- L’Autre Chemin
- Séjours
- Bike Tour in the Allier gorges
780€ / pers
Allier Gorges bike tour
A delightful mix of hiking and cycling to discover the Allier River along the Auvergne cycle route: the Via Allier. On the itinerary: Brioude, Auzon, Lavoûte-Chilhac, Langeac, Chanteuges, and Prades before heading back up to the hills to reach Siaugues-St-Romain, Chavaniac-Lafayette (an American interlude in the heart of Haute-Loire), Domeyrat, and Lavaudieu. Your stops will be punctuated by pleasant and varied stops, offering you the opportunity to discover the heritage, local gastronomy, and meet the locals!
To plan your stay, check out our tips!
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The advantages of your cycling trip:
- You travel independently and follow a specially adapted route.
- Easy to navigate, you have access to a digital guidance app.
- Your stops are organized in guesthouses or hotels offering comfort, discovery, authenticity, and a change of scenery.
- Your luggage is delivered at each stop (1 bag max. 13kg/person).
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If you are not traveling with your own bicycles, please contact us and we will provide you with the details of a local rental shop.
Votre parcours :
- Dénivelé 2425m – Routes de pays et chemins faciles
- Voyage à vélo en liberté, vous choisissez votre départ
- Parcours accessible au plus grand nombre avec l’assistance électrique
- En famille : Enfants à partir de 14 ans selon l’aisance à vélo
- En chambre personnelle (chambre d’hôtes, gites, hôtels ou insolites)
- Quel climat ? consultez nos Questions fréquentes
- IMPORTANT : le voyage à vélo nécessite une bonne autonomie dans la gestion du vélo : Savoir changer une chambre à air, remettre une chaîne « déraillée » mais aussi une bonne maîtrise du pilotage d’un vélo.
Nota : Les étapes sont données à titre indicatif et peuvent être modifiées selon les disponibilités hébergeurs.
Welcome to Brioude, the western gateway to the Haute-Loire region.
Labeled "Town and Crafts" and "Most Beautiful Detours in France," this small town with a southern flair boasts a rich heritage, including the largest Romanesque basilica in Auvergne.
Lively, Brioude hosts a renowned temporary exhibition every year at the Hôtel du Doyenné.
Discover:
> The Basilica of Saint-Julien
> The Old Town
> The Hôtel du Doyenné
> The Hôtel de la Dentelle
> The Maison du Saumon
Photo credit: Haute-Loire Tourist Office
Your cycling trip begins with a lovely loop that takes you along the Via Allier and a few small roads to the village of Auzon, a "Petites Villes de caractère" (Small Towns of Character) built on a rocky promontory.
This will be an opportunity to discover this village, which is home to medieval remains and cobblestone streets.
Discover:
• Azérat
> Its fortified Romanesque church
> The Benedictine springs
• Auzon
> The Collegiate Church of Saint-Laurent
> The Porte du Brugelet
> Auzon Eco-museum
> The original Vespa museum
Photo credit: Haute-Loire Tourist Office
Today, you'll leave the town of Brioude for Langeac, following the Allier River along the Via Allier.
Along the way, you'll discover the charming villages of Vieille-Brioude, Saint-Ilpize, Lavoûte-Chilhac, listed among the "Most Beautiful Villages of France," and Chilhac, labeled "Small Towns of Character." A wealth of heritage nestled on the water's edge.
Discover:
• Vieille-Brioude
> The Vine and Wine Museum
> The Bridge over the Allier
• Saint-Ilpize
> The Medieval Castle and its 12th-Century Chapel
• Lavoûte-Chilhac
> The Cluniac Priory
> The Medieval Bridge
> The Church of the Holy Cross
> The Bird House
• Chilhac
> The Columnar Columns
> The Paleontology Museum
> The Winegrowers' Houses
• Langeac
> The Collegiate Church of Saint-Gal
> The Jacquemard (Lace) Museum
> The Agnès de Langeac History Museum
A day in the heart of the Allier Gorges. Your route will take you to the foothills of the Devez Plateau to reach the village of Siaugues-St-Romain. You'll then enjoy numerous viewpoints over the gorges before descending to the charming village of Prades and its basalt columns. Guided by the river, you'll easily reach Sainte-Marie de Chazes and its chapel at water's edge before continuing on to Saint-Arcons-d'Allier and Chanteuges. Places to discover:
• Siaugues-Saint-Romain
> Remains of the castle (private, not open to the public)
> Limagne Marshes
• Prades
> La Roche Servière
> The beach (supervised swimming in summer)
> The ruins of the castle
• Saint-Julien-de-Chazes
> The Sainte-Marie-de-Chazes chapel on the banks of the Allier
> The remains of the Saint-Arcons d’Allier monastery
> The village
• Chanteuges
> The Saint-Marcellin church
> The former abbey and cloister
> The National Wild Salmon Conservatory
It's time to return to Brioude... Today you'll change rivers and cycle alongside the Sénouire River. It's also an opportunity to discover beautiful villages like Chavaniac-Lafayette, Domeyrat and its medieval castle, and Lavaudieu, listed as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages of France."
Discover:
• Chavaniac-Lafayette
> Lafayette's birthplace
> The gardens of the National Conservatory of Botany
• Domeyrat
> The medieval castle
• Lavaudieu
> Magnificent village bathed by the Sénouire River
> Lavaudieu Abbey
> The Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions
End of our services after breakfast
This price includes:
- Accommodation in hotels or guesthouses, in a private double or twin, multiple, family, or single room (surcharge applies) depending on the booking configuration
- Half-board stays (dinner + overnight stay + breakfast)
- Tourist taxes
- Luggage transfer to the next stop on touring days (1 bag max 13kg / person)
- Access to the route-guidance app & travel journal
- The route map (1 copy / group of travelers)
- Phone assistance
Optional:
- Comprehensive cancellation insurance
- Single room supplement
This price does not include:
- Transport and transfers to the starting point
- Meals other than those included in the chosen package
- Bike rental (contact details of a local rental provider will be provided)
- GPX tracks (we do not provide GPX tracks)
- Parking
- Drinks, spending money, and any optional visits or activities
- Booking fees
- Cancellation insurance
Booking fees
- €12 / person for online orders
- €15 / person via quote issuance
Accommodation
L’Autre Chemin has developed strong partnerships with a wide range of guesthouses and traditional small hotels, allowing us to offer you the very best of Haute-Loire. Each overnight stay becomes another opportunity to discover the region’s architecture, way of life, and gastronomy, while also enjoying meaningful encounters and genuine hospitality.
Half Board
When you choose one of our half-board holidays, your package includes dinner (generally a set menu) and breakfast. Please note that breakfast may be continental or international, depending on the accommodation.
If you have any food allergies or special dietary requirements, we kindly ask you to inform us when booking. Our accommodation partners can generally cater for guests who:
- Have medically diagnosed food allergies that may trigger immune system reactions and potentially severe responses, such as anaphylaxis (e.g. allergies to honey, tree nuts, shellfish, etc.).
- Follow a vegetarian diet. (Unfortunately, due to the complexity and operational constraints for our accommodation providers, we are unable to offer holidays that accommodate a vegan diet.)
- Follow a religious dietary requirement.
For food intolerances (digestive difficulties in processing certain foods, such as lactose or gluten) and other dietary restrictions, we will notify your accommodation provider in advance. However, some establishments may find it difficult to accommodate the growing variety of dietary requirements. We therefore kindly ask you to adapt your meal choices to the menus provided during your stay and, where appropriate, to bring any necessary supplementary items, such as gluten-free bread or other specialised products.
Please note: Additional charges may apply for special diets, depending on the policies of individual accommodation providers.
By Train
The town of Brioude has its own railway station.
By Car
- Paris: 490 km
- Lyon: 230 km
- Marseille: 450 km
- Toulouse: 340 km
- Grenoble: 285 km
Where to Park in Brioude
A free, unattended car park is available at:
Remparts Car Park
63 Avenue de Lamothe, 43100 Brioude
Whether you would like to book your electric bike holiday in the Haut-Allier Gorges or simply have a few questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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