Le Puy-en-Velay and the source of the Loire
From Clermont-Ferrand through Brioude to Le Puy’s volcanic needles, then over the high plateau to the source of the Loire and into the Ardèche.
- Distance
- 221 km (137 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 03 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 8
- Countries
- France
- Updated
- August 2, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 221 km (137 mi) with 8 stops, from Clermont-Ferrand to Aubenas. About 3 h 03 min of driving in total.
More road trips in France · More road trips from Clermont-Ferrand
Route description
Take the A75 south from Clermont-Ferrand and then the N102 to Brioude, whose basilica of Saint-Julien is the largest Romanesque church in Auvergne. Detour 10 km to Lavaudieu, a small village with a Romanesque cloister and wall paintings in its abbey church. The N102 then continues east over the plateau to Le Puy-en-Velay, about 130 km from Clermont in total.
Just before Le Puy, stop at Polignac, where a ruined fortress sits on a flat basalt butte. Le Puy itself is a town of volcanic needles: the cathedral on its hill, a red statue of the Virgin on another, and the chapel of Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe on top of an 82 m rock. The old town is steep, so park near the Place du Breuil and walk.
Le Puy is the starting point of the Via Podiensis, the main French route of the Way of St James, and pilgrims leave from the cathedral each morning. Head south-east via Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille into the Mézenc massif, a high, open plateau of farms with heavy stone roofs. Stop at the Lac d’Issarlès, a round, deep crater lake with a beach.
Mont Gerbier de Jonc, a cone of volcanic rock at 1,551 m, stands above the farm where the Loire begins in a stone trough. The climb to the top takes about 30 minutes. From there the D122 and D578 descend steeply through the Ardèche mountains to Aubenas. Snow is common on the plateau from November to April, and fog can be thick.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Clermont-Ferrand
France - 280 km
Lavaudieu
HistoryLavaudieu, FranceA village on the Senouire with the only surviving Romanesque cloister in Auvergne and medieval wall paintings in its abbey church. It is 10 km from Brioude and quiet outside summer.
- 348 km
Polignac fortress
HistoryPolignac, FranceThe ruins of a medieval fortress on a flat-topped basalt butte with a tall keep. The climb from the village is short; the keep gives a view over Le Puy and its volcanic needles.
- 45 km
Le Puy-en-Velay
France - 51 km
Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe
HistoryAiguilhe, FranceA 10th-century chapel perched on an 82 m volcanic needle, reached by 268 steps. Combine it with Le Puy cathedral, the start of the Via Podiensis pilgrim route to Santiago.
- 637 km
Lac d’Issarlès
NatureLe Lac-d’Issarlès, FranceA round volcanic lake about 100 m deep in a crater at 1,000 m altitude, with a beach and a path round the shore. The water stays cool even in summer.
- 716 km
Mont Gerbier de Jonc
NatureSaint-Martial, FranceA 1,551 m cone of volcanic rock where the Loire rises in a farm trough. The steep climb to the top takes about 30 minutes from the car park on the D378.
- 835 km
Aubenas
France
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Clermont-Ferrand → Lavaudieu · 80 km · 1 h 06 minOvernight nearby, for example: La Bageasse (4 km); Camping municipal Au Fil de l’Eau (12 km).
- Day 2: Lavaudieu → Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe · 53 km · 0 h 44 minOn the way: Polignac fortress, Le Puy-en-Velay.Overnight nearby, for example: Camping du Puy-en-Velay (< 1 km); Aire camping-cars à Polignac (3 km).
- Day 3: Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe → Aubenas · 88 km · 1 h 13 minOn the way: Lac d’Issarlès, Mont Gerbier de Jonc.Overnight nearby, for example: Camping le Pastural (3 km); Camping les Peupliers (9 km).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and October. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Le Puy-en-Velay and the source of the Loire?
3-day road trip of about 221 km (137 mi) with 8 stops, from Clermont-Ferrand to Aubenas. About 3 h 03 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Le Puy-en-Velay and the source of the Loire?
We suggest 3 days: about 3 h 03 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Le Puy-en-Velay and the source of the Loire start and end?
It starts in Clermont-Ferrand and ends in Aubenas.
Which countries does Le Puy-en-Velay and the source of the Loire pass through?
France.
Where can you camp along Le Puy-en-Velay and the source of the Loire?
OpenStreetMap lists 245 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Huttopia Royat, Camping Le Chanset and Aire municipale Pérignat-lès-Sarliève.
When is the best time for Le Puy-en-Velay and the source of the Loire?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
