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Catherine de Vreede: Experience Natural Laroquevieille, Cantal

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Uncover the wonders of Laroquevieille, nestled in the heart of Cantal in the Auvergne region, during your stay at Catherine de Vreede. The surrounding area is brimming with picturesque landscapes and activities for all ages. Explore the marked hiking trails that wind through the mountains, or take a leisurely walk discovering local wildlife and flora. History and culture enthusiasts can visit medi...See more

Walking around CATHERINE DE VREEDE

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Stroll through the walking routes of CATHERINE DE VREEDE.
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What to do in CATHERINE DE VREEDE

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Organize your days in CATHERINE DE VREEDE with bookable activities for the whole family.
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What to visit in CATHERINE DE VREEDE

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Shop in the boutiques of CATHERINE DE VREEDE.
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Tournemire
5 km

Tournemire

South of Salers in the Doire valley, you will find “Tournemire”. Perched on the hillside and ranked as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, its name comes from a famous family Tournemire. The knight Rigaud de Tournemire is mentioned in a settlement dated from 1030. His brother, Pierre, a knight, participated in the Crusade of 1095 and preached in Clermont-Ferrand. Legend has it that when he came back from the Holy Land, he brought a thorn from Christ’s crown. Venerated as a miraculous object it is said that it cures eyesight troubles. It was kept within the Romanesque church of which the oldest parts date from the 12th century - its chapels, its keystones, its porch and sculptures are other remarkable elements to see. During the 12th century, the Tournemire family built a monumental castle the high tower of which included the present church in its surrounding wall. Unfortunately, the fortunes lost in the Crusades and the sharing of the seigniory between several co-lords progressively contributed to the decline of the Tournemire family. A bourgeois family from Aurillac, the Anjony (a derivation of the name Johanni), enriched by successfully trading in animal skins, became consuls of the town, bought lands from the Tournemires and built their own castle during the 15th century. A wedding sealed the alliance between the two families, one bringing a blazon (coat of arms) and the other bringing the finances. The honeymoon was short and the two families indulged in a ruthless battle using surrounding routes, paths, residences, the cemetery and even the church as a sparring ground. These quarrels persisted during the Religious wars and ended in 1623 with a duel between 3 Anjony and 3 Tournemire. A visit to the present 15th century castle will give you an insight into the turbulent history of this village and help you to speculate about what happened. Walking through the village, you will see numerous houses with monumental stones coming from the previous 12th century castle but nowadays we can only guess at the actual site. When you get near the church, follow the cave path where you will see notches for beams and fire place conduits in the rock- proof of an ancient building. Further into the caves, evidence shows that this is without doubt the oldest inhabited area of the village. You’ll see that the caves offered shelter for the herds and their fodder.

La croix des Croisades 15310 Tournemire
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Saint-Cernin
8.2 km

Saint-Cernin

Saint-Cernin enjoys the privilege of being not too far from urban life but with the genuine possibility of savouring the priceless pleasures of country life. Our village is the southern gateway to the Pays de Salers. Saint-Cernin is the first rural village encountered as you leave the Aurillac urban centre by the North. It enjoys the privilege of being not too far from urban life but with the genuine possibility of savouring the priceless pleasures of country life. The town's warm welcome and diversity of facilities are proof of its simplicity, increasing its appeal to city dwellers and tourists in search of authenticity. Saint-Cernin, built into the hillside, clings to the western flank of the Cantal volcano. From the Plateau, at the Croix de Saint-Pierre, the view of the Monts du Cantal is superb. The Saint-Cernin valley, carved out by the River Doire, marks the entrance to the Volcanic Natural Park. Picturesque hamlets dot the valley and surrounding plateaux. Saint-Cernin also boasts socio-educational and sports facilities, including a primary school and secondary school, over 25 associations and a rich cultural heritage. The church of Saint-Saturnin, with its 12th-century gable bell tower, features remarkable sculpted modillions and 15th-century wooden stalls from the church of Saint-Chamant. Admire the Château du Cambon, a former stronghold transformed into a pleasure residence, see the ruined 14th-century keep tower of Marze or the Château de Ragheaud, discover the 15th-century stone crosses at Saint-Martin-le-Valois... Saint-Cernin is also the birthplace of Henri Mondor, a member of the Académie Française and the Académie de Médecine, who laid down the modern rules of surgery. There were two churches, one at St Martin Valois and the other at St Cernin. In 2021, a heritage trail will trace its history from the 18th to the 20th century.

15310 Saint-Cernin
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Freix-Anglards
9.3 km

Freix-Anglards

Freix-Anglards is a recent commune, created in 1839 at the expense of St-Cernin. With an altitude of between 591 and 842m, irrigated by the Soulane river. Freix-Anglards is a recent commune, created in 1839 at the expense of St-Cernin. With an altitude of between 591 and 842m, irrigated by the Soulane river, the area is volcanic to the north and east, making it ideal for arable farming and hay meadows. To the west, on the other hand, the land is mostly schist and covered in heather. Built on the western edge of the Ourzeau plateau, the village boasts some magnificently restored old houses, as well as a church with remarkable stained glass windows. Today, the commune has a population of 230, divided into 9 villages and 9 hamlets: Bassignac is a street/village situated on an outcrop, that dominates the surrounding area. It offers a wide range of accommodation, from the most basic houses to two fine gentry houses (the Magis and Meyniel houses dating from the early 19th century), as well as many middle-class houses. There are beautiful barns, chicken coops and wells. As is typical to the region, there is a mixture of flat and pointed roofs, with some having a strong taste for the pyramid shape. In the 19th century, the beautiful village of Bénaguet was hidden in groves of walnut, apple and other fruit trees and sheltered from the northerly winds by the edge of the plain, which is cut off almost sheer at the entrance to the village...

15310 Freix-Anglards
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Saint-Martin-Valmeroux
13 km

Saint-Martin-Valmeroux

Saint-Martin-Valmeroux is a charming village with a population of 800, at an altitude of 650 metres, nestling in the lush greenery of the Maronne valley. Former Bailliage of the Monts d'Auvergne between Mauriac and Aurillac. Remarkable historic centre. Saint-Martin-Valmeroux is a charming village with a population of 911, at an altitude of 650 metres, nestling in the lush greenery of the Maronne valley. A former Bailliage (bailiwick) of the Monts d'Auvergne located on the CD 922 between Mauriac and Aurillac, the commune of Saint-Martin-Valmeroux, associated with Saint-Rémy-de-Salers, has many treasures from the past (14th-century church, houses with turrets, barris and barriades, three-measure grain market, St-Pôl and Vezou chateaus, etc.) but is resolutely modern in its outlook... Saint-Martin-Valmeroux - This is a market town with key public services (police station, state and private schools, post office, first-aid/rescue centre, rural home for the elderly) and private services, particularly in the health sector. The town also has a large, dynamic and constantly evolving craft, industrial and commercial fabric (Isotoner has its head office here, as St-Martin also owes its prosperity as a former glove-making centre) and is also a pleasant place to stay (campsite with twenty chalets, motorhome stations, hotel and numerous holiday gites). There's plenty to do in the area, including a heated swimming pool, city park, fitness area, tennis court, riding centre, trout fishing, gymnasium, hiking trails and leisure centre, for tourists and locals alike, who can take advantage of the large number of associations (around 20, many of them in the sporting and cultural fields). Worthy of note: the Nozières mineral fountain and its healing water, rich in iron bicarbonate and carbonic acid. The church, a local specimen of Middle Age architecture which is much admired today, replaces its 12th century Romanesque predecessor of which only the bell tower remains, a massive 18 metre high square tower. The porch, as well as the small door set back to the left of the entrance, are Gothic in style. The upper part of the portal features three painted wooden statues dating from the 17th century. On the facade of the bell tower, there is a ‘boy with thorn’ sculpture eroded by time. Inside, on the Gothic keystone of the choir is a shield bearing the arms of Jacques Comborn, Bishop of Clermont and Lord of St Martin, who was responsible for restoring and transforming the building in the 15th century. Also on display there are the 17th century gilded wooden reliquary bust and a painting by Gustave de Lassalle-Bordes, both dedicated to the patron saint of the commune.

15140 Saint-Martin-Valmeroux
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Where to eat in CATHERINE DE VREEDE

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Where to sleep in CATHERINE DE VREEDE

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Enjoy your stay with accommodations in CATHERINE DE VREEDE.
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Caution!
We have no information on the difficulty of this circuit. You may encounter some surprises along the way. Before you go, please feel free to inquire more and take all necessary precautions. Have a good trip! 🌳🥾