The PR313 “Les maisons fortes” starts and ends in Ouides; the PR314 “Le château d’Agrain” reaches the village and leads to the Château d’Agrain. The remains of the 13th-century château are another highlight. This gives you different priorities to consider when planning your trip: a moderate hike with sections near Prunet, and a longer, challenging route associated with the former fortress. If you’re looking for accommodation in Ouides, you can start by deciding how much hiking you’d like to do and how interested you are in the château.

PR313: Ravine, Stream and the Houses of Prunet

The PR313 is a moderate 11.1-kilometre hike with a stated duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes. It starts and ends in Ouides. The route descends into the Prunet ravine, crosses a stream and then climbs up to the houses of Prunet. It connects specific places with a sequence of descent, stream crossing and ascent.

The landscape is another point of interest: the PR313 runs along the edge of a volcanic plateau. Small streams have cut into the plateau and flow towards the Allier. So, if you’re choosing a hike based on its landscape features, the Prunet ravine, the plateau’s edge and the streams towards the Allier are all specific points of interest.

PR314 and the Château d’Agrain

The PR314 is classified as a challenging 15.2-kilometre hike with a stated duration of 4 hours and 30 minutes. It leads to the Château d’Agrain and reaches Ouides. The château is a former fortress overlooking the Malaval gorges. This makes the historic site an integral part of this longer hike.

The remains of the 13th-century château are in Ouides. The surviving parts consist of a keep, an elongated residential building and an entrance barbican. These three features give the remaining structure a distinct form: a keep, a longer residential building and a fortified entrance area. The Château d’Agrain was listed as a historic monument by decree dated 14 May 1992.

Choose a Hike by Duration and Focus

For a shorter, moderate hike, the PR313 is the option with the lower stated duration and distance. The PR314 is considerably longer, is classified as challenging and leads to the Château d’Agrain. Comparing the two helps you plan your hiking day around your available time and interests, rather than treating the routes as equivalent alternatives. If you’re mainly interested in the route through the Prunet ravine and to the houses of Prunet, those sections are on the PR313; the château is the main destination on the PR314.

Before You Hike

Before setting off, check the latest route information and trail conditions. This is especially helpful if the stated duration or difficulty level affects your plans for the day. You can then choose between the moderate PR313 and the longer, challenging PR314 based on the latest route information.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Bonnet-Le-Froid, Saint-Privat-D'allier, Puy-En-Velay, Langeac, Connangles, Saint-Julien-Des-Chazes, Moudeyres, Beaune-sur-Arzon

For the broader travel overview: Haute-Loire.