La Godivelle: Lakes, Hiking Trails and Village History
Accommodation in La Godivelle
La Godivelle brings together lakes, hiking trails and village history. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, start by asking what you want your stay to focus on: longer hikes, observing nature or discovering the village. The trails and sights offer different options. You can shape your plans around a specific route, the lakes, or the area's architecture and history.
Hiking with different focuses
The Tour des Vaches Rouges is a challenging, eight-day circular hiking route covering 131.4 kilometres; its route passes through La Godivelle. The GR 30 also passes through La Godivelle and is an approximately 20-kilometre circular route linking a dozen lakes in the Auvergne. The two routes can be compared by distance and duration: eight days and 131.4 kilometres on the challenging Tour des Vaches Rouges, versus an approximately 20-kilometre loop on the GR 30.
The Sentier des légendes de La Godivelle complements these circular routes with a shorter trail in the village. Four kilometres long, it winds through lanes and paths, shares unusual stories about the village and starts opposite the town hall. When planning your hikes, you can choose between an eight-day tour, an approximately 20-kilometre circular route around the lakes, and a four-kilometre village trail. This themed trail puts the village's lanes and stories at its heart.
Lakes and nature observation
Lac d'En-Bas is a lake of glacial origin. The Sentier de la RĂ©serve naturelle also runs along Lac d'En-Bas. It is freely accessible and features eight information panels and a birdwatching area with a telescope. For nature lovers, the trail offers two clear highlights: the panels provide information, and the observation area is set up for birdwatching.
Lac d'En-Bas is of glacial origin, while Lac d'En-Haut is a crater lake. Their different origins create a distinct geological contrast in the lake landscape. If you are interested in landforms, the two named lakes offer different points of interest for your stay.
Marsh, church and local produce
The Parc naturel régional des Volcans d’Auvergne's programme for July and August 2026 included an easy, two-hour guided walk on the boardwalk at Plaine Jacquot. The tour focused on the history, formation and biodiversity of the marshes. Its guided format and fixed duration make this a different way to plan your visit than the distance-based circular routes.
The Église Saint-Blaise adds an architectural point of interest to the nature-focused activities. This small rural church, built of granite and basalt, has simple architecture inspired by Auvergne Romanesque style. It was listed as a protected building under a listing order dated 20 July 2022. Its building materials and architectural style give you specific points of interest if the history of buildings is also one of your interests.
Saint-Nectaire also offers a culinary connection to the area: visitors can find the cheese at local producers or markets and sample it there. Local producers and markets thus add another aspect to your trip planning, alongside the hiking trails, lakes and village history.
Discover more destinations: Les Ancizes-Comps, Collanges, Sancy, Ennezat, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, Saint-Georges-sur-Allier, Chastreix, Trémouille-Saint-Loup
For the broader travel overview: Puy-De-DĂ´me.
