CHEESES OF THE AUVERGNE - Casino : a majestic building, the result of several construction - altitude : 830m Auvergne is one of the main regions for cheese produced displaying La Bourboule - altitude : 850m schemes. The art-deco style, geometric decor is reminiscent of Murat-le-Quaire - altitude : 1010m Chambon-sur-Lac - altitude : 890m Murol the label of origin, with nearly a quarter of cheeses in France being oriental calligraphy. The slot machine hall is the best preserved: produced there. A tourist resort and spa town, La Bourboule is built along the stucco decors, columns with capitals, pilasters, etc. A mountain village with a rural past, this is also an authentic A sea resort with many water activities, located at the entrance This medieval village in the Auvergne is overlooked by the XIIth Dordogne River. A small, bustling town with all the charm of - Georges-Clemenceau boulevard : large esplanades, terraces, town with heritage and traditions. Set on a basalt peak, it to Chaudefour Valley. century chateau, listed as a Historic Monument. The magic the Belle Epoque, offering a wide variety of shops and many façades from the art-deco, neo-classic and baroque eras, overlooks the valley of the Haute Dordogne and La Bourboule. of the site attracted many painters at the start of the XXth >> To discover green areas. turrets and watchtowers in the troubadour style, a bandstand, >> To discover century, who founded the Ecole de Murol(s) here. the façade of the former Rozier patisserie (1922) covered Lake Chambon : a barrier lake that formed as a result of the Toinette et Julien scene museum : enjoy the company of in mosaics (motifs glorifying water) listed in the additional Tartaret volcano erupting approximately 8,000 years ago, thus >> To discover Toinette and discover family life, hard work at the farm, the inventory of historic monuments. blocking the flow of the Couze Chambon river. It is vast (60 ha), The chateau : perched on a volcanic peak, it still resounds past of the inhabitants in the Valley of the Haute Dordogne, Charlannes Plateau (1050/1300m) and its hiking trails. shallow (6m maximum) and dotted with small islands. Beaches with the ardour of the fighting and the bustle of daily life in learn about the customs and beliefs in the XIXth century. Access : from the town centre via the D129 road (6 km). with facilities, relaxation, tanning, water activities, supervised the Middle Ages. It offers guided tours with portrayals of life : Push open the door to Julien’s Barn…to get a closer look at the Roche des Fées : plunging view over La Bourboule. bathing in July and August. relive the times of knights in shining armour…a trip in time for life, dreams and hopes of the men and women of today. Visit Access : from Guillaume Lacoste square, take the steps (follow There is a path for a pleasant walk round the lake (1 hr) – Leave all ages. available in English. from the beach car park, follow the yellow signs. Visit available in English. the yellow signs: 1 hr return journey). 5 cheeses recognized at European level – AOP (PGS) : Art glassworks Terraces offering an unrestricted view over Lake Chambon. >> Saint-Nectaire: the area’s emblematic cheese Le Rendez-vous des artistes : art gallery. An excellent local cheese, it is produced in the heart of the Massif Minéralexpo (exhibition of minerals, ancient scientific objects). du Sancy and up to the department of Cantal in a labelled area. It Dordogne River Water fun activity center : swimming pool, children’s area, is an uncooked pressed cheese with rind, made using raw milk. The wellness area. special flavour (a nutty taste) comes from the quality and variety of >> To discover the grass the cows have eaten. It is round and flat, measures 21cm in Fenestre Park, a landscaped park of 12 ha : many shrub species, diameter and weighs about 1.7kg. It is suitable throughout mealtime many of which are very old as they were planted when the park (soup, soufflé, salad, etc.). was created in 1874 (as is the case for the 45m-high sequoias, Banne d’Ordanche which are rare in the region), garden of perennials, a multitude Chaudefour Valley >> Blue cheese: a strong taste of activities and children’s games, picnic areas. Banne d’Ordanche (1,515m) : this is a volcanic summit in the ChâteauChâteau of of Murol This was created in the middle of the XIXth century when an enthusiastic farmer thought of introducing the blue mould that Architectural heritage, proof of the rich spa history : form of a crater cone creating a neck. Chaudefour Valley, a National Nature Reserve. Listed since formed on rye bread into the milk. - Town Hall : a former casino, known as the Cariatides in Access : by car from Murat-le-Quaire to the foot of the Banne 1991, it is well known for its sharp and spectacular dykes (feeder Prélong park (a formal wooded garden contrasting with the >> Cantal: 3 cheeses in 1 reference to the Greek goddesses who carry the front balcony. d’Ordanche. From there, you can reach the summit on foot in vents in volcanoes that now stand out through erosion): Dent apparent freedom of the landscaped park). According to its age, it is known as Cantal jeune (young cheese Inside, the grand staircase and very ornate pediments on the 45 min (viewing table: wide view of the Massif du Sancy and de la Rancune, Crête de Coq, Aiguille du Moine, and for its flora Ecole de Murol(s) painting museum : collection of works by matured from 30 to 60 days), Cantal entre-deux (between the two doors are crowned with canvas paintings (1893), Italian theatre. the chain of Puys) across the summer pastures. This site is and fauna. Access : via a path from the House in the reserve painters of the Murol(s) School (start of the XXth century). stages, matured from 90 to 120 days) or Cantal vieux (old cheese well-liked by model aircraft enthusiasts ; Lake Pré Cohadon (easy). To see : the Source Sainte Anne (a spring with spa water Murol promenade in 1900, providing a surprising return to the matured for more than 240 days). (path round the lake, superb view over the Sancy) ; Site of the containing iron, sodium and carbonates) : 45 minute walk there past. former château (panorama over La Bourboule and the Valley and back from the House in the reserve. Pedestrian discovery itinerary : village, chateau, site of the >> Fourme d’Ambert: the mildest of the blue cheeses of the Dordogne, viewing table) ; Restored bread oven, fired Numerous hamlets, witness to the rural life. The farms Dent du Marais, Lake Chambon, Tartaret volcano. Leaving from It is produced using the milk from cows grazing at an altitude of during traditional festivals ; Regional products at the Ferme and production of Saint-Nectaire cheese ; Honey house ; the Tourist Office : follow the blue signs (2 hrs 30 min). between 600 and 1,600m. de la Jonquille ; Production of Saint-Nectaire cheese (farm) ; Herbalist ; XIIth century Roman church covered in part by Many farms and Saint-Nectaire cheese production, honey >> Salers: produced solely on the farms where the cows graze >> Activities and leisure Goat shed (educational farm). alluvial deposits and the baptistery house. freely on the grass in the pastures, from 15 April to 15 November. Nordic walking, hiking trails, horseback riding, trail routes, >> Activities and leisure >> Activities and leisure Archaeological museum ; Craftsman of the leather orientation, mountain biking, well-being : spa water treatments Model aircraft, line fishing at Lake Pré Cohadon, trips in sledges Supervised bathing (July and August) and many water For more information, visit the farms on the Route and packages, massages, Iashi Dome, sauna, hammam… at on wheels and pulled by dogs, dog sledding, many hikes on activities, fishing, mountain biking, hiking trails, quad, golf- >> Activities and leisure des Fromages d’Auvergne (an association that La Bourboule the thermal baths and other establishments, pub, casino, foot, biathlon, nordic walking, mountain biking and electric cross (a sport between golf and rugby), well-being : massages, Bathing, water activities and fishing at Lake Chambon, groups the farms providing a discovery of cheese multimedia library (documents in English). bike. balneotherapy, relaxation… mountain biking, many hikes on foot. production), signposted along the roads. Map from Tourist Offices. of the Roman baths, frescos from the XIXth century. Guided Le Mont Dore - altitude : 1050/1850m tour (information from the Tourist Office). Saint-Nectaire - altitude : 740m Saint-Diéry - altitude : 600/800m Saint-Victor-la-Rivière - altitude : 780m GASTRONOMY IN THE MASSIF DU SANCY Grande Cascade (big waterfall) : it’s the highest in the At the sources of the Dordogne River and the foot of the Puy de Auvergne with a drop of 33 meters under the columnar basalt Located in the centre of the picturesque Couze Chambon river Endowed with a wealth of natural heritage, this farming village This is a predominantly rural commune, located on a plateau, Many restaurants and inns offer typical dishes : Sancy, Le Mont-Dore is a large mountain village with a warm (access via a path from the thermal baths : walk of 1 hr 30 min valley, the town of Saint-Nectaire is overlooked by its Roman with many hamlets is built on a lava flow. and consisting of nine hamlets. It enjoys a privileged location potée auvergnate (cabbage, potatoes, streaky bacon, fresh ham and lively atmosphere, as well as a renowned spa resort. return trip, follow the yellow signs). church dating from the XIIth century. between Murol and Besse. and sausage) >> To discover >> To discover truffade (potatoes, fresh Cantal Tomme) served with a green salad >> To discover Cheminée de Fée or “demoiselle coiffée” (the Miss with a and cured ham Puy de Sancy (1,886m) : the culminating point in the Massif XIIth century Roman church : built on Mont-Cornadore, Hat), a natural geological curiosity.