Peschadoires: Hiking, Nature and Horse Riding

Peschadoires offers several specific starting points for planning a trip: hikes connected with the Dore, sections of the GR®89 long-distance trail, horse-riding options at the Espace équestre de Dorson and the parish church of Notre-Dame. If you would like to plan your stay around a particular activity, you can choose between getting active on foot, horse riding and a cultural focus. The routes also differ in how they can be planned: named connections between places and route lengths matter for the GR®89, while Les berges de la Dore is defined by its course along the river.

Hiking between the Dore and Livradois-Forez

According to an INPN file dated January 7, 2025, Vallée alluviale de la Dore (Courpière–Pont de Dore) is designated as a type 1 continental ZNIEFF area; the area includes Peschadoires and covers 628.72 hectares. If you are planning access, check the latest official data. For the geographical context of the GR®89, the section between Gagnat (Peschadoires) and Lezoux is particularly specific: it lies within the Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park between the Allier and Dore rivers. This makes it possible to distinguish the natural area that includes the town from the precise location of this trail section within the regional park.

The GR®89 Chemin de Montaigne runs in two sections: 15.5 kilometres between Thiers and Gagnat, and 15 kilometres between Gagnat and Lezoux. Gagnat (Peschadoires) is the starting or finishing point of the section towards Lezoux. The route lengths differ by only half a kilometre. So when comparing the sections, the connection between the places—Thiers–Gagnat or Gagnat–Lezoux—is just as useful as the distance. Check local route conditions before setting off.

Les berges de la Dore offers a different kind of hike. It follows a wooded path to the Dore and then along its banks. Unlike the GR®89 sections, which can be distinguished by place names and kilometres, this route centres on the course of the river. You can choose whether to include a route between named places or a hike combining a woodland path and riverside scenery in your plans.

Horse-Riding Options at the Espace équestre de Dorson

The Espace équestre de Dorson welcomes recreational riders and competition riders on a wooded site covering almost 20 hectares in Peschadoires. The facilities include an indoor riding arena, three dressage and show-jumping arenas, and a cross-country course. Riding lessons are offered to children aged four and over, teenagers and adults, from beginner to advanced level. This gives you a clear distinction to consider when planning: you can look at lessons by age group and experience level, or focus on the site’s different facilities.

If you would like to combine a visit with riding lessons or a particular facility, check the latest information with the provider in advance. Facilities and offerings may change. This lets you plan around the option that suits you without treating lessons and use of the facilities as the same thing.

Church of Notre-Dame: Gothic choir and square tower

The parish church of Notre-Dame is considered Peschadoires’ most important heritage site. Its distinctive architectural features include the Gothic choir and square bell tower. Both provide specific points of reference for a cultural perspective on the town: the focus here is not on routes and riverside landscapes, but on the architectural forms of a named church building. Notre-Dame therefore complements the hiking and horse-riding themes with a distinct architectural focus.

Discover more destinations: Condat-En-Combraille, Mons, Châteaugay, Saint-Jacques-D'ambur, Charbonnier-les-Mines, Orcet, Saint-Floret, La Godivelle.

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