Égliseneuve-près-Billom lies at the edge of the Parc naturel régional du Livradois-Forez. In the town center, the settlement is grouped around an 11th-century church, partly surrounded by the remains of the priory. There are also hikes with different highlights: passing beneath fortification walls, descending into the Madet Valley, or heading to viewpoints overlooking castles and mountain ranges. The town’s history and landscape are therefore equally central; for practical planning, the location of the historic buildings and the particular features of each trail are especially important.
Church and Priory in the Town Center
The church and convent buildings remain from the former Benedictine priory of Notre-Dame, Saint-Férréol. The 11th-century church defines the town center and is partly surrounded by the remains of the priory. The townscape thus brings together the church as its focal point and the visible traces of the former priory.
A small chapel open to the outside was added to the priory church in 1786, south of the third bay. A bay is a section of a church building; this location places the addition in a specific part of the church. Its date and position identify the chapel as a later addition to the older church building. Visitors interested in architecture can discover a specific addition to the priory’s history here, rather than judging the church only by its age.
Hiking Trails and Different Viewpoints
The Égliseneuve-près-Billom–Saint-Jean-des-Ollières weekend hiking trail passes beneath the fortification walls of Égliseneuve-près-Billom. A short detour leads to the church and to a viewpoint overlooking Billom, the Limagne, and the Chaîne des Puys. The trail thus combines a stretch along the walls with a detour to the church and a view over the surrounding landscapes.
A circular trail descends into the Madet Valley and offers views of the Château de Montmorin, the Chaîne des Puys, and the Massif du Sancy. As of August 2026, La Roche aux Fées is listed as a moderately difficult hike covering 7.7 km and taking three hours. A hike along the scenic trails of the Madet Valley is 8.5 km long and starts at the washhouse in Les Pierrys. In terms of distance, this Madet Valley hike is longer than La Roche aux Fées; the duration and difficulty level are also specified for La Roche. Before setting out, check the route details for the weekend hiking trail, as well as the conditions and access for the route starting from Les Pierrys.
Panorama from the Butte de Méraille
At the Butte de Méraille, an orientation table offers a 360-degree view of the castles of Ravel, Mauzun, and Montmorin, as well as the Monts Dore, Monts Dôme, Monts du Forez, and Pierre-sur-Haute. The panorama thus brings together named castles and mountain ranges. The table helps visitors orient themselves if they want to identify individual landmarks while looking out over the landscape. Together with the viewpoints along the hiking trails, it offers more than one way to take in the surroundings: once from along a trail, and once in a panoramic view from a viewpoint.
Discover more destinations: Pontgibaud, Cros, Naves, Charbonnier-les-Mines, Saint-Pierre-Colamine, La Bourboule, Peschadoires, Ménétrol.
For the broader travel overview: Puy-De-Dôme.
