The GR300 long-distance hiking trail reaches Les Pradeaux from the D34 via a forest path and passes along the cemetery as it enters the village. In the village centre, it runs along Rue du Pont, Rue de la Mairie and Chemin du Port. After crossing the village, it heads towards the Allier; then the GR300 continues along the river to Nonette. This makes it possible to follow the route from its approach, through the village streets, to its continuation beside the river. When planning your hike, you can decide whether to focus more on the village section or the river stretch that follows.
Hiking: through and near Les Pradeaux
Another hike, La vallée de Parcelles, starts in Saint-Martin-des-Plains, not in Les Pradeaux. It is 11 km long, rated moderate and listed as taking 3 hours and 15 minutes. After the Grange-Fort estate, it passes close to the village of Les Pradeaux. Along the way, the route passes an old brickworks and then climbs to a 360-degree panoramic view. To help you choose, it is useful to distinguish between passing through and passing nearby: the GR300 goes through the village centre, while La vallée de Parcelles starts outside the village and passes near Les Pradeaux later on. If you would like to plan a hike with specific details on distance, duration and difficulty, these are provided for La vallée de Parcelles.
Cycling the Via Allier
A named cycling route also passes through Les Pradeaux: stage 10 of the Via Allier runs between Issoire and Brassac-les-Mines. It is 27.1 km long, listed as taking 1 hour and 50 minutes, and rated blue, or moderate. These figures apply to the entire stage, not just the section in the village. Compared with La vallée de Parcelles, the listed cycling time can therefore be compared with the hike’s 3 hours and 15 minutes. Since these are different routes and forms of travel, the times help when planning each trip but are not a direct comparison of performance.
The history of Château de La Grange Fort
The barns of Château de La Grange Fort may have been fortified and originally held the tithes of the castellanry of Nonette. Tithes were dues, so the barns also served as storage for these proceeds. Around the 15th century, the land became a fief, held first by the lords of La Grange d’Ambillon and then by Pons de la Grange. Around 1850, the Vicomte de Matharel commissioned the architect Honoré-Auguste Vianne to carry out an extensive restoration of the château in an expressive Neo-Gothic style. Thus, the barns’ original function, the history of the fief and a later architectural transformation are all part of its story.
Rooms and amenities
The tourism listing, updated on 10 January 2026, states that Château de La Grange Fort has five spacious rooms and serves breakfast in the tea room. The same listing also mentions an indoor swimming pool and an outdoor pool, as well as a spa, sauna and massages at Château de La Grange Fort.
Discover more destinations: NĂ©bouzat, Durtol, Montel-de-Gelat, Auzelles, Lezoux, Montaigut, Saint Gal Sur Sioule, Saint-Just
For the overview of the wider area: Puy-De-DĂ´me.
