The Vassivière chapel

Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise

Pédestre

CHIEN INTERDIT

Distance : 10.5 km

Durée : 3h45

Difficulté : Difficile

Tracé : Boucle

Dénivelé : 475 m

Balisage : Yellow

A stroll through the landscape of the Super-Besse resort. You’ll reach the Plaine des Moutons and the Notre-Dame-de-Vassivière chapel (16th century), famous for the pilgrimages of the Black Madonna (from the Besse church) every July 2.

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Reach Super-Besse, 52km south-west of Clermont-Ferrand. Parking and signpost near the Maison du Tourisme.

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Étape 1 : Take it and climb the long, steep staircase through the woods to the start of the zip-line. Continue straight ahead. Leave a TS finish on the right. Follow a wide path to the left. 15m after the first large snow barrier on the right, turn right. The path gradually veers left towards a pass. Pass under the TC cables, then a TS, to reach a wide path at the height of a large snow barrier on the right (view of lakes Pavin and Bourdouze, Monts du Cantal, Cézallier, Margeride and Forez). Continue right to reach the Col du Couhay.

Étape 2 : Take the left-hand path below the slopes of Paillaret, towards the Col de la Geneste. Pass a ladder and continue downhill (panoramic view of Lac Chauvet, Cézallier and Monts du Cantal). Near the road, turn left onto the path to Super-Besse. Cross a pasture, following the wooden fence, then a wood and another pasture. At a crossroads in a wood, go right down to reach a road. Cross the road and follow it to the left for 20 m, then down a track to the right. Leave a track on the right, enter a pasture and climb up to the Vassivière chapel.

Étape 3 : Turn left towards the parking lot, walk alongside it and, towards the rear of the building, take the path towards Super-Besse. At the Super-Besse entrance sign, cross the road and continue along the track that runs alongside it, to reach the starting point.

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Étape 1

Take it and climb the long, steep staircase through the woods to the start of the zip-line. Continue straight ahead. Leave a TS finish on the right. Follow a wide path to the left. 15m after the first large snow barrier on the right, turn right. The path gradually veers left towards a pass. Pass under the TC cables, then a TS, to reach a wide path at the height of a large snow barrier on the right (view of lakes Pavin and Bourdouze, Monts du Cantal, Cézallier, Margeride and Forez). Continue right to reach the Col du Couhay.

Étape 2

Take the left-hand path below the slopes of Paillaret, towards the Col de la Geneste. Pass a ladder and continue downhill (panoramic view of Lac Chauvet, Cézallier and Monts du Cantal). Near the road, turn left onto the path to Super-Besse. Cross a pasture, following the wooden fence, then a wood and another pasture. At a crossroads in a wood, go right down to reach a road. Cross the road and follow it to the left for 20 m, then down a track to the right. Leave a track on the right, enter a pasture and climb up to the Vassivière chapel.

Étape 3

Turn left towards the parking lot, walk alongside it and, towards the rear of the building, take the path towards Super-Besse. At the Super-Besse entrance sign, cross the road and continue along the track that runs alongside it, to reach the starting point.

Opening

From 01/05 to 31/10.

Subject to favorable weather.

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Mountain view

For your own safety, always take a bottle of water, a hat, warm clothing and footwear suitable for walking.
Depending on weather conditions, certain itineraries are not recommended in bad weather (fog) or are not practicable, or even forbidden, during the winter season.
Some sites are fragile, so stay on the marked trails. Avoid picking wild flowers and disturbing wildlife. Pick up your garbage.
Animals are not allowed on some routes.

Last update 12 May 2026