A waterfall in the forest, hikes of varying durations and a museum trail about Antoine Roussel and Victor Mornac give Laqueuille several different ways to explore. The origins of Bleu d’Auvergne are also part of the town’s history. If you are looking for accommodation, you can first consider whether hiking, scenery or heritage will be the focus of your stay.

Compare hiking routes by duration

The La Borne des Quatre Seigneurs loop leads to the Cascade du Trador and then to the summit of the Banne d’Ordanche. It is rated difficult, is 19 km long, marked in green and has a stated duration of 5 hours 30 minutes. This calls for a considerably longer time commitment than the shorter Les Hauts de Laqueuille hike.

Les Hauts de Laqueuille is 8.5 km long, takes about two hours and has 200 metres of elevation gain. Its distance and stated duration offer a different point of comparison with the 19 km loop; the elevation gain adds the ascent to your planning. Another trail to the Cascade du Trador, close to Laqueuille, is 1.1 km long and takes about 30 minutes. This gives you several different durations to choose from: about half an hour, around two hours or five and a half hours for the loop rated difficult. Check the latest route information before setting out, as the figures may be updated.

Waterfall, rock formations and views

The Cascade du Trador lies in the forest and cascades over basalt columns in two stages. The stream descending from the Banne d’Ordanche crosses a lava flow there, part of a geological formation two million years old. The stream and rock formation make the waterfall a natural feature with a specific geological history. By contrast, the views are the main attraction on Les Hauts de Laqueuille: the route offers views of the Puy de Dôme, the Chaîne des Puys, the Banne d’Ordanche, pastures, Limousin and its plateaus.

Local history and Bleu d’Auvergne

Laqueuille has a museum trail called “De bleu et de sang”. Two exhibition displays are dedicated to Antoine Roussel and Victor Mornac; the two main stops are the presbytery in Laqueuille and the Caves de l’Empego. The presbytery stands on the spur where Laqueuille Castle once stood. The Caves de l’Empego served as cheese-aging cellars for descendants of the Roussel family, who trace their lineage to Antoine Roussel, until the end of the 20th century. Together, the stops span the site of the former castle and the cheese-making tradition.

Antoine Roussel l’Aîné led experiments with his younger brother that resulted in the first Bleu d’Auvergne made from cow’s milk. A bust of Antoine Roussel l’Aîné was erected in Laqueuille’s square in 1933. These connections link the town’s history with the development of the cheese, without attributing the experiments to one person alone.

A springtime connection and planning your stay

In spring, Laqueuille is known for its daffodil fields. This seasonal feature offers a useful consideration when choosing your travel dates, alongside the distances and durations of the hikes. When selecting dates for your stay, you can therefore consider the daffodil fields in spring and the desired extent of your hiking itinerary as separate planning factors.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Bonnet-Lès-Allier, Picherande, Saint-Bonnet-Le-Chastel, Fournols, Cunlhat, Vollore-Montagne, Gerzat, Mazaye.

Go to the main travel overview: Puy-De-Dôme.