Puy de Baladou, Mountain summit in Saulzet-le-Froid, France

Puy de Baladou is a summit in the Monts Dore, on the commune of Saulzet-le-Froid in Puy-de-Dôme. Its flat-topped ridge rises to 1,455 m, with bare upper slopes of brown, purple and grey above a band of dense forest and scattered trees over grass. The Monne has its source on the mountain at 1,320 m.

Puy de Baladou is a summit of the Monts Dore in the Massif Central, rising to 1,455 m in the commune of Saulzet-le-Froid, Puy-de-Dôme. The Monne has its source on its slopes at 1,320 m. Its bare upper slopes, banded below by dense forest, belong to the volcanic massif whose summits the nearby Puy de Monne, 1,692 m, overtops.

Shepherds have grazed their flocks on these slopes for centuries, shaping the open grasslands you see today. This pastoral tradition remains active and helps maintain the mountain's distinctive open terrain.

This summit is accessible via multiple hiking routes that typically take two to three and a half hours depending on your starting point. The terrain is most manageable in good weather and requires proper hiking shoes and plenty of water.

The mountain provides access to several natural features including the Saint-Nectaire forest and the Le Labadeau stream. These water sources and woodlands make the route a varied hiking experience with changing scenery.