The most beautiful natural sites to discover Haute-Loire

Before leaving Chilhac, the geology fans will stop a few kilometers from the village, near Peyre, towards Chambon. A few hundred metres during the road, the road runs through imposing basaltic casting from strombolien-type volcanoes located above: the king's peak and the peak of Ponnet. In some places, the erosion of the Allier caused the fall of lava pillars that were dissociated from the wall. See if you are in the vicinity.

Below Chaudeyrolles, there is a marsh covered with a giant cauldron called "the Narces". In south Velay, narce means wetland, swamp. Instead, the term. is used. Until the end of the Second World War, the inhabitants of Chaudeyrolles had accustomed themselves in the early summer to pick up peat, a mixture of rotten wood, plants and land. This peat was shaped into small bricks that were drying in the sun so that they lost their water. In winter, these small, light and porous peat bricks used fuel to fuel furnaces (as in Ireland). Chaudeyrolles was probably the only commune in the department to use peat as a means of heating. The peat bog is now reduced due to the exploitation of peat and drainage to allow grazing.

2 km from the village, an altitude lake (1 236 m) formed in the volcano explosion crater (maar). This 30 ha lake is fed by underground sources and small streams. The study of its depths (7 metres of water covering almost 130 000 metres of vase) has allowed scientists to assess the climates and landscapes of the Mezenc massif of yesteryear, dating back nearly years! It is populated by various fish varieties: . carp and trout. It's private property, you don't have access to it, but a pleasant trail makes it a big tour.

The lake of Malaguet, private property of the Rollet family, is situated at 1 025 metres above sea level, at the limit of Auvergne and Du, in the heart of Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park. A dam built downstream on the western point is the origin of this 22 hectare water plan. The lake of Malaguet is characterized by its exceptional site, set in a landscape of forests and meadows, away from the residential areas and traffic axes. It offers a wild and preserved nature, conducive to the practice of fly fishing and relaxation.

Surrounded by the Forez Mountains, the Vivarais Mountains, the Massifs, Pilat and Devès Mountains, this forest of nearly 1 200 hectares extends to the territory of five municipalities: Saint-Julien-Chapteuil, Champclause, Queyrières, Araules and Yssingeaux. The Meygal massif impresses with its dense and wide coat of thorns. The forest is composed mostly of conifers, a veritable botanical garden where many varieties of plants blend: digitale, achillea, pectic, gentian… You will also find the famous ceps and other chanterelles. Its planting, on a lande lande, dates back to the late th century. The GR 65 (chemin de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle), in its part which goes from Geneva to Puy-en-Velay, crosses this forest. Winter skiing enthusiasts will find their own happiness here.

A road, connected, connects this vast natural promontory to the villages of Bordeyrac and Espinasse. At more than 1 000 m altitude, the camp of Antoune is at the top of a basaltic casting that dominates the gorges of the Loire. At the entrance to the site, an explanatory panel, with plan, provides indications on this platform that was fortified, probably in the Celtic era. In the periphery of this hectare plateau, you will notice remains of some small watchtower. Interestingly, the places have a magnetism that going the compass needle and the radiesthésie antennae. This site is now protected and registered by the association Les Amis d'Antoune.

Words may sometimes be misleading. This lake, as you will have understood, is not really one. It is a bog nestled between two volcanoes. But is that why the point is not worth a detour? Quite the opposite! The flora is particularly rich in this cool and cool place and the fans of this fruit of the wood that is raspberry will be filled. The egg lake is just a few kilometres away from Montbonnet.

Le, or large Testavoyre is the highest point of Meygal (1 435 m altitude). The rise is, we can say, derisory compared with the exceptional view you have at the summit. It is a complete panorama of the mountains, valleys and landscapes of almost all the Haute-Loire which you will have the privilege to discover. In the distance you can admire the Puys chain and, by the way, the Alps. A 360-degree angle of view! Little curiosity, the volcanic rock of this volcano is made up of phonolithe that make your sonic walk!

By entering Chaudeyrolles (from Saint-Julien-Chapteuil), take the first road on the right after the church and continue to descend until you have a magnificent view of the so-called Chaudron de Chaudeyrolles (where still "Les Narces"). Then you will find an explanatory panel on Lignon trout on the left. You are there. Along a meadow where cows and bulls graze in peace, a trail rises in the middle of the grass. Follow it and climb a gorge carved in basalt, it will take you to the bottom of the Cascade waterfall or Salin waterfall. From between two rocks, Lignon makes a stop in the middle of the cliff (a shallow "pot" about three metres in diameter was shaped by the water) before pouring down to the bottom of the cliff to quietly regain its bed. Nice waterfall. You can go back to the right bank to reach the upper level. This part is more rugged. A cable shakes or, it is not a hand for hiker but it is used in winter for climbing the ice walls!

Located 1 250 metres above sea level, the Longetraye cave is accessible from the village of Freycenet-la-Cuche by a two-kilometre trail. Excavated in ancient lava flows, this cave sheltered prehistoric men more than 12 000 years ago. Yet it was almost destroyed by the rocky exploitation at the end of the th century. This trail is therefore a tribute to those who fought to save it.

Tariff: free.

Duration: 2 h.

Difficulty: .