Bongheat: Hiking, Landscapes and Church

Bongheat offers two concrete starting points for planning your trip: the Église Saint-Julien and the “Autour des tours et châteaux” circular hiking route, which starts and ends here. The commune is also located within the “VARENNES ET BAS LIVRADOIS” area. The church’s architectural history, a several-hour excursion and the area’s nature themes offer different points of interest to consider when choosing your stay.

Église Saint-Julien: Romanesque nave and Gothic choir

The Église Saint-Julien in Bongheat combines architectural elements from two centuries: the Romanesque nave dates from the 12th century, while the Gothic, five-sided choir dates from the 14th century. The choir has tracery windows. The change in building period can therefore be seen directly in the structure: the nave and choir represent different architectural phases. Those interested in church architecture will find not only the overall design but also a specific detail in the choir windows.

The church was listed by decree dated 14 May 1969. It is accessible to hikers and tourists; a key is available from the town hall. The Église Saint-Julien is also included in local discovery tours. Access arrangements may change during restoration work. So, if you are planning to visit the interior, check the current arrangements in advance.

“Autour des tours et châteaux” circular hiking route

The circular hiking route starts and ends in Bongheat and passes through Bongheat, Neuville, Trézioux and Mauzun. It is a moderately difficult 13.6-kilometre route marked with yellow PR signs. The estimated walking time is around three hours and 30 minutes. This makes it a several-hour excursion; the time given is an estimate. The distance, difficulty level and approximate duration give you specific reference points when planning the hiking part of your trip. Unlike the church’s architectural focus, this route centres on a longer loop through several named places.

Views along the route

The route’s viewpoints include the Château de Mauzun, Bongheat in the foreground and the Massif du Sancy as a second landscape backdrop to the right. Further to the right, the view also takes in the Château des Salles, Billom, Clermont-Ferrand, the Limagne plain and the Chaîne des Puys. The descriptions therefore name both individual buildings and places as well as wider landscapes. Alongside the distance and walking time, these specific viewpoints are another factor to consider when choosing your route.

The “VARENNES ET BAS LIVRADOIS” area

The INPN inventory edition dated 12 June 2025 lists “VARENNES ET BAS LIVRADOIS” as a Type 2 ZNIEFF; Bongheat is part of this area. Faunal and floral interests are recorded for this natural area. These include amphibians, birds, mammals, insects and flowering plants. The topics listed therefore range from different animal groups to plant life. Together with the hiking route and the church’s architecture, the inventory classification offers another point of interest for travellers interested in the area’s nature themes.

La Serve

La Serve is a leisure area with the communal pond, various play facilities and green spaces. The association reserves the right to set opening days and prices for day passes. Before you arrive, check locally which facilities are currently available; also ask about opening days, any permits required and prices. This will help you plan your visit in line with the conditions set by the association for the site.

Discover more destinations: Charbonnier-les-Mines, Arlanc, Sauviat, Saint-Nectaire, Gerzat, Brassac-Les-Mines, Courpière, Saint-Julien-La-Geneste

For the main travel overview: Puy-De-Dôme.