Walking in Aurillac: 13 Routes on Foot and Hiking for 2026

Old Aurillac on Foot: Alleyways, Half-Timbered Facades, and Hidden Squares

Start at the Place du Gerbert (Place Gerbert, 15000 Aurillac), the beating heart of Aurillac since the Middle Ages. The statue of Pope Sylvester II, born Gerbert d'Aurillac around 946, is a reminder that this city of 25,000 inhabitants gave the Church its first French pope, a man passionate about science and astronomy. From there, head into the Rue du Consulat: half-timbered facades from the 15th and 16th centuries line the street one after another, some leaning several degrees, almost all listed or registered as historic monuments.

The walk continues naturally toward the Rue des Frères Chambon, with its arcades and artisan shopfronts, before opening onto the Place Saint-Géraud, dominated by the abbey church of the same name. Don't miss the Maison Consulaire, a former 14th-century town hall with an ornate facade, which speaks to the influence the consuls held in medieval Aurillac. One thing always surprises visitors passing through: the old center of Aurillac can be covered entirely in 45 minutes on foot, yet every street corner reveals a change of scenery, from elegant 18th-century townhouses to the most raw medieval buildings. Food and drink shops occupy a good portion of the ground floors of these old buildings, and it is not unusual to spot a cutlery shop or an umbrella workshop — Aurillac having built part of its industrial reputation on these two crafts since the 19th century.

Then make your way to the Halles, the covered market in the center, before walking along the Jordanne on the street that overlooks it. This is where the urban walk shifts into something else: fewer than ten minutes separate the Halles from the first direct access to the river, without needing to leave the city. This old Aurillac is ideally suited to a discovery through its alleyways, exactly the kind of route that Ryo brings to life elsewhere, such as during a walk through the elegant neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. Allow a good hour and a half if you stop at every shopfront or terrace, or just under an hour if you head straight for the castle.

Château Saint-Étienne and the Maison des Volcans: the Walk with the Best Panorama

Perched on a rocky outcrop above the city, the Château Saint-Étienne (Rue du Château, 15000 Aurillac) is one of the few remaining vestiges of the fortifications that protected Aurillac in the Middle Ages. Its original keep dates back to the 9th century, but the current main building was reconstructed after a fire in 1868, in a style inspired by the Palace of the Popes in Avignon. It is reached via a short but steep climb that rises about fifty meters in a few minutes from the neighborhood of the same name.

The castle today houses the Maison des Volcans, a museum space that explains the formation of the Cantal stratovolcano, the largest in Europe by surface area according to geologists who study it. The explanations of the successive eruptions that shaped the landscapes visible from the castle give a whole new dimension to the rest of the walk, particularly if you plan to head up to Puy Mary or Puy Griou afterward.

But the main attraction remains the panorama from the castle grounds, whose gardens stay open: from there, the view takes in the entire historic center of Aurillac, the slate rooftops of the old quarter, and on a clear day, the line of Cantal summits on the horizon. Many visitors linger there at sunset, when the raking light highlights the relief of the old rooftops. Allow 30 to 40 minutes for the ascent, exploring the site, and the descent.

In the Footsteps of Gerbert d'Aurillac: the Abbatiale Saint-Géraud and the Old Religious Quarter

The Abbatiale Saint-Géraud (Place Saint-Géraud, 15000 Aurillac, rated 4.5/5 on Google with 18 reviews), founded on the remains of a 9th-century Benedictine abbey, remains the oldest religious monument in the city of Aurillac. Its architecture blends preserved Romanesque elements with later reconstructions, following the fires and destructions that marked its history. Inside, don't miss its great organ from 1779, with nearly 2,440 pipes — one of the most remarkable historic instruments in the region.

Around the abbey church, the neighborhood has retained a different atmosphere from the rest of the center: narrower alleyways, more austere houses, a few remnants of the old cloister visible from the street. This is where Gerbert d'Aurillac, the future Pope Sylvester II, is said to have completed his early studies at the abbey school before leaving for Spain and then Reims. A commemorative plaque recalls his journey, as unlikely as it has remained little known to the general public outside Cantal.

The walk through this neighborhood pairs well with a stroll along the nearby Rue des Carmes, where several convents once stood and which now houses the Museum of Art and Archaeology, before heading back down to the banks of the Jordanne. Allow 25 minutes for this heritage detour, longer if you go inside to visit the abbey church.

Around Aurillac: Gorges, Waterfalls, and Lakes of Cantal

Less than half an hour's drive to the east, the Cère valley offers some of the finest nature walks in the area. The Gorges du Pas de Cère (D59, 15800 Thiézac, rated 4.6/5 on Google with 216 reviews), between Vic-sur-Cère and Thiézac, are discovered via a short but spectacular trail that descends to the bottom of a wooded gorge down to a deep waterfall. Allow three-quarters of an hour there and back on a well-marked path, slippery after rain but accessible to any reasonably equipped walker. The protected site owes its atmosphere to its dark walls and the permanent coolness that prevails by the water, even in the height of summer.

A little further up in the same valley, the Cascade de Faillitoux, near Thiézac, tumbles down a wall of basalt columns left by the Cantal volcanism. The waterfall is visible from the road, but a short trail allows you to get closer to better appreciate the regularity of the stone columns — a geological phenomenon found on a larger scale throughout the massif. Those who want to continue can push on to the Grande Cascade de Salins, another well-known waterfall in the area, to put together a half-day entirely devoted to water and forest.

On the lakeside, the surroundings of Lioran shelter several small mountain lakes, such as the Lac des Graves, accessible via family trails that circle the lake in about an hour. In summer, these lakes offer a shaded and refreshing walk, far from the crowds at the main summits, and make an excellent warm-up before a more serious ascent toward the Plomb du Cantal or Puy Griou.

Puy Griou and Plomb du Cantal: Two Summits, Two Different Experiences

Less accessible than Puy Mary, Puy Griou attracts hikers looking for a genuine physical challenge. This pyramid-shaped volcanic peak, visible from much of the Aurillac area, is generally climbed from the hamlet of Mazoire or from the Puy Griou refuge, with an elevation gain that often exceeds 500 meters depending on the chosen route.

The final stretch, in the last few meters before the summit, sometimes requires placing your hands on the rock, though it does not involve technical climbing. Many local guides recommend it mainly for walkers already accustomed to mid-mountain terrain, or accompanied by a professional for a first attempt. The panorama from the summit, at nearly 1,690 meters, extends across the entire Cantal massif and easily rivals that of Puy Mary.

The Plomb du Cantal (Station du Lioran, 15300 Laveissière, rated 4.3/5 on Google with 102 reviews), the highest point in the department at 1,855 meters, offers a very different experience. From the Lioran ski resort, a cable car allows you to reach the area near the summit without any effort — a practical option for families or visitors who want to enjoy the view without a demanding hike. The more motivated can also climb on foot from the resort, allowing for about two good hours of ascent.

The combination of Puy Mary, Puy Griou, and Plomb du Cantal makes it possible to plan a multi-day stay around Aurillac, alternating demanding hikes with more relaxed outings depending on the weather and how you feel. Each of these summits can be climbed in half a day, leaving time to stroll around the city in the evening.

Family Walks: Short Routes, Pushchairs, and Children

With young children, opt for the banks of the Jordanne in the city center — flat and pushchair-friendly for several kilometers — or the Jardin des Carmes for a shorter break. The Bois de la Sablière is also suitable for all-terrain pushchairs on its main trail, although some steeper sections should be avoided with a young child.

For slightly older children, the climb to the Château Saint-Étienne works well as a first experience of a walk with some elevation: the effort is short, and the visual reward is immediate. The Château de Conros, with its park and towers to explore, generally appeals more to younger children than a long mountain hike. Also consider the waterfalls in the Cère valley, whose "falling water" goal often motivates small legs better than a simple viewpoint.

When it comes to summits, Puy Mary remains feasible as a family outing from the age of 7 or 8, provided you set out early and pack warm clothing even in summer. The Plomb du Cantal, accessible by cable car from Lioran, on the other hand allows younger children to enjoy the panorama without the demands of a real ascent.

Aurillac as a Base Camp: Planning Several Days of Walking

Spending just one day in Aurillac means barely scratching the surface. The city is best used as a base camp for day trips: mornings in the Monts du Cantal, afternoons by the Jordanne or in old Aurillac once the fatigue sets in. This star-shaped organization works all the better because most of the sites described here are reachable in under three-quarters of an hour's drive.

A weekend is enough to combine a major hike, such as Puy Mary or Puy Griou, with a relaxed exploration of the urban heritage and a gourmet break at the Saturday market. Over three days, you can add the gorges of the Cère valley, a morning cycling along the river, and an evening watching the sunset from the heights of the Château Saint-Étienne. By varying each day between high-altitude effort and leisurely strolling in the city, you avoid monotony and spare the legs of the less seasoned walkers in the group.

It is also the best way to make peace with the unpredictable Cantal weather: when the summits cloud over, you switch to an urban walk or a waterfall tucked deep in the valley, sheltered from the wind. This flexibility, rare for a mid-mountain destination, is what gives a stay around Aurillac its charm — you are never stuck for want of an alternative.