Our take
The odd rock that looks as if it was dropped there by chance. You only discover the chimney once you're in front of it, the beech forest hides it. A little photo spot that looks good on Instagram without needing to be a pro.
A clay cone capped with a block of basalt, standing in the Couze Pavin valley. 800 m of path from the hamlet of Cotteuge.
A geological curiosity in the commune of Saint-Diéry, in the Couze Pavin valley. It is also known as a demoiselle coiffée: a column of clay topped with a large block of basalt.
The story reads backwards. During an eruption, a mass of lava fell back down onto clay ground. Rain, snow and run-off then carried away the clay all around, except under the block. The rock didn't go up: the ground came down.
The chimney hides in a beech forest, beside the path, 800 m after the little bridge at Cotteuge. Free, open access. Invisible from a distance, it catches the light in the middle of the day, when the sun breaks through the leaves.
Why we love it
- The midday sun breaking through the beech trees
- That block of basalt balanced on its cone, sculpted by erosion
- A column hidden among the beeches, which you can't see from a distance
Top tip
Park on the square in the hamlet of Cotteuge, go back to the little bridge and cross it: the chimney is 800 m further on, along a path that climbs through the forest. Come in the middle of the day, when the sun breaks through between the beech trees. Fragile site, stay on the path, don't climb on it.
Before you go
- Park on the main square of the hamlet of Cotteuge, 200 m after the little bridge. Keep the areas around the houses and farms clear, so as not to get in the way of residents or farmers.
- Take the D621 that leads to Besse, towards the hamlet of Cotteuge. At the entrance to the hamlet, spot the little bridge on the right, without driving over it. Park 200 m further on, on the main square, walk back to the bridge, cross it and follow the path for 800 m: the chimney is beside the path, in the forest.
- Come in the middle of the day, when the sun breaks through the beech trees
- Wear good walking shoes, the path climbs
Weather for the next 3 days
Today
14°/4°
3 mm · 43 km/h
Tomorrow
14°/1°
dry · 7 km/h
Tue 27
21°/11°
0 mm · 13 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
- Cotteuge, 63320 Saint-Diéry, France
63320 Saint-Diéry
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Around Cheminée de Fée
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Where to eat close by
€La Maison du fromage
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4.8Saint-Nectaire · 6.0 km away
€€La Tanière des Loups
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€€L'Auberge du Bougnat
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Hikes nearby
Waymarked routes within 15 km, GPX track included.
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