The tour and ascent of the mythical volcano, the most imposing of the Strombolian cones of Velay, whose very well preserved crater is today occupied by a peat bog.
Route details
Alert
Difficulties!
Strong climb after 4.
Strong climb after 4.
Description
Take the street (montée Saint-Martin) which goes down opposite the postal agency. At the bottom, turn left on rue Fonteline and go up 200 m. Then take the street on the right towards the Collège du Mont Bar. > Variant: ascent of Mont Bar (yellow markings). Continue opposite, then turn right to climb through the undergrowth, ignore a path on the right, then turn right and reach the summit. Go around the bog to the left to go back down the same route.
Opposite the college, take rue du Pré-de-Mié which passes between the gendarmerie and the Maison de la Jeunesse. Continue straight ahead along a wide path and reach a fork.
Stay right on the pozzolan path which follows the edge of the forest skirting Mount Bar to the east. Ignore a path on the left (PR 110) and continue straight into the woods. The path joins a road which quickly leads to a crossroads.
Turn right onto the small road which runs alongside the pozzolan quarry. Leave the PR 358 on the left and follow the path which, after the barrier, climbs towards Mont Bar.
At the GR® 40 signposts, take the path on the left and go around Mont Bar to the west [> further on, signs alert hikers to the trees encountered: common spruce, Douglas fir, larch, etc. ; magnificent view of the village of Allègre, its castle and its three enclosures]. After the barrier, continue on the right lane until the college. On the left, following the outward route, return to the start.
Opposite the college, take rue du Pré-de-Mié which passes between the gendarmerie and the Maison de la Jeunesse. Continue straight ahead along a wide path and reach a fork.
Stay right on the pozzolan path which follows the edge of the forest skirting Mount Bar to the east. Ignore a path on the left (PR 110) and continue straight into the woods. The path joins a road which quickly leads to a crossroads.
Turn right onto the small road which runs alongside the pozzolan quarry. Leave the PR 358 on the left and follow the path which, after the barrier, climbs towards Mont Bar.
At the GR® 40 signposts, take the path on the left and go around Mont Bar to the west [> further on, signs alert hikers to the trees encountered: common spruce, Douglas fir, larch, etc. ; magnificent view of the village of Allègre, its castle and its three enclosures]. After the barrier, continue on the right lane until the college. On the left, following the outward route, return to the start.