Home / Blog

The Val de Sioule on foot: walks near Gannat

Published 5 November 2026

The Val de Sioule is a great place to explore on foot, all year round. From Gannat, there is an 8 km loop starting in the town itself, the Mont Libre, and less than half an hour's drive away the Chouvigny gorges, the hillsides of Ébreuil and the viaducts of Saint-Bonnet-de-Rochefort. Here is a selection of waymarked walks, with distances and times, and our tips for walking in autumn and winter.

From Gannat: the Mont Libre

The Mont Libre loop, 8 km and about 2 h 15, starts in Gannat and climbs the hill overlooking the town. It crosses the Mont Libre protected natural area and passes near the site where a fossil rhinoceros skeleton was found in 1993, now on display in Gannat's museum. On a clear day, the view stretches across the Limagne plain. Moderate level. Dogs must be kept on a lead.

The Sioule gorges at Chouvigny

The Chemin des Murailles

Short but steep: 2.5 km and about 50 minutes from Chouvigny town hall, as a loop, with yellow waymarks. The climb is steep on part of the route, but the view over the gorges, the castle and the church is worth it. The path can be walked all year round; recommended IGN map: 2529 O. In July and August, the inside of the Château de Chouvigny is open to visitors: a good way to round off the walk in summer. The detailed route sheet is on the tourist office website (in French).

The Table de Péraclos

For a proper day's walking, the Table de Péraclos loop is 11 km and takes 3 h to 3 h 30, at a fairly difficult level. It leads to a megalith and crosses the Landes de Péraclos, a 21-hectare protected natural area managed by the Département, where more than 30 species of butterfly have been recorded.

Ébreuil and Saint-Bonnet-de-Rochefort

• Sainte-Foy la Chapelle, from Ébreuil: 6 km, about 2 h, moderate. The loop links the Abbatiale Saint-Léger with the Sainte-Foy and Saint-Michel chapels on the hillside. Part of it follows the GR 463.
• Les Tressots, from Saint-Bonnet-de-Rochefort: 6.5 km, about 2 h, moderate. The route offers views of the Rouzat and Neuvial viaducts, two railway bridges over the Sioule.
• Saint-André de Taxat, from Charroux: 6 km, about 2 h, moderate.
• Les terrasses de la Sioule, in Bègues: an 8.5 km route of about 1 h 45, new in 2026.

These loops are part of the "10 randos à faire en Val de Sioule" selection by the Val de Sioule tourist office. Printed route sheets cost €0.50 at the tourist office branches, including the one in Gannat, at the Maison du Tourisme, place du Champ de Foire (04 70 90 17 78).

In the Puy-de-Dôme: Château-Rocher

Following the Sioule south, the ruins of Château-Rocher overlook the gorges at Saint-Rémy-de-Blot. A loop of about 5 km and 1 h 30, with 200 m of ascent, starts from the town hall car park; blue waymarks, moderate level. The site is open access all year round. Information on the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tourisme website.

Walking in autumn and winter

• Remember the hunting season. Hunting is open in the Allier in autumn and winter. Respect "chasse en cours" or "battue" (hunt in progress) signs, stay on waymarked paths and wear bright colours. Sunday is often the busiest hunting day.
• Keep your dog close, on a lead in protected natural areas.
• Set off early: in December, it gets dark around 5 pm.
• Wear good shoes: paths in the gorges are often wet and slippery in winter.

For other ways to discover the river, see our article on a canoe trip on the Sioule (in season) or horse riding in Jenzat. After your walk, our country gîtes and houses, including the Saint-Bonnet gîtes near the start of Les Tressots, can be booked from one night, with cleaning and linen included. Any questions? Call us on 06 52 16 01 57.