Travel in Auvergne
Gorges

Gorges de Chouvigny

4.7(25 Google reviews)Saint-Gal-sur-Sioule, Puy-de-DômeFree

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Our take

The gorges road, 15 km along the Sioule, winding between the cliffs. Perched castles above, tight meanders: an Auvergne road trip that you will often have to yourself.

The editors · Teddy L.How we choose our places
  • Allow 1 h to 2 h
  • Free
  • For a fine day

The Sioule's 15 km of canyon, a panoramic road and perched castles.

Here the Sioule cuts into the granite for 15 km, between Saint-Gal-sur-Sioule and Ébreuil, straddling the Allier and Puy-de-Dôme départements. These are the finest gorges on the Sioule, and you will often have them to yourself.

You follow them along the D915, the road that runs beside the Sioule at the bottom of the gorges: tight meanders, cliffs rising up to 100 m above you. The site is part of the Natura 2000 network.

Several hiking trails are waymarked in the area, and you can canoe down the river in summer. Free access. Just above, two perched castles: Château de Chouvigny and Château-Rocher.

Why we love it

  • Granite cliffs rising up to 100 metres above the road
  • The tight meanders of the Sioule, seen from the bottom of the canyon
  • Château de Chouvigny and Château-Rocher perched just above
  • A Natura 2000 site where you rarely meet many people

Top tip

Drive the D915 from Saint-Gal to Ébreuil for the morning light. Several viewpoints, free car parks. Can be combined with Château de Chouvigny and Château-Rocher (10 min).

Before you go

  • The D915 is the road to take: it runs beside the Sioule at the bottom of the gorges, from Saint-Gal-sur-Sioule to Ébreuil.
  • Several viewpoints line the road, and their car parks are free.
  • The area is also waymarked for hiking, and you can canoe down the Sioule in summer.

Weather for the next 3 days

  • Today

    16°/6°

    2 mm · 25 km/h

  • Tomorrow

    16°/2°

    dry · 9 km/h

  • Tue 27

    21°/6°

    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
Gorges de Chouvigny, 63440 Saint-Gal-sur-Sioule, France
63440 Saint-Gal-sur-Sioule
Route

What visitors say

4.7/ 5

Google rating

Average of 25 reviews on Google Maps.

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Around Gorges de Chouvigny

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Where to stay near Saint-Gal-sur-Sioule

A place to see, a night to spend?

Hotels, gîtes and B&Bs within 20 km of Saint-Gal-sur-Sioule. Availability and online booking.

See our pick of places to stay in Auvergne

Worth seeing nearby

Roc Armand

Roc Armand

4.4

Chouvigny · a 5-minute walk away

Château de Chouvigny

Château de Chouvigny

4.3

Chouvigny · a 5-minute walk away

Gorges de la Sioule

Gorges de la Sioule

4.6

Menat · 4.8 km away

Château-Rocher

Château-Rocher

4.4

Saint-Rémy-de-Blot · 5.8 km away

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