Pontaumur offers a range of options for a trip: the Église Saint-Michel, routes associated with the Sioulet, a fishing area on the river and a group visit to an apiary with a tasting. You can first decide which theme you want to shape your time there. The Sioulet plays two different roles here: as the riverside landscape along a route and as a fishing river. Cultural history and beekeeping complement these nature-related themes with other interests.
Cultural history in Pontaumur
The Église Saint-Michel was built at the very end of the 19th century. Its construction period offers a specific historical point of interest if you would also like to include church architecture in your travel plans alongside the landscape. This provides a cultural theme alongside the routes and fishing area, so your stay need not be defined solely by outdoor activities.
Two routes with different highlights
Les gorges du Sioulet is a 7.5-kilometre circular route, listed as taking two hours and having a moderate difficulty level. Check the route details before setting off. The gorges are described as wild and as an experience for people who appreciate unspoilt landscapes; Pont de Pellefort is highlighted as a key point along the route. Its distance, time estimate and difficulty level give you specific details to help plan this hike.
For Le long du Sioulet – Parcours trail, a route description updated on 25 June 2024 places the start in front of the post office in Pontaumur at Place du Foirail. The route begins with wide views over grassy plateaus between Pontaumur and Miremont, then enters the forest and follows the banks of the Sioulet on the return. This makes the route description quite different from the circular route through the gorges: here, the focus is on the transition between plateaus, forest and riverbanks.
When choosing between the two routes, you can weigh up different criteria: the stated time estimate and moderate difficulty level of the circular route, or the sequence of landscapes on Le long du Sioulet – Parcours trail. Both perspectives are associated with the Sioulet, but each has a different focus.
Fishing on the Sioulet
A tourism description updated on 15 January 2026 lists the Site de pêche – Rivière Le Sioulet in Pontaumur as an open water of the first category, where trout are the main catch. For trout fishing, it lists natural-bait toc fishing, fly fishing and spinning or casting. The fishing area adds a distinct perspective on the Sioulet to the routes: here, the focus is on the water category, fish species and fishing methods.
Apiary visit and practical information
The Miellerie Conservatoire de l'Abeille Noire des Combrailles offers groups a two-hour visit to the apiary with a tasting. Alongside the circular route, which is also listed as taking two hours, this is another activity with a specified duration, but a different focus: a visit to the apiary and a tasting. If you are travelling as a group, you can consider including this offer in your plans.
The “Randonnées en Combrailles” app is available to download for Pontaumur; its availability may change. The Office de Tourisme de Saint Gervais d’Auvergne is listed as the tourist contact associated with Pontaumur. Check the app’s availability before travelling and verify the latest information before getting in touch.
Discover more destinations: La Tour-D'auvergne, Saint-Dier-D'auvergne, Sauret-Besserve, Giat, Enval, Durtol, Saint-Amant-Roche-Savine, Villosanges.
For the wider travel overview: Puy-De-Dôme.
