Saint-Rémy-De-Chargnat: Hiking, Mills and Architectural History

Saint-Rémy-de-Chargnat preserves a predominantly rural, green landscape of farmland, meadows and forests. The Eau Mère river runs through the town. Hiking trails, architectural history and a local producer of chocolate and biscuits offer different ways to shape a stay. When planning, it is worth considering trail lengths and historical themes: an easy 11-kilometre circular walk is quite different in scale from a 65-kilometre loop, and the buildings tell stories of different eras.

Hiking on trails of different lengths

Le pic d’Usson is an officially designated circular hike in Saint-Rémy-de-Chargnat. The route is rated easy and takes about three hours; it covers 11 kilometres with 310 metres of ascent. The Puy-de-Dôme Department offers and maintains it as part of the PDIPR. Check the route conditions before setting out.

The 65-kilometre GR®-de-Pays Val d’Allier loop also passes through the town. Compared with Pic d’Usson, it represents a much longer route. Several other local hiking trails pass through forests and former vineyards, by mills and their béalières. This gives you a choice of different distances and landscapes; check the conditions for these trails before setting out, too.

The Circuit cyclo/vélo route n° 2 cycling route offers another option: it passes through the area around Saint-Rémy-de-Chargnat and recalls the former ownership of the Cluniac priory of Sauxillanges. This reference to its former affiliation adds a historical dimension to the landscape.

Churches, chapels and medieval traces

The parish church of Saint-Rémy brings together different building phases: its nave dates from the 13th century, and the seigneurial chapel on the south side from the 15th century. Traces of wall paintings and coats of arms survive in the chapel. The time separating the two parts of the building makes the church’s development visible in its architecture.

The former Chapelle Saint-Rémy was once an important religious centre and a dependency of the Cluniac priory of Sauxillanges. It stood on the left bank near the cemetery. It was abandoned at the end of the 18th century, when the church became the parish church. Remains of the medieval fortifications also survive in the town, including traces of walls and a tower.

The history of the mills is also part of the town’s architectural heritage: the béalières were created from the 17th century onwards to support the operation of the mills. On the hiking trails, you can encounter these features alongside the mills and the surroundings shaped by forests and former vineyards.

The châteaux add further historical highlights. The privately owned Château de la Vernède began as a fortified building and later served as a hunting lodge for Marguerite de Valois. The Château de Pasredon has been documented as the seat of a fief since the 14th century and was owned by the Matharel family for a long time. The Château des Aiguilles began as a 14th-century fortress; it retains a feudal appearance and has been restored with its towers.

Chocolate and biscuits

L’Atelier Auvergnat makes chocolate and biscuits at its premises in Saint-Rémy-de-Chargnat. From the shop, where products are sold directly, you can watch the main stages of biscuit-making through glass windows. During a visit, you can learn about the business’s history and working methods and sample some of its specialities on site. Check the visiting arrangements in advance.

Discover more destinations: Volvic, Saint-Cirgues-Sur-Couze, Les Pradeaux, Jumeaux, Aulnat, La Crouzille, Teilhet, Charbonnier-les-Mines

Back to the main travel overview: Puy-De-Dôme.