Saint-Étienne-sur-Usson brings together three different travel interests: a scenic circular hiking route, a circular cycling route that passes through the village, and historical themes relating to the church and Resistance events. This lets you plan your visit around the kind of day you want: a longer walk, a cycling route through several villages, or a focus on history. The options differ both in duration and in whether the village is the starting point of a loop or a section of a longer route.
Hiking the “La ronde des suquets”
The “La ronde des suquets” hiking route is a 12-kilometre circular trail with a stated duration of 3 hours and 45 minutes. It starts from the square below the town hall and war memorial, where parking is available and the route is marked. The starting point is therefore clearly located in the village. Along the way, the trail offers panoramic views of the Monts du Forez, Thiers, the Dore Valley, the Chaîne des Puys, the Sancy, Château de Mauzun and the surrounding villages. The viewpoints range from natural landscapes to villages and a château, so the panorama is not limited to a single subject. Its length, circular route and stated duration give the hike a clear time frame.
Cycling through the village
A second active option is the “Circuit du Val d'Allier – Châteaux et villages au pays de la reine Margot” cycling loop, which runs from Sarpoil along a narrow, winding road to Saint-Étienne-sur-Usson and then continues to Le Vernet-la-Varenne. The village is therefore part of a described sequence between Sarpoil and Le Vernet-la-Varenne, whereas the hike is a loop starting from the square below the town hall. The “Circuit du Val d'Allier” is listed as taking around 3 hours and 10 minutes at an average speed of 20 km/h. The stated times differ by around 35 minutes, providing a rough comparison of the time needed for hiking and cycling. The cycling time is explicitly approximate; the two figures refer to different routes.
Church history and the history of the Resistance
The Église Saint-Étienne was built in the 11th century under the influence of the lords of Nonette. Another milestone in its history came between 1027 and 1038, when Armand de Nonette’s persuasion led to the church being partly donated to the Benedictine monks of Sauxillanges. The church was extensively remodelled in 1886, with the exception of the Romanesque bay that supports the bell tower. A bay is a section of a church building. In this case, that particular Romanesque section was preserved, providing a specific architectural detail alongside the historical dates relating to the church.
The “Chemin de la résistance” circular route focuses on a different period of history. In Saint-Étienne-sur-Usson, it includes one stop and forms part of an open-air museum about Resistance events during the Second World War. Interpretation panels featuring numerous documents present these events. The route is free and accessible at all times. The church and the route therefore cover different periods: the history of the Église Saint-Étienne spans from its construction in the 11th century to its remodelling in 1886, while the “Chemin de la résistance” addresses events from the Second World War.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Victor-La-Rivière, Mirefleurs, Landogne, Murol, Viscomtat, Gerzat, Saint-Victor-Montvianeix, Saint-Bonnet-Le-Chastel
For the main travel overview: Puy-De-Dôme.
