Picherande: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Lac Chauvet is a maar, meaning a former volcano, and lies at an altitude of 1,176 m.

Those who choose Picherande as their destination may wish to rent a holiday apartment for their stay.

Nature

The Lac Chauvet ZNIEFF area contains four protected plant species associated with the lake’s amphibious vegetation. The area around Lac Chauvet includes beech forest and a raised bog with protected plant species. Beyond the Bois de Gayme beech forest lies the Gayme bog; the Fontaine Salée valley can be seen in the background.

Lac de Gayme is an artificial lake created on a bog in 1983. There are four jetties at the lake built for fishing, including one with reduced barriers for people with reduced mobility.

Hiking

The route to Lac Chauvet begins between the church and the town hall of Picherande and can be reached from Besse-en-Chandesse via the D978 and D203. It follows a stream and crosses footbridges, beech forest, other wooded areas and pastures; it also leads to the Cascade de la Barthe and Lac Chauvet.

The circular hike Tourbière et lac de Gayme is around 3.8 km long and takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. The hiking route La Fontaine Salée is a difficult 16.5 km circular route lasting 5 hours and 15 minutes, starting in Picherande.

The hike to the Cascade de la Barthe is very easy, runs mainly over level terrain, is around 1.5 km long and takes approximately 45 minutes there and back. The Cascade de la Barthe was formed by the erosion of a lava flow; there, the Ruisseau de Neuffonds plunges as a waterfall into the forests. IGN maps with the hiking trails of Picherande are available at all Sancy tourist offices.

Winter and Cycling

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing routes are offered as outdoor activities in Picherande. There is also a roller-skiing trail.

The Espace Sancy VTT-FFC mountain biking area in Picherande includes the green Bois de Gayme circular route no. 8, covering 5.1 km with an elevation gain of 90 m.

Culture

The Église Saint-Quintien dates from the 14th century. The church’s original ensemble has been listed in the inventory of historic monuments since 1971.

The Fête de la Gentiane, held around 14 and 15 August, includes events, exhibitions and hikes focusing on the gentian. Sancy Tour no. 19 is a tour and observation game around Picherande that introduces visitors to the local dialect and life in this mountainous region.

For further travel planning, you can also access Montpeyroux, Saint-Ours, Bromont, Saint-Germain-Lembron, Saint-Georges-de-Mons, Saint-Anthème, Parentignat and Ceyrat.

To the higher-level travel overview: Puy-De-Dôme.