Blavozy: Hiking, the History of Arkose and Horse Riding

Blavozy offers several starting points for planning your stay: a hiking trail with a specified distance and walking time, another trail through the old village, the history of arkose, and horse-riding options at the Écurie de la Bruyère. Depending on whether you want to hike, learn about local history or go horse riding, you can explore different aspects of the area.

Hiking along the Arkose and the Sumène

The PR 699 Le sentier de l’Arkose hiking trail starts in Blavozy, is 10.4 kilometres long and takes about three hours to walk. It passes the arkose quarries and runs along the heights beside the Sumène. It also follows the riverbank and crosses the river at several points, including a footbridge and other bridges. The trail leads to the Blavozy quarries and the village of Salins; there, a meeting place and fountains are among the points along the route. A single hike thus takes in the river, stone quarrying and village landmarks. The approximate walking time gives you a guide for planning your day. Check trail conditions locally before setting out.

Arkose: from stone quarrying to local history

Traces of Gallo-Roman stone quarrying can be found in Blavozy. Arkose was used for Roman columns and later, in the Middle Ages, for crosses and churches. Its use continues today: arkose from Blavozy is still used in modern villas and in the restoration of historic monuments. The PR 698 Le chemin des Escaïnes trail passes through the old village and showcases buildings made from local arkose. A guide booklet, information panels, historic photographs and the traditional names of the “escaïnes” bring the area’s history to life. Check local access conditions before walking the trail; check locally whether printed materials are available. You can also consult the Mémoires d’arkose collection on site or borrow it during library opening hours. Check the library’s opening hours if you plan to consult or borrow the collection.

Horse riding in Blavozy

The Écurie de la Bruyère riding centre and pony club offer riding lessons from age four for all levels and a range of interests. The programme also includes rides and two- to five-day horse-riding treks accompanied by a qualified ATE. The options therefore range from lessons to accompanied tours lasting several days. Check the current programme, availability and booking terms directly before booking.

Choose trails to suit your interests

The differences between the trails are clear: with its stated distance and walking time, the PR 699 provides a guide for planning your time and leads to the quarries, the Sumène and Salins. The PR 698 explores the old village through its arkose buildings and interpretive materials. Riding lessons, rides and accompanied tours offer a different kind of activity. This lets you decide whether walking time, local history or horse riding matters most when planning your visit.

Discover more destinations: Freycenet-la-Tour, Tailhac, Vielprat, Loudes, Chastel, La Chapelle-Geneste, Saint-Pal-de-Senouire, Céaux-D'allègre

For the wider travel overview: Haute-Loire.