Saint-Nicolas-Des-Biefs: Moorland, hiking trails and glassmaking culture

Saint-Nicolas-Des-Biefs offers several themes to consider when planning a hotel stay: moorland, marked trails, the history of glassmaking and local festivals. You can plan your trip around nature, outdoor activities or culture. Some activities depend on the season and weather conditions.

Tourbière de la Verrerie

The INPN map dated June 12, 2025, lists Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs among the municipalities in the Tourbière de la Verrerie area. It records an area of 55.67 hectares and an elevation of between 994 and 1,028 metres. The raised bog is home to protected flora, including the round-leaved sundew.

Trails and outdoor activities

Numerous marked trails cross a preserved moorland landscape on the Plateau de la Verrerie. From here, you can enjoy views of the Côte Roannaise; on a clear day, the view also reaches the Mont Blanc range and the Chaîne des Puys. The combination of marked trails and these viewpoints makes the landscape and panoramas a focus of trip planning.

For walking, there are six starting points at Camping des Myrtilles and four at the cross-country ski centre. The PR11 “La Pierre Châtel” starts at the church in Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs, is 4.5 kilometres long and is listed as taking 1 hour and 30 minutes. The starting points provide options at several locations; the PR11 focuses on the distance and duration of a single hike.

Camping des Myrtilles is also an FFCT-labelled base for mountain biking. The routes are 13, 16, 25 and 40 kilometres long. This gives you four listed distances to choose from when planning.

Other activities include Cani-rando, a hike with a dog on a lead. It is offered for adults and children; availability may vary depending on the season and provider. The Foyer de ski de la Verrerie rents out cross-country skis, snowshoes, Ski-Hok equipment and sledges. Its opening depends on the weather and snow conditions. Take this into account when planning a winter trip.

Glassmaking and natural heritage

The Musée du Verrier tells the story of the glassmaking families, the “Gentilshommes Verriers,” who settled here in 1660, and the forest glassworks they founded. Its furnaces operated until 1780. The museum includes an archaeological section with a scale reconstruction of a historic glass furnace. The glass gallery displays unusual objects from numerous French and foreign glassworks.

The village church in Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs is also distinguished by its luminous stained-glass windows and wooden statues. In the Hêtres tortueux area, numerous beech trees, some arranged in rows, are around 400 years old. Their twisted shapes are the result of the traditional hedge-laying technique known as plessage.

The Pierre Châtel climbing area is located in the Hêtres tortueux Sensitive Natural Area. Its 134 routes are spread across 14 sectors and four rock formations. Pierre Châtel offers views of the Galant and Sapey valleys. Climbing and striking viewpoints are additional options alongside the woodland and glassmaking themes.

Local festivals and music

Finot is part of the programme at the annual village festival in Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs. This traditional clogmakers’ dish is mainly made with potatoes and bacon. Visitors can help prepare it in the morning by peeling potatoes. As the festival date can vary, check the event dates for your year of travel.

The Festival de musique des Monts de la Madeleine began in Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs in 2003; concerts are held there every summer. The programmes vary from year to year. Alongside nature and culture, recurring events are another feature of the local calendar.

Discover more destinations: Bert, Saint-Prix, Cindré, Saint-Menoux, Neure, Voussac, Châteaugay, Chantelle.

For the broader travel overview: Allier.