Our take
Low-key wooded gorges in the Bourbonnais: 4 km of steep-sided river, the remains of mills, and five equipped entrances to explore them.
Four kilometres of gorges carved by the Bouble between Chantelle and Deneuille: remains of mills, a steep-sided river and paths with open access all year round.
A designated Espace Naturel Sensible (a protected natural area) in the Allier: gorges carved by the Bouble over about 4 km, between the Moulin Couvier and the Vieux Moulin, in the communes of Chantelle and Deneuille-lès-Chantelle. A walk of about 4 km starts from the Maison du Tourisme (the tourist office) in Chantelle (allow two hours). Below the priory of Chantelle are the remains of two mills, the Moulin de Pierre and the Grand Moulin. Remarkable fauna and flora: otter, white-throated dipper, yellow-bellied toad, Montpellier maple. Open access all year round. Five equipped entry points on the plateaux of Chantelle and Deneuille, each fitted with interpretive displays.
Why we love it
- The remains of the Moulin de Pierre and the Grand Moulin, below the priory of Chantelle
- Four kilometres of steep-sided river, with open access all year round
Top tip
Set off from the Maison du Tourisme (the tourist office) in Chantelle, 4 Grande-Rue: the walk is about 4 km, allow two hours. Charroux, one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France (the Most Beautiful Villages of France), is a few kilometres away. Bring good shoes, the ground goes up and down.
Before you go
- Start in front of the Maison du Tourisme (the tourist office) in Chantelle (4 Grande-Rue), with parking nearby and an area for motorhomes.
- Bring good shoes: the ground goes up and down.
- Pick your entry point before setting off: five access points are laid out on the plateaux of Chantelle and Deneuille.
Weather for the next 3 days
Today
17°/8°
2 mm · 30 km/h
Tomorrow
15°/4°
dry · 9 km/h
Tue 27
22°/7°
0 mm · 19 km/h
Source: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). General lowland forecasts, to be cross-checked with specialist mountain forecasts at altitude.
Practical info
- Address
- 7 Rue Anne de Beaujeu, 03140 Chantelle, France
03140 Chantelle - Monday24 hours
- Tuesday24 hours
- Wednesday24 hours
- Thursday24 hours
- Friday24 hours
- Saturday24 hours
- Today24 hours
Opening hours
What visitors say
Google rating
Average of 276 reviews on Google Maps.
Community rating
No reader reviews yet: yours gets things started.
It's for you if
- You're after low-key wooded gorges, with open access all year round
- You like walking between a steep-sided river and the remains of mills
- You're watching out for the otter and the white-throated dipper
Give it a miss if
- You walk in town shoes: the ground goes up and down
- You get around in a wheelchair: the site isn't suited to it
Your logbook
Around Espace naturel sensible des gorges de la Bouble
Enough to build your day around this address.
Where to stay nearby
You might also like
More gorges in Allier and nearby.
La Senouire
4.5Brioude · Haute-Loire
85 reviews
Le Devès
5.0Saint-Jean-Lachalm · Haute-Loire
3 reviews
Gorges de l'Allier
4.8Prades · Haute-Loire
131 reviews
Truyère panorama
5.0Anglards-de-Saint-Flour · Cantal
3 reviews
Cascade d'Alleyras
4.3Alleyras · Haute-Loire
65 reviews
Gayme peat bog
4.6Picherande · Puy-de-Dôme
18 reviews