Olloix: Hiking, Nature and Pilgrimage History

Olloix is a rural commune in the Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d’Auvergne, situated between city and mountains. The Gorges de la Monne, a 5.5-kilometre circular hike and the town’s historical pilgrimage connections offer three concrete points of interest for planning your trip. The church, the medieval Commanderie and regional cuisine also add to the picture.

Hiking and the landscape of the Gorges de la Monne

The Gorges de la Monne between Olloix and Cournols are designated a Natura 2000 site. A 5.5-kilometre circular hike runs through the gorges. Its length and circular route are two concrete details: you can gauge the scope of the hike and know that it follows a loop. This makes it easy to include the hike in your plans as a standalone activity.

Oak, ash and maple trees grow on the wooded slopes of the gorges. The remarkable flora includes seven protected species, among them the Turk’s cap lily, red helleborine, yellow star-of-Bethlehem and willow-leaved rockrose. The hiking route and the description of the natural environment offer different ways to explore the area: a specific activity and the gorges’ distinctive plant life. The Natura 2000 status also identifies the landscape as a natural area. When planning your trip, you can therefore weigh the hiking opportunities and your interest in protected nature separately.

Church, pilgrimage connections and the Middle Ages

The church in Olloix houses the tomb of Odon de Montaigut, also known as Saint Gouérand. It is also associated with pilgrims who follow the Via Arverne route of the Way of St James. The Via Arverna includes a section from Clermont-Ferrand to Olloix. The church and the route section are two distinct points of interest: one is associated with pilgrims, while the other identifies a route from Clermont-Ferrand to Olloix. The circular hike through the gorges is a 5.5-kilometre loop; the pilgrimage section of the Via Arverna runs from Clermont-Ferrand to Olloix.

Another historical landmark is the Commanderie d’Olloix. It was built in the 12th to 13th centuries and was under the authority of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. The construction period and order affiliation are two different historical details: the period indicates when the Commanderie was built, while the affiliation indicates which order it was under. Alongside the church and pilgrimage connections, this offers a choice of topics that also includes architectural history and institutional context.

Regional cuisine

La Maison de la Monne serves homemade regional cuisine in a natural setting. The “Monnette” is based on Saint-Nectaire. This identifies not only the general style of the cuisine but also a specific dish and the cheese it is based on. If regional cuisine is one of your travel interests, you can consider this culinary style and the Monnette as separate points of interest.

Discover more destinations: Rochefort-Montagne, Saint-Jean-des-Ollières, Saint-Just, Lisseuil, Saint-Nectaire, Jumeaux, Aubusson-D'auvergne, Egliseneuve-D'entraigues

For the overview of the wider area: Puy-De-Dôme.