Auriac: Trails, Gardens and History

Auriac offers several options to consider when planning a trip: marked trails, historic religious buildings, the Jardins Sothys and activities at Étang des Bruyères. The marked trails around Auriac pass through forests, follow rivers, and cross plateaus and gorges. Along the way, you can discover nature described as well-preserved. When choosing a destination, you can consider whether you would prefer to focus on hiking, other types of outdoor activity, gardens or activities on the water.

Hiking Trails and Outdoor Activities

The De Selves au Puy Murat route is a 13-kilometre hiking trail. The estimated duration is given as 4 hours and 30 minutes, providing a specific time estimate for the hike. The Fontaine de Font Maurille is also a point of interest along the route—a named landmark that adds a historical reference to the trail.

The Le Puy du Bassin route is suitable for hiking, mountain biking and horse riding. You can therefore consider this trail option according to your preferred way of getting around; ground conditions may vary. Unlike the De Selves au Puy Murat route, this one focuses on several activities. If you would like to go canyoning, this is possible in the Canyon des gorges du Chal in Redenat, within the commune of Auriac. Check the applicable regulations and conditions before taking part.

Religious Buildings with Different Histories

The Église Saint-Côme Saint-Damien originated as a 12th-century priory dependent on Saint-Géraud d’Aurillac. The Chapelle du Puy du Bassin, by contrast, was built in 1918 on the ruins of an older chapel. The histories of these two buildings reflect different historical emphases: the church’s origins as a priory, and the chapel’s later reconstruction on the ruins of an older religious building. You can therefore learn about Auriac’s history through the different periods in which its churches and chapels were built.

Gardens, Treatments and Honey

The Jardins Sothys have been awarded the Jardin Remarquable label and include a French garden, Japanese gardens and a rose garden. The different garden styles offer visitors several themes to explore. A large part of the gardens is accessible to people with disabilities.

The Jardins Sothys also offer La Bulle de soin as a bookable treatment. If you would like to include it in your plans, check availability in advance, as it may change. Honey from the Jardins Sothys apiary is sold in the on-site boutique; product availability may also vary. Visiting the gardens, booking a treatment and trying the honey sold on site are different aspects of the Jardins Sothys that you can include in your trip planning according to your interests.

Activities at Étang des Bruyères

Étang des Bruyères offers supervised swimming, inflatable structures, and pedal boat and canoe rentals. This provides several different ways to spend time by the water: you can choose between swimming, the inflatable structures and an activity with a pedal boat or canoe. Together with the trails and gardens, this offers another way to decide how you would like to spend your time in Auriac.

Whether you are interested in a longer hike, a route suited to different activities, religious history, gardens or activities on the water, these themes offer different options to consider when choosing a destination and planning your stay.

Discover more destinations: Donzenac, Masseret, Saint-Julien-Le-Pèlerin, Yssandon, Brive, Lissac-Sur-Couze, Saint-Cyr-La-Roche, Chanteix.

For the broader travel overview: Corrèze.