Forêt de la Comté

A forest set between the Allier valley and the Livradois plateaux, near Vic-le-Comte, across the communes of Pignols, Sallèdes, Vic-le-Comte and Yronde-et-Buron: a massif of 2,000 hectares, 932 of them labelled Espace Naturel Sensible (a protected natural area), and the largest lowland oak wood in Auvergne. The Département owns 615 hectares, bought since 2000, and has entrusted their management to the LPO (the bird protection league) and the ONF (the national forestry office). Oaks, hornbeams, sycamores and wild cherries grow on volcanic hills 25 million years old (the Cheix Blanc peak tops out at 817 m). At the heart, 87 hectares of ravine forest are left to evolve freely, with no intervention. Roe deer, wild boar and foxes in the undergrowth, and elusive species such as the fire salamander or the yellow-bellied toad, a small threatened toad. Free access to the themed trails (trees, flora, volcanism, tales trail) and to the orienteering course. Half an hour from Clermont-Ferrand.