Puy-En-Velay - St. Privat-d'Allier Haute-Loire, France Trails Index | Via Podiensis

Le-Puy-en-Velay is the end of the Via Gebennensis and the beginning of the Via Podiensis. Most impressive are the former volcanoes people have built things on. I climbed up the tallest sheer tower of baslt to visit the Rocher Saint-Michel, a church built atop a spire of rock at the center of town. The cathedral on another hill in town with stones carved of pumice leading up to it is also impressive. The arch exiting onto the start of the Via Podiensis is a postcard from the town. After Le-Puy along the red dirt roads one hikes up and up and up. Then the trail flattens out. In the town of Saint-Christophe-Sur-Dolaizon there is water and a small store with a café and restaurant. then it's a long, slow climb across seemingly endless fields to Montbonnet. There is a a water tap, but the café might not be open. After that it's just another hour to the medieval town of St. Privat-d'Allier on a ridge over the river valley.

Hikes:

September 11^th, 2026 Tournecol to Saint-Christophe-Sur-Dolaizon (Blog | Photos)
September 12^th, 2026 Saint-Christophe-sur-Dolaizon to Saint-Privat-d'Allier (Blog | Photos)