Come and discover this unmissable natural monument of Velay with a simple hike. The Corboeuf ravine is a fragile canyon of multicolored clay. Sometimes called Colorado du Velay, you can discover this emblematic site on foot, leaving from Rosières by following the Galoche trail, along the route of an old railway line, or by car by going to the hamlet of Chastel.
40 million years of successive collapses, large bodies of water and climate changes: all the ingredients come together to create a veritable clay canyon with varied colors ranging from red to green. The Corboeuf ravines site today offers a very spectacular form of clay ravine which resembles drapes!
from one river to another
In Rosières the Corboeuf ravine, nicknamed The Colorado of Velay is an astonishing and fragile natural site, located a few kilometers from Puy-en-Velay. A canyon of multicolored clay, alternating small ravines and fine ridges, it immerses walkers in typical Arizona landscapes and will probably end up as a backdrop on your Facebook wall.
The path which leads to the Corboeuf ravines is an old railway line which dates from 1890. A steam train transported goods and passengers between Lavoûte-sur-Loire and La Voulte-sur-Rhône until 1952.
Today, you can still see the station and its water tank in Rosières which was used to supply the train. The name “La Galoche” designates the vellav part of this line. It would refer to the workers, builders of the line and who, at the time, wore galoshes*. They walked very slowly, like the trains on this very uneven line!
Discover the ravine on foot
the chronology of this unique landscape
- 40 million years: Tectonic movements shaking the Massif Central. Creation of the Puy-Emblavez basin. Marked tropical climate with drying up of lakes: fossil and red soil
- 35 million years: Erosion of red and granite soils into red and green clay and clayey silt
- 4 to 15 million years: Appearance of the first domes, including the Rock of Chastel
- 19th century : Use of the site for pasture
- In 1890: Creation of the “La Galoche” railway line
- In 1952: Final whistle of the train on the rails of “La Galoche”
Around the Corboeuf ravine
There is so much to discover around Colorado du Velay. Take the hiking route to discover the Ravin de Corboeuf or let yourself be tempted by the Via Fluvia !
