Clavières can be explored from different perspectives: from the summit panorama at Mont-Mouchet to trails that take in the landscape and local history. For planning, specific route details provide guidance: trail markings, distances and difficulty levels vary considerably. The themes vary too, from sweeping views to places of remembrance.
Panoramas at Mont-Mouchet
The summit of Mont-Mouchet lies in Clavières at an elevation of 1,497 m. An orientation table there shows a 360-degree panorama stretching from the Monts du Cantal to the Monts du Velay. At Mont-Mouchet, free, self-guided visits for individuals are possible all year round, provided weather conditions are favourable.
The Puech Farrat route offers another perspective. It climbs from Clavières to Puech Farrat and opens up views of the volcanic landscape of Cantal and the table-like heights of Aubrac. Along the way, it passes a stele honouring members of the Resistance. The route combines views of the volcanic landscape of Cantal and the heights of Aubrac with a stele honouring members of the Resistance.
Hiking trails with different highlights
“La Croix de la Paille” is a free, marked 6 km circular hike with a blue, intermediate difficulty rating. There are six information panels along the route. It follows forest paths and logging roads, reaches the summit of the Margeride and runs partly through woodland and along forest edges. If you plan to take the optional detour to the 1,370 m-high Rocher Chantal, allow an extra hour. From there, views extend across Aubrac and the Monts du Cantal.
Views are also a highlight of “Le Chemin des écoliers”: the route offers views of the volcanic massif of the Monts du Cantal, Saint-Flour with its cathedral, and the Aubrac Plateau. It also passes the “Crouzette”, a cross of which only the granite base remains. The route thus combines a panorama with a specific relic along the way; the viewpoints mentioned differ from those at Rocher Chantal.
Places of remembrance and local history
The “Sentier des Maquisards” connects Mont Mouchet in Haute-Loire with the communities of Clavières, Ruynes-en-Margeride, Chaliers, Lorcières, Val d’Arcomie, Fridefont, Saint-Martial, Maurines and Anterrieux. Around Clavières, twelve steles, four monuments and an ossuary commemorate the tragic events of June 1944. In this area, 64 members of the Resistance were killed.
Smaller historical traces are also part of the character of the place. In the hamlet of Masset stands an old communal bread oven; in the past, each family baked its bread there once a month. In the first half of the 20th century, Clavières had six schools. These included a Catholic institution in the village, commonly called the “Couvent”. This local history complements the places of remembrance with a glimpse into the everyday lives of earlier generations.
The “Le Mont Mouchet et la Bête” mountain biking loop leads to the Mémorial de la Résistance. Visitors can view the memorial and visit the museum there; check access conditions before your trip. The loop starts at the car park on the outskirts of Clavières, on the D4.
A challenging cycling loop
The “Entre Arcomie et Margeride” cycle route is an unmarked 106.5 km loop with 1,886 m of elevation gain. It is rated black, meaning very difficult. Its distance, elevation gain and rating make it a demanding tour in its own right, clearly distinct from the shorter hiking routes. In the heights of Clavières, the cycle route offers a picnic stop with panoramic views of the Planèze de Saint-Flour and the Monts du Cantal. This gives you both specific route requirements and a choice of different landscapes to consider.
Discover more destinations: Loubaresse, Lacapelle-Viescamp, Vic-Sur-Cère, Méallet, Chalvignac, Faverolles, Sansac-De-Marmiesse, Ally.
For the broader travel overview: Cantal.
