Lac d’Aubusson d’Auvergne has a surface area of 28 hectares and is the largest man-made lake in Livradois-Forez. It lies at the heart of a Natura 2000 site, and several hiking trails start at the lake. This gives Aubusson-D'auvergne a clear connection to nature and hiking, complemented by a leisure complex and activities focused on natural and cultural heritage. If you are looking for accommodation for your stay, you can first consider whether the lake, a guided nature activity or the area’s history should be your main focus. These three themes offer different starting points for planning your trip.

Hiking Trails and Getting Your Bearings at Lac d’Aubusson

Several hiking trails start at Lac d'Aubusson. “Lac et sous-bois” is one of them: this blue-marked circular route is 5.4 kilometres long, rated very easy, and classified as a PR and PDIPR trail. It starts and ends at the lake. If you are looking for a circular route that returns to its starting point, this is a clearly defined option; other trails also begin at Lac d’Aubusson.

The leisure complex at Lac d’Aubusson is considered the largest in Livradois-Forez and includes an orienteering course with 60 checkpoints. A map is available at the Maison du Lac. The two formats are easy to compare: “Lac et sous-bois” is defined by its length and circular route, while the orienteering course is defined by its checkpoints and map. This can help you decide whether you would prefer a marked route or an activity based on orienteering points.

Nature Activities in Different Formats

As part of the Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park’s “Balades nature et patrimoine” programme, La Catiche offers opportunities to discover otters, bats, beavers and dragonflies. This guided discovery focuses on several groups of animals and is a distinct type of activity alongside the hiking trails.

Every July and August, La Catiche organises nature and cultural heritage walks at Lac d'Aubusson for children aged 4 to 10 accompanied by their parents. Check the dates and make a reservation for your travel year. La Catiche also offers educational and leisure activities for families and groups at its site in Aubusson-D'auvergne; guided group visits are available on request. When planning, bear in mind the difference between the summer season for the walks and group visits, which can be arranged on request.

Church and Cultural Heritage

The entire Church of Notre-Dame d’Espinasse is listed as a historic monument; it was listed on 15 July 1985. The church was rebuilt in the 15th century. The Espinasse hiking route leads to the Church of Notre-Dame d’Espinasse, providing a cultural point of interest alongside the routes around Lac d’Aubusson.

Other works of art also form part of the area’s cultural landscape: a reliquary in a church in Aubusson-D'auvergne dates from the 16th century. The painting “Déploration du Christ” is in the Church of Saint-Blaise in Aubusson-D'auvergne. Together with the historic church building, these works offer another reason to visit for those interested in the area’s history as well as its landscapes and outdoor activities.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Victor-Montvianeix, Durtol, Sauvessanges, Saint-Eloy-Les-Mines, Lisseuil, Servant, Thuret, Saint-Julien-La-Geneste

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