Visitors choosing Espinasse as a destination can focus on hiking, heritage or a garden visit. Two circular routes offer practical guidance for planning: “Sur les Traces des Faux-Sauniers” is 14 kilometres long and rated difficult; the loop around Puy de Chazelle covers about 12.5 kilometres and takes approximately three hours and 30 minutes. The sites of Saint-Martin and Pierrebrune, along with the history of La Villefranche, add other points of interest to the hiking trails.

Hiking Trails and Views

“Sur les Traces des Faux-Sauniers” starts at Place de l’Église in Espinasse. The yellow-marked circular route first crosses a wooded hill and then passes through bocage landscapes. Its length and difficulty make it a challenging choice; when planning, allow for the 14 kilometres as a distinct time and distance commitment. Along the way, there are views of Puy de Dôme, the Sancy and the Combrailles Plateau.

The loop around Puy de Chazelle lies within the municipality of Espinasse. The approximately 12.5-kilometre route is estimated to take about three hours and 30 minutes. From the summit, views stretch across the Combrailles Plateau and towards the Chaîne des Puys. You can factor the distance and approximate duration directly into your day’s plans, without equating this tour with the route of the Faux-Sauniers, which is explicitly described as difficult. Check the route details for Puy de Chazelle before setting out.

Espinasse’s leisure activities also include marked trails. The hiking trails offer views of the Chaîne des Puys; when choosing a route, you can consider this landscape view alongside the three distant panoramas on the Faux-Sauniers route and the views at Puy de Chazelle. The information provided for the circular routes differs: the difficulty and marking are specified for one, while an approximate duration is given for the other. These offer two different points of reference when weighing up the planned length of your hiking day.

Church, Castle and Local History

Saint-Martin Church houses a painted statue made of white stone. It depicts Saint Margaret of Antioch triumphing over the dragon and dates from the 15th century. The work thus combines a specific religious subject with a clear historical context. Those interested in Espinasse’s heritage will find a different way to experience the area here than on the hiking trails: a single figure whose material, depiction and date of creation are known.

Pierrebrune Castle is also part of Espinasse’s history. It was the residence of the lords of Espinasse, dates from the 13th century and was rebuilt in more recent times. The building’s history thus encompasses both its origins and its later reconstruction. The woods of Pierrebrune offered smugglers numerous hiding places.

La Villefranche was the main headquarters of the Saint-Gervais salt depot. Another historical connection was highlighted during a hiking event: on 18 May 2025, several hundred hikers, taking part in “Ballades remarquables La Montagne,” made a detour to the information stand at the La Villefranche stele in Espinasse. There, they learned about the resistance in the Combrailles, particularly Camp Gabriel Péri. This dated event links a day of hiking with the memory of the region’s resistance history.

A Garden of Medicinal and Edible Plants

“Tisanes en Fleurs” offers visits to a garden of medicinal and edible plants. About 60 medicinal plants grow there alongside numerous wild edible plants. For visitors interested in plants, this offers a distinct focus alongside the circular routes and historic sites. The approximate number of medicinal plants and the additional wild edible plants give a concrete sense of what a garden visit involves, without equating it with a general stroll or a hike.

Espinasse brings together several different interests: an explicitly difficult, yellow-marked 14-kilometre loop, a second circular hike with an approximate duration, historic sites and a garden of plants open to visitors. As you plan your trip, you can decide which of these you would like to focus on.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Rémy-De-Chargnat, Saint-Julien-La-Geneste, Picherande, Manglieu, Villosanges, Fournols, Besse-Et-Saint-Anastaise, Dallet

For the broader travel guide: Puy-De-Dôme.