Saint-Genès-Champanelle: Hiking, Volcanoes and Village Culture

Saint-Genès-Champanelle combines hiking opportunities with a volcanic landscape and rural heritage. The trails around L’Escapad’ and the area’s different landscape and cultural themes offer practical guidance when choosing where to stay. You can choose from circular walks, orienteering courses and routes with views of volcanoes or historic buildings.

Volcanic Landscapes and Protected Areas

Saint-Genès-Champanelle lies within the UNESCO World Heritage site “Haut lieu tectonique Chaîne des Puys – faille de Limagne”. This area of volcanic origin was added to the World Heritage List in 2018. The entire municipal area is also part of the Parc naturel régional des volcans d’Auvergne. The designations refer to different geographical contexts: the World Heritage site highlights the tectonic landscape, while the regional park encompasses the whole of Saint-Genès-Champanelle.

Some individual landscape areas are also designated as Natura 2000 sites. The Gorges de l’Artière between Berzet and the Plat d’Auzat near Theix are part of the “Vallées et coteaux xérothermiques des Couzes et des Limagnes” site. The Puys de la Vache and de Lassolas are assigned to the “Chaîne des Puys” Natura 2000 site. These names help distinguish the area’s different natural features without combining them into a single site.

Hiking and Orienteering

L’Escapad’ is a centre for outdoor sports and nature-based leisure activities, as well as a visitor information point and gateway to outdoor activities. Its offerings include hiking, Nordic walking, running, trail running, orienteering, mountain biking and cycling. Numerous trails in Saint-Genès-Champanelle are open to walkers, horse riders and mountain bikers.

One specific option is the waymarked circular walk “Le petit Saint Aubin”. It is 10 kilometres long and runs from L’Escapad’ to the Chapelle Saint-Aubin and the Chabanat spring. The walk is accessible every day from 1 January to 31 December. The Chapelle Saint-Aubin was inaugurated in 1954 and houses the spring, which is also called Chabana. It can only be viewed from the outside. Check the latest route information before setting out.

The “Balade en forêt | Depuis L’Escapad” walk passes through shady woodland and offers views of the puy de Dôme. Its route through the typical hamlet of Beaune-le-Chaud takes in well-preserved washhouses, fountains and rural buildings. The “Randonnée Charade | Depuis L’Escapad” focuses on different highlights: it passes through Manson and Berzet, by washhouses, chapels, crosses and covered fountains made of lava stone. It also offers views of the puy de Dôme and the Gorges de l’Artière. A walk at the Croix de Beaune offers views of the puys de la Vache, de Lassolas and de Mercoeur.

For a clearly defined route, a sporting orienteering course is described as 3.2 kilometres long, with 12 checkpoints. The questions cover local history, and the course is free to access. L’Escapad’ also has a permanent sports and family orienteering course with a questionnaire. The free information map for the family course is available at the L’Escapad’ reception desk, the starting point of the route. The circular trail at the Croix de Beaune is described as relatively easy and flat, making it suitable for families, beginners and school groups.

Chapels and Local Buildings

The Chapelle Gonod, also called the tombeau de Thèdes, is a 19th-century funerary chapel built for Benoit Gonod and his wife. A path that circles the chapel offers panoramic views of the village, the Circuit de Charade and the Limagne plain. This way, the building can be appreciated not only for its history, but also for the viewpoints along the circular path.

Those who want to combine a walk through the landscape with a destination have other routes to choose from: “La Traversée de l’Auzon” starts at L’Escapad’ and takes the access route to the Gorges de l’Artière. The waymarked “Le petit Saint Aubin”, by contrast, links the Chapelle Saint-Aubin and the Chabanat spring in a circular route. Before travelling, check the information for bus route P39 and the “St Genès Centre” stop, which provides access to L’Escapad’.

Discover more destinations: Medeyrolles, Super Besse, Saint-Sauves-D'auvergne, Teilhet, Olloix, La Roche-Noire, Chambon-Sur-Lac, Espinasse.

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