Araules can be explored through a variety of hiking trails and places with their own architectural and commemorative histories. Two hiking routes are particularly interesting for planning: the PR639 leads to Pic du Lizieux and has a specified length and duration. The PR513 connects Araules and Recharinges; forest and views of the Sucs range feature in its description. There are also churches and the Mémorial de Chièze, each of which deals with different historical themes.
Hiking: two different routes
The PR639 Le sentier de Bonas is a 5.17 km hiking trail in Araules. The stated duration is 1 hour and 30 minutes. The trail leads to Pic du Lizieux and thus to a summit offering a 360-degree panorama reaching as far as the Alps. If you want to include a hike with a specified distance and duration in your plans, you will find those details for this route.
The PR513 Entre Lizieux et Meygal runs from Araules to Recharinges. Its route passes through a forest and offers views of the Sucs range. This makes its described route different from that of the PR639: here, the focus is on the connection between two places, the forest stretch and the views. Which route better suits your plans depends on whether the stated distance and duration or the change of starting and ending point is more important to you when hiking.
Pic du Lizieux: summit views and geology
Pic du Lizieux is a volcanic dome formed from an ancient lava flow. The summit panorama and the geological formation are different aspects of the same distinctive place: the view stretches far, while its geological history explains its volcanic origin. The PR639 Le sentier de Bonas leads to Pic du Lizieux. From Araules, Pic du Lizieux can be reached via the D42.
When planning your hike, you can choose between the described route to the summit and the PR513 to Recharinges. The PR639 has a stated distance and duration; the PR513 is characterized by the places along the route, the forest and the views. These are specific points of reference for choosing, without treating the two routes as the same.
Churches and memorial sites
The present-day Église Notre-Dame d'Araules is neo-Romanesque. It was built between 1870 and 1873 on the site of a Romanesque church dating from the 12th century. The church houses the painting “Notre Dame d'Araules,” which was classified as a historic monument in 2014. The building's history and the painting offer two different points of interest: the development of the church site and the recognition of a particular work of art.
The Église de Recharinges has a different origin story: it was converted from a disused barn. A bell tower was added around 1873; its interior is distinguished by a clean, modern design. At the Temple de Montbuzat, by contrast, the construction dates are the main focus: work began in 1818 and was completed in 1886. Together with Notre-Dame, these sites illustrate different architectural histories, from a church with a 12th-century predecessor to a temple built over several decades.
The Mémorial de Chièze is located at 205 Route des Résistants in the Montbuzat district of Araules. It commemorates the events of 22 April 1944 and honors civilians, members of the Resistance and unnamed victims. As of August 2026, the memorial was freely accessible at all times. The memorial site complements visits to the churches with a specific historical connection and makes the theme of remembrance visible in Araules.
Find accommodation for your stay
The routes and cultural sites offer different points of reference, without setting a fixed order for your trip.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Vergezac, Paulhaguet, Saint-Just-Près-Brioude, Saint-Vincent, Aiguilhe, Connangles, Prades, Villeneuve-D'allier.
For the main travel overview: Haute-Loire.
