Valuéjols offers trails through the Planèze landscape, specific winter routes and places of cultural and historical interest. For choosing a season, the Bois des Fraux is a notable landmark: walks are possible there in summer and winter, with snowshoeing also available in winter. Churches and chapels offer other points of interest throughout the year; an apiary adds the option of visits by appointment.
Forest and Trails in Valuéjols
The Bois des Fraux is one of the few wooded areas in the Planèze. An 18-kilometre, easily accessible circular trail around the Bois passes through forest, summer pastures and villages. This succession of landscapes makes the route a specific option for anyone choosing a trail based on more than just its distance. Valuéjols is also part of the Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d’Auvergne.
Long-distance trails also provide a framework for planning: the GR4 passes through Valuéjols, which forms a stage between the Plomb du Cantal and Saint-Flour. Valuéjols is also a stage on the Les Boucles du Tour de la Planèze long-distance trail. For mountain bikers, the Circuit des estives circular route starts in Lescure, in Valuéjols. This gives you a choice of different routes: a circular trail through a series of landscapes, stages on long-distance trails and a mountain biking circuit.
Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoe Trails
The winter activities vary in distance and type. Les Mouthes is a 4.9-kilometre circular trail for classic or skate-style cross-country skiing. At Les Rhodes, a three-kilometre cross-country ski route follows wide forest tracks, also for classic or skate-style skiing. The Le Ché Nordic area lies at an altitude of 1,240 to 1,450 metres and has 15 kilometres of trails, including three cross-country ski routes for both styles.
These figures refer to different route offerings: the three kilometres at Les Rhodes and the 4.9 kilometres at Les Mouthes each refer to a single route, while the 15 kilometres indicate the total trail length in the Le Ché area. If you would rather go snowshoeing or ski touring than cross-country skiing, the Voie blanche La Forêt offers an easy circular trail through the forest. Snowshoeing is also possible in winter at the Bois des Fraux.
Churches and Local History
The Church of Saint-Saturnin has appeared in the records of Moissac since 804 and has been listed in France’s supplementary inventory of historical monuments since 1928. It houses an altarpiece carved by Antoine Boyer and gilded by Noël Verdier in 1696. The historical references therefore range from an early mention of the church to a specific work of art from the 17th century.
In Lescure, within Valuéjols, stands Notre-Dame de la Visitation, a pilgrimage church. The present-day church contains a chapel built in 1725, which replaced an earlier oratory and was incorporated into the church as its choir. Another local landmark is the Notre-Dame du Bon Secours chapel in Nouvialle, built in 1858 on the initiative of Abbé Roussilhe.
Miel et merveilles du Cantal offers a different kind of local encounter. Apiary tours and an introduction to the life of bees are available by appointment. You will therefore need to arrange a time for this visit.
Accommodation on the GR4
The Gîte d'étape de Valuéjols is located on the GR4 in the Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d’Auvergne. It offers twelve beds in bunk beds, a kitchenette, a communal room, and bathroom facilities with a shower and toilet. For travellers choosing accommodation based on its proximity to a long-distance trail, its location on the GR4 is a clear point of reference. Check availability before booking.
You can choose your travel focus based on the specific differences in the area: forest and long-distance trails, cross-country skiing over several distances, or places of cultural and historical interest. If you would like to plan an apiary visit, remember to arrange an appointment.
Discover more destinations: Carlat, Saint-Gérons, Alleuze, Vieillevie, Maurs, Bassignac, Boisset, Faverolles.
For the broader travel overview: Cantal.
