Charensat: Ponds, Walking Trails and Historic Traces

Charensat can be explored through a range of themes: marked circular trails, the Étang de Chancelade, historic traces and a local culinary speciality. When planning your stay, it is worth deciding first what you would most like to focus on. The walking routes differ considerably in the time they take; by the water, nature watching and practical rules for boats also come into play. The area’s history can be seen in a Roman road, two memorial markers and an interpretation trail in the municipal forest.

Compare walking routes by how long they take

The Sentier du BEC is a marked circular trail that takes about an hour and a half to walk. Its facilities include information panels and observation platforms. From the platforms, walkers can discover the wildlife and plant life of the protected surroundings. The trail combines exercise with opportunities to observe nature.

A shorter option is the walk to the Étang du Chevalet: this easy, blue-marked circular route is 3 km long and takes about 45 minutes. Along the way, interpretive panels provide information about the wildlife and plant life of the Charensat forest and pond. The details for both routes make them easy to compare: allow about 45 minutes for the Chevalet circular trail and about an hour and a half for the Sentier du BEC.

For a longer option, the Étangs des Combrailles route covers 41 km through a quiet, wild landscape dotted with ponds. It is usually walked over three days. Its first stage connects Charensat with Montel-de-Gelat. This gives you a choice of short circular trails and a multi-day route, with a significant difference in the time required.

Étang de Chancelade: nature and practical details

The Étang de Chancelade covers 132 hectares and is the largest pond in the Puy-de-Dôme department. Due to its especially rich wildlife and plant life, it is classified as a ZNIEFF, a “Zone Naturelle d’Intérêt Écologique, Floristique et Faunistique” (Natural Zone of Ecological, Floristic and Faunistic Interest). Its size and ecological classification describe different aspects of the pond.

At the Étang, there is an educational trail and a circular path suitable for pushchairs. There are picnic tables on the shore, as well as a small playground and dry toilets. If you would like to combine your visit with a walk, you will find both an educational trail and a circular path here.

Specific rules apply to boats: two water access points allow them to reach the Étang de Chancelade. Boats can be hired by prior reservation; combustion engines are prohibited. If you are planning to hire a boat, bear in mind that you must book in advance and that engines are not allowed.

Historic traces and local tradition

A Roman road runs through Charensat, passing through Charonnet, Montaudot and Chabassière. Two memorial markers were erected in memory of the Resistance fighters: one in the hamlet of Gourillats and the other at Croix Rouge. The “A l’école de la forêt” interpretation trail is also located in the municipal forest. These places offer different perspectives: the Roman road is part of the area’s history, the markers commemorate the Resistance, and the trail focuses on the forest.

Charensat also has a culinary speciality: Pieds de cochon is a local dish prepared just one day a year. Together with the historic sites and varied walking routes, it adds a distinctive local aspect to the area’s natural attractions.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Amant-Roche-Savine, Thiolières, Picherande, Saint-Cirgues-Sur-Couze, Landogne, Coudes, Saint-Maurice-Près-Pionsat, Ceyrat.

View the regional travel guide: Puy-De-Dôme.