Mazirat by the Rochebut Reservoir

Mazirat lies on the Retenue de Rochebut, which extends across Mazirat and Teillet-Argenty and is fed by the Cher and the Tardes. The reservoir is located in a gorge area; steep slopes shape its wild character. Several themes come together in Mazirat: hiking routes, activities on the Rochebut and local culture. Differences in route length, water activities and building history give you concrete points to consider when planning your trip.

Hiking to the Gué de Sellat

The Les Dames de Charly circular trail starts in Mazirat and is 7.4 kilometres long. It leads to the Gué de Sellat and offers views of the Cher from elevated spots. A longer route is the GR41 des Gorges du Cher: it comprises 74 kilometres of marked trails between the Gué de Sellat in Mazirat and Epineuil-le-Fleuriel on the border with the Cher département. These figures describe two different types of route: a circular hike starting in Mazirat and a marked trail that begins at the Gué and continues to Epineuil-le-Fleuriel. If you are planning to hike the GR41, check the current trail conditions.

Nature along the Cher

The Gué de Sellat is also a reference point for the nature observations described along the Cher. The protected and endangered orange-spotted emerald (Cordulie à corps fin, Oxygastra curtisii) was observed there in 1996; its reproduction was also confirmed at this site. The information about the European bullhead (Chabot, Cottus perifretum) in the Cher near the Gué de Sellat is based on older data.

Water and activities at Rochebut

At the Retenue de Rochebut, there is a slipway on the Saint-Marien peninsula, accessible from Mazirat via Entraigues. At the Barrage de Rochebut, there is a slipway, an access road and a car park. The fishing route carries the “Parcours Passion” label. Check local information about access before travelling.

The Club motonautique de Rochebut also enables non-members to take part in water skiing, monoskiing, slalom, tricks, wakeboarding and tubing, either for leisure or in competition. If you plan to participate, arrange the details with the club in advance.

Small-scale heritage and Église Saint-Martin

The Fontaine Saint-Martin is part of the “Petit patrimoine”, or small-scale heritage. Another cultural landmark in the village is the Église Saint-Martin, built in 1883. Its architectural features include a stone spire and a carillon with three bells. The spire forms the uppermost part of the tower; in this case, it is made of stone. The stained-glass windows depict Saint Martin, Saint Radegund, Saint Marien, Saint Abdon and Saint Sennen. The construction date, carillon and five figures depicted offer different points of interest if you are interested in local architecture and religious heritage.

Discover more destinations: Laprugne, Bressolles, Montmarault, Ébreuil, Thionne, Saint-Menoux, Lalizolle, Desertines

For the main travel overview: Allier.