Saint-Agoulin: Hiking and Local History

For a trip to Saint-Agoulin, the “Entre Limagne et Combrailles” circular trail offers a specific focus for outdoor activities. Local history, open agricultural landscapes and local amenities can also help you plan your trip.

Hiking the “Entre Limagne et Combrailles” circular trail

The “Entre Limagne et Combrailles” circular trail starts at the “Les Girauds” green space in Saint-Agoulin. It follows a circular route, is marked in yellow and is accessible every day throughout the year. Its circular layout is a practical difference from a hike with a different endpoint: you plan a loop rather than a route that ends somewhere else.

The hike offers views of the Chaîne des Puys over several kilometres. Other views take in the Massif du Sancy, Livradois-Forez and the Monts de la Madeleine. This means the route offers views of several named landscapes; if distant views are a deciding factor for you, you can take these into account alongside the circular route when planning your day.

Landscape and orientation

Saint-Agoulin has an open landscape divided into large plots. The higher ground is generally used as pasture, while land in the basins is used to grow cereals. There are also some individual pasture areas. Thus, the higher areas and the basins differ both in their location and in their agricultural use.

Two specific road connections are given to help you find your way when travelling to the area. The D22 crosses the commune from north to south and connects Gannat with Artonne. The D12 connects Saint-Agoulin with Aigueperse, Champs and Ebreuil. While the D22 describes the north–south connection, the D12 names three other connected places. This distinction can help you locate Saint-Agoulin on a road map.

Church and local history

The earliest known mention of Saint-Agoulin dates from the 11th century. The church was rebuilt in 1874 in the Neo-Gothic style, based on plans by the Clermont-born architect Imberdis. The early mention of the village and the later rebuilding of the church are two distinct points in time in the history of the area.

The church has a single-nave hall with two bays, a porch with a gallery, a projecting transept and a pentagonal apse. The architectural features provide architecture enthusiasts with several specific terms for describing the building’s form: from the longitudinal nave to the projecting transept and the five-sided end.

Château and local amenities

Today’s Château de Saint-Agoulin consists of a small tower and a rear wing. A planning document from January 2026 lists the château as a guesthouse. If you are considering this accommodation, check current availability before making a booking decision.

A producer guide published in January 2026 lists Le jardin de Machal for farm-gate sales of seasonal fruit and vegetables, as well as products from other farmers. As direct sales can change, check the current sales arrangements before making a special trip.

A tourism website, last updated on 2 February 2023, places the Poney Club des Écuries du Parc in the château park on a contiguous 30-hectare site. It also lists pony afternoons for children's birthday parties for children up to the age of ten. If you are planning this activity, ask the club about its current offering.

Discover more destinations: Lisseuil, Royat, Mareugheol, Saint-Rémy-Sur-Durolle, Mirefleurs, Landogne, Buxières-Sous-Montaigut, Saint-Genès-Champanelle.

For the overview of the wider area: Puy-De-Dôme.