Auvergne Planeze and Margeride

In the heart of Auvergne, Saint-Flour is the capital of Planèze and Margeride. It is a town famous for its art and history.
Architecturally, the town is built on two levels. It has one high ancient village with incredible houses that evoke the Auvergne region’s particularly rich history.

Like many Auvergne towns, Saint-Flour is known for its art and history. It has two museums: one for art and history, and one for ‘Haute Auvergne’, which tells the story of the region. But above all, Saint-Flour stands out for its incredible wealth of festivals:

• The folk music festival, the highlands festival
• The festival of mountain cultures (live events, concerts, etc.)
• The contemporary arts festival during which artists in residence create works of art on site.

When mentioning Saint-Flour, everyone thinks of the Garabit viaduct, an emblem of the Auvergne region. It is a wonderful construction by Gustave Eiffel, built within a breathtaking natural setting. It is located above the picturesque gorges of Truyère that lead to the magnificent Grandval dam with its water sports facility and where it is possible to catch large predatory fish such as zander, pike, carp, etc. Heading down towards Aubrac, there is Chaudes-Aigues, another village typical of the Auvergne region, famous for its health-giving springs and recently endowed with a thermal spa.

As elsewhere in Auvergne, where nature and stunning landscapes are supreme, you will find walking, riding and mountain bike trails. The Auvergne region is perfect for all forms of hiking. The GR4 runs past Saint-Flour, just like the Camino de Compostela, the Way of St James. Don’t forget that Lioran is close by with its winter and summer activities: cross country and Alpine skiing, paragliding and hikes made easy all year round by the cable car that gives access to the Plomb du Cantal summit and its breathtaking views.