Saurier: Historic Buildings, Salt Springs and Walking Trails

Saurier is a picturesque, formerly fortified village along the Couze Pavin. Historic buildings, paths to the salt springs and the circular walk to the Pic de Brionnet give a stay a range of possible focuses. When planning your trip, you can first consider whether you are most interested in architectural history, a marked hike or the mineral traces left by the springs.

Historic Buildings in Saurier

The Pont du 15e siècle is listed as a historic monument. The medieval bridge has two structures above its piers and a small chapel that opens onto the bridge. The building thus combines its bridge design with a chapel that explicitly faces the bridge.

The Chapelle de Brionnet dates from the 17th century and is designed in the mountain architectural style. Its nave has a round-arched ceiling, while the choir has a domed vault. At the church of Sainte-Radegonde, Romanesque elements, including a nave and transept, stand alongside an adjoining polygonal apse dating from the 15th century. This offers an opportunity to compare different forms and periods of construction: the 17th-century chapel and Sainte-Radegonde’s 15th-century polygonal apse.

Hiking to the Pic de Brionnet and the Salt Springs

The route to the Pic de Brionnet is a 9.5-kilometre, moderately difficult circular hike starting in Saurier, marked in yellow. It begins at a car park in Saurier, just beyond the bridge over the Couze. From the Pic, panoramic views extend across the Couzes and the surrounding mountain ranges. The route length, difficulty rating, circular route and trail markings provide practical details for planning, while the panorama adds a scenic highlight.

A signposted themed trail leads to the salt springs from the old bridge over the Couze Pavin. The iron-rich water leaves white and red mineral deposits. The two destinations therefore offer different experiences: the Pic is about a circular hike and panoramic views, while the springs offer a themed trail and colourful deposits. When choosing between them, you can consider whether you would prefer to explore a designated circular route or a destination with distinctive mineral features.

More Trails and Activities

The paragliding site at the Chapelle de Brionnet has a short take-off area and a long landing strip along the Couze Pavin. It can be reached from the village of Saurier via the D28. After about 4 kilometres, there is a turn-off and parking; from there, it is an approximately five-minute walk to the chapel.

The Circuit du Cézallier cycling loop also passes through Saurier: it runs from Murol to the old fortified village and invites you to stop at the Puy du Brionnet along the way, with views from the chapel on Mont Brionnet. This makes Saurier a destination on a longer cycling trip as well, while each of the walking routes described offers its own focus.

Another chapel accessible on foot is Notre-Dame du Mont Carmel de Saurier, at an altitude of 927 metres. An orientation table describes the panorama. Together with the Chapelle de Brionnet, it adds another viewpoint to the selection of buildings.

Discover more destinations: Peschadoires, Saint-Julien-Puy-Lavèze, Chaptuzat, Messeix, Landogne, Besse-Et-Saint-Anastaise, Parent, Saint Gal Sur Sioule.

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