Travel in Auvergne
Gorges

Gorges de Bilhard

4.7(62 Google reviews)Monistrol-sur-Loire, Haute-LoireFree

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Our take

A wild spot wedged into the town: the streams have cut the granite into waterfalls and giants' kettles, between mill ruins and a menhir-like rock born of a legend about a petrified devil.

The editors · Teddy L.How we choose our places
  • Allow 1 h to 1 h 30 min
  • Best season: spring, summer, autumn
  • In spring
  • Free
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • For a fine day

Waterfalls, giants' kettles and a legend of a petrified devil: a small granite canyon in the heart of Monistrol-sur-Loire.

A miniature canyon right in the middle of town. In Monistrol-sur-Loire, the Piat and the Saint-Marcellin meet and cut through the granite, forming narrow gorges, waterfalls and round basins, the famous giants' kettles.

The path makes a loop in about an hour and a quarter, starting from the town centre, opposite the Château des Évêques. You follow the water, pass the ruins of mills and a rock standing like a menhir.

About that menhir: legend has it that a hermit who came here to pray was harassed by demons, whom an angel turned to stone at dawn. Their leader was called Bilhard. Wear shoes with good grip, it gets slippery after rain.

Why we love it

  • The giants' kettles, those round basins carved into the granite by the water
  • The waterfalls and narrow gorges where the Piat and the Saint-Marcellin meet
  • The ruins of mills along the path, including the Confluent mill
  • The rock standing like a menhir, from the legend of the demon Bilhard turned to stone at dawn

Top tip

Park on place Néron, in the town centre, then head towards the Château des Évêques. Wait for two or three dry days before going: in rainy weather, the path can become slippery, even impassable.

Before you go

  • In spring, when the streams are running well, on a dry day.
  • Allow about an hour and a quarter to complete the circuit.
  • Wait for two or three dry days. After rain, the way becomes slippery, sometimes impassable.
  • Shoes with good grip, really: the ground can be slippery on some stretches.

Weather for the next 3 days

  • Today

    16°/6°

    0 mm · 21 km/h

  • Tomorrow

    16°/3°

    dry · 8 km/h

  • Tue 27

    22°/7°

    0 mm · 7 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
3 Lot. les Bachats de Chaponas, 43120 Monistrol-sur-Loire, France
43120 Monistrol-sur-Loire
Route

What visitors say

4.7/ 5

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Average of 62 reviews on Google Maps.

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