Discover Sauxillanges: Cluniac heritage and hiking

Sauxillanges combines a focus on Cluniac history with hiking and events. On your trip, architectural history, exhibitions and guided exploration offer different ways to discover the town; La vallée du Civadoux and the Trail de l’Améthyste complement these themes with specific routes and formats. The different themes and the information about the hike and trail will help you plan your stay around your interests.

Cluniac heritage and architectural history

Founded in the 10th century, the monastery of Sauxillanges was dependent on the great monastery of Cluny. This connection defines the town’s historical focus. The Visite Flânerie Clunisienne guided tour takes you through the narrow streets of Sauxillanges. It covers both surviving and destroyed buildings at the Cluniac site and explains how each was used. In this way, the tour connects views of the buildings that remain with the history of the parts of the site that have disappeared.

The Maison du Patrimoine also draws on the history of the priory. It is located in the former chapel of the Cluniac priory of Sauxillanges; the chapel was rebuilt at the end of the 15th century. The exhibition features stone fragments and historic regional crafts, includes religious objects and showcases exhibitions by living artists. It therefore focuses on both cultural artefacts and artistic works. For planning your trip, its emphasis on exhibitions differs from the tour through the streets: here, the focus is on the exhibits, while the tour focuses on buildings and their use.

While the guided tour takes you through the streets and identifies buildings and their uses, you can also explore the Cluniac site on location using tablets and the Clunypédia app.

Another point of reference in the town’s history is the former church of Saint-Jean. It was built before 910 on the edge of the monastery’s enclosure; traces of the fortifications remain on its east façade. Its construction predates the rebuilding of the Maison du Patrimoine chapel at the end of the 15th century by several centuries. Together, the two buildings bring different periods of the town’s history to life.

La vallée du Civadoux: route and scenery

La vallée du Civadoux has clear details to help you plan a hike: this circular route is 14.5 kilometres long, rated difficult and marked in green; the stated duration is 4 hours 30 minutes. The distance, time and difficulty rating describe different aspects of the same hike. Considering them together can help you decide whether the hike fits into your planned stay.

The route passes through the narrow gorges of the Chaméane valley. Along the way, there are views of the Chaîne des Puys, the Sancy, the Cézallier, the Allier valley and the Forez. This takes in both the gorges and the named landscapes. The route is accessible every day throughout the year when weather conditions are favourable; bear this condition in mind when planning.

Trail de l’Améthyste and route formats

The Trail de l’Améthyste has been held every year in Sauxillanges since it was founded in 2009. The programme includes routes of 12, 23 and 37 kilometres, youth races and a 13-kilometre hike for accompanying persons. Individual editions may vary. Before taking part, check the dates, registration options and routes for the edition in question.

Discover more destinations: Domaize, Saint-Agoulin, Champs, Brousse, Échandelys, Saint-Pierre-Roche, Saint-Julien-Puy-Lavèze, Châteauneuf-Les-Bains.

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