Our take
A low-key viewpoint at 925 m, never packed: unobstructed view, old Roman and medieval stones, forest all around. You go up for the late-afternoon light.
Viewpoint at 925 m in the Montagne Bourbonnaise: two lava peaks, an orientation table and a view as far as the Alps in clear weather.
Rocher Saint-Vincent is an old block of lava standing at 925 m altitude, in the Montagne Bourbonnaise. Two peaks of volcanic rock separated by a grassy esplanade, forest all around, a view that carries far.
At the top, an orientation table helps you read the landscape: the Vichy basin below, the Chaîne des Puys to the west, and in clear weather as far as the Alps. The place has a past: a former Roman lookout post, the ruins of the Château de Puyramont, and Saint Vincent Ferrer, who is said to have preached there six centuries ago, during the Hundred Years' War. A statue of Notre-Dame de la Montagne watches over the old chapel.
Two ways up: the D995, 2 km north of Lavoine, drops you almost at the foot of the rock; or the PR no. 3 loop from the village church, 8 km and about 2 hours 40 on foot, yellow waymarking, no difficulty. Private site but open access and free, also popular with climbers.
Our take, frankly: a low-key viewpoint to keep for the end of the day, when the golden light turns the valleys orange and the summit is often all yours. Combine it with the Puy de Montoncel, highest point in the Allier, 5 km away.
Why we love it
- Orientation table: Vichy basin, Chaîne des Puys, the Alps in clear weather
- Two lava peaks at 925 m separated by a grassy esplanade
- Ruins of the Château de Puyramont and statue of Notre-Dame de la Montagne
- Open access and free, also climbed by keen climbers
Top tip
Go up for sunset: the golden light sets the valleys ablaze. The last metres to the rock are steep, take care in wet weather, the rock gets slippery.
Before you go
- At sunset, for the golden light on the valleys.
- Start from the village of Lavoine.
- Little visited, apart from regulars from the area.
- PR no. 3 loop: 8 km, about 2 hours 40, yellow waymarking, no difficulty
- End of the day for the best light, summit often deserted
- Take care on the rock in wet weather, it becomes slippery
Weather for the next 3 days
Today
12°/5°
3 mm · 32 km/h
Tomorrow
13°/3°
dry · 13 km/h
Tue 27
20°/11°
0 mm · 14 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
- XMVV+3R, 03250 Lavoine, France
03250 Lavoine - Monday24 hours
- Tuesday24 hours
- Wednesday24 hours
- Thursday24 hours
- Friday24 hours
- Saturday24 hours
- Today24 hours
Opening hours
What visitors say
Google rating
Average of 5 reviews on Google Maps.
Community rating
No reader reviews yet: yours gets things started.
It's for you if
- You're after a viewpoint nobody knows
- You like the Montagne Bourbonnaise in its wild-forest version
- You chase the golden evening light
Give it a miss if
- You want a heavily waymarked path: here, keep your eyes open
- You're after something lively: here, there's only the forest
Your logbook
Around Rocher Saint Vincent
Enough to build your day around this address.
Where to stay nearby
Hikes nearby
Waymarked routes within 15 km, GPX track included.
On foot
Mountain bikingHikes around Rocher Saint Vincent
On footMountain biking
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