Vodable can be seen from the summit of Puy d’Ysson. The village also offers two distinct hiking options: the “Vodable et Colamine” circular hike passes through the Fort Villageois, while a pastoral trail to Puy d’Ysson starts in Vodable. Parts of the former fortification wall and one of the former entrance gates are also visible in the village. This brings landscapes, trail choices and village history together when planning your trip.

Volcanic origins and village history

Puy d’Ysson is a former Miocene volcano; today, only its volcanic neck remains. Vodable was built around a volcanic cone on which the castle of the Dauphins of Auvergne once stood. These two features offer different perspectives: Puy d’Ysson is tied to geological history, while the village cone is the site of the former castle. For travelers interested in landscapes and local history, they offer two distinct ways of looking at Vodable.

Circular hike and views

The “Vodable et Colamine” circular hike is 11 kilometers long, with a stated duration of 3 hours and 15 minutes. The route passes the Fort Villageois of Vodable. It offers views of the Lembron Plain and its villages, the Chaîne des Puys, and the plateaus of Gergovie and Corent. From the summit of Puy d’Ysson, by contrast, you can see Vodable. This difference brings two perspectives into focus: the circular route opens up views across several landscapes, while from the Puy you look down on the village. Together, the distance, duration, route and views give you a clear profile for planning your hike.

Another trail to Puy d’Ysson

The pastoral trail to Puy d’Ysson starts in Vodable and follows the white-and-red GR markings. Before setting out, check the markings and trail conditions. When choosing between the routes, their different formats matter: “Vodable et Colamine” is a circular hike with a stated distance and duration, while the other trail leads to the Puy and is marked as a GR route. This gives you the choice between a circular hike with a specific time frame and a trail whose destination and markings are the main focus.

Traces of the fortifications and Romanesque art

Parts of the former fortification wall are visible in the village. You can also see one of the three gates that once provided access to the village. The wall and gate relate to different aspects of local history: the former fortifications and the historic entrance. Together with the castle site on the volcanic cone, they give a nuanced picture of the village’s earlier layout. For a cultural-history-focused visit, these features offer several tangible points of interest in the village.

The Église Saint-Mary de Colamine-sous-Vodable is a typical example of Auvergnat Romanesque art. Alongside the history of the fortifications, it offers an art-historical connection to Romanesque architecture in Auvergne. If architecture is a particular priority when planning your trip, this aspect offers a different perspective from the wall, gate and former castle site. You can therefore focus your cultural visit more on local history or on the region’s artistic tradition.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Maurice-Près-Pionsat, Saint-Anthème, Égliseneuve-près-Billom, La Roche-Noire, Saint-Germain-Lembron, Saint-Jacques-D'ambur, Gerzat, Espinasse.

Back to the regional travel overview: Puy-De-Dôme.