point for the hike to the Plateau de Gergovie is listed as the park by the Espace Charles Dorier. A route description from 2022 gives the distance as 14.6 km, the duration as five hours and the elevation gain as 402 m. These figures provide a specific indication of the time and physical effort involved. Unlike the routes starting at the town hall square, this hike has a different starting point and a stated distance, duration and elevation gain.

Cultural Events and Your Stay

Pérignat Animation offers a cultural programme featuring concerts by the “L'Oreille du Monde” festival, apéro concerts, art history talks and the “Les dix vins” salon. The programme complements the visible architectural heritage with cultural events and talks. If you are weighing up different interests for your stay, it offers a described cultural programme alongside walks and hikes.

When choosing a hotel in Pérignat-Lès-Sarliève, the trails and the heritage can offer different points of reference: the routes vary in their starting points and destinations, as well as in the stated hiking times and elevation figures; the historic buildings and winemaking heritage offer another way to experience the village. You can choose your destination based on the themes that matter to you during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Vollore-Ville, Lisseuil, Saint-Pierre-Roche, Besse-Et-Saint-Anastaise, Saint-Anthème, Manglieu, Doré-L'église, Sancy.

For the wider travel guide: Puy-De-Dôme.