AU FIL DE L'EAU: Discover Chilhac and Its Surroundings

Partez sur le chemin des écoliers et plongez-vous dans le passé de ce charmant petit village.

The village of Celoux, the old railroad line and the windmill are all signs of the past that punctuate this circuit and make it a real heritage pilgrimage.

Un joli parcours pour découvrir l’église de Rageade, le Cros, un four. Une halte à la confluence des ruisseaux vous rafraîchira, le retour par de magnifiques chemins en sous-bois ou bordés de buissons en fleurs au printemps, se fait sans effort.

Ce parcours vous emmène sur un lieu de miracles : pas de source, pas de grotte mais un havre de paix dans une verte vallée, où une naissance inopinée donne son nom au pont du Saint. Puits couverts et fours banaux sont autant de point d’arrêts.

Bâtie sur un piton volcanique, isolée par les vallées profondes, véritables douves naturelles, la forteresse seigneuriale de Loubarcet était imprenable. De la pierre de couleur chaude aux pâturages ou sous-bois, découvrez les panoramas du Pays de Massiac.

Une randonnée qui sera riche de découvertes, entre l'eglise romane de Saint-Poncy, le vieux pont de catzara et les paysages de pâtures agricoles.

A la découverte du Moulin à vent restauré avec du chêne et du bois exotique. Panorama à 360° sur les plateaux vallonnés. A voir également un long abreuvoir en pierres, et fontaine couverte.

Ce parcours vous mène à la célèbre chapelle Sainte Madeleine, cette ancienne chapelle castrale perchée sur son éperon rocheux. Découvrez ruelles et maisons à « estre », et arpentez les coteaux.

Ce circuit nous fait remonter au temps des cultures en terrasses (palhàs) et des fonds de vallées (pré-vergers). Sans oublier la sentinelle du château d’Aurouze (XIVè siècle).

Partez à la découverte des villages pittoresques des hauts plateaux, et de Bonnac dans la vallée de l’Arcueil, sur les traces des romains chercheurs d’or.

A guided tour through the history of France, the gardens and local history. A vast collection of prints discover etching (workshops available during the visit). Italian and French gardens, vegetables garden and orchard.

This garden has the shape of a planisphere which will guide you along the paths of history, botany and the smart relationship between men and nature.

Sound and light effects taking you through the gallery of pictures enabling you to relive moments from the resistance and the deportation, illustrating how some of the people of Murat survived in the concentration camp during the war. Not advised for the under twelve years old.

Welcome in a completely renovated farm barn that privileges wood, for a friendly and warm stay in the countryside at a few kilometres from the village. Ideal for a quiet stay with many hikes.

An artistic space dedicated to engraving and micropublishing linked to the tradition of paper making in the region. Workshops of typography and screen-printing and linocut.

La Maison de la Fourme d’Ambert gives information of the historical and present-day production of Fourme, AOP cheese of Auvergne. Summer workshops: cheese-making, butter production, Fourme hamburger.

In 14th century, paper replaced parchment and Ambert mills began making paper from cloth. Today, the mill continues this ancestral trade. Thought to have been invented in China around 105 AD, paper's journey to the west was a long one. Paper, which was first used in France in the 14th century, replaced parchment. There were around 400 mills operating around Ambert, making paper sheet-by-sheet using rag paper. Today, the mill continues this ancient process. Highest-quality paper used for publishing the encyclopaedia of Diderot and Alembert, it is still used for restoring artwork, watercolours, lithographs and more. Educational paper manufacturing workshop: you make and keep your own paper. Exhibitions. Shop. Botanical garden.

Quiet and wooded campsite facing the Leignecq waterbody. Ideal for fishing and hiking to discover nature. Caravan rental. Mobile homes. Possible motorhome reception (emptying area).

This 12th-century Romanesque chapel was once part of the enclosure of a castle that no longer exists. Overlooking Massiac, it offers a magnificent view of the town and the Allagnon valley... A l’intérieur, découvrez la légende de ce lieu emblématique du pays de Massiac… Document de visite disponible auprès du bureau de tourisme de Massiac.

Construite pour abriter Notre Dame de Vauclair, vierge en majesté, elle est encore l’objet d’une grande vénération. L’édifice roman, influencé par le limousin, d’une grande pureté de style (estimé fin XIIè), contraste avec les décors intérieurs très colorés de faune et flore. Baies ouvragées, vitraux et rosace, retable à colonnes torses et vignes dorées, s’ajoutent au sol ancien en pierre, l’escalier donnant accès aux combles, et au toit de lauzes typique.

Charming village built on a prominent rock dominating the Truyère river. A path which crosses the river via a small bridge leads to the village. (Starting point near the cemetary)

A magnificent iron masterpiece by Gustave Eiffel; The Garabit Viaduct continues to majestically span over the Gorges of the Truyère, just as it has for over a century. A true testament to human ingenuity, this iconic structure remains a source awe and admiration, standing as a timeless symbol of French industrial heritage. The history of the Garabit Viaduct (1880-1884) tells the story of an extraordinary engineering feat, once thought impossible, which overcame the challenges of a rugged landscape to become a timeless masterpiece. Its light, jagged silhouette has elevated it to the status of a true work of art. Clad in red, its elegance and technical finesse are enhanced by a spectacular lighting display. A technical achievement and the world's highest viaduct at the time of its completion, this colossal structure (564m long and 122m high) was a major event. This once-unthinkable project contributed to France's international influence. Its bold engineering is said to have directly inspired the design of the Eiffel Tower, built just five years later in 1889. Since 2017, this listed historic monument has been part of a European initiative aiming for UNESCO World Heritage recognition, alongside five other exceptional bridges. The Garabit Viaduct is also a gateway to the natural site of the Gorges of the Truyère, offering numerous scenic and tourist attractions. This picturesque setting is officially listed among "France's Remarkable Landscapes". To discover: - On site exhibition: " The Fabulous Fate Of The Garabit Viaduct", open-air and free-access - Guided tours in July (see activity program), group tours on request at the Margeride Eco-Museum - Pierre Allègre's farm, in Loubaresse - Boat trip under the viaduct (leisure or fishing boat) - Scenic drive or cycling route through the Gorges of the Truyère - On-site: accommodation, restaurants, water activities, fishing spots Original experience: Train ride over The Viaduct from Saint-Chély-D'Apcher (Lozère) to Saint-Flour station. NOTE: the railway line will be closed for maintenance work from June 2 to July 4 2025. Illumination of the site: - March 15 - May 31: daily from nightfall until 10:00 PM - June 1 - August 31: daily from nightfall until 1:00 AM - September 1 - November 11: Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays only from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM - Christmas and New Year's Eve: all night

Over the centuries, the Truyère river, a tributary of the Lot, has been carving deep gorges. . Its water are now held by the dams of Grandval and Lanau. A natural landscape of grandiose, surprising and contrasting beauty. Scenic car tours, many water-based activities.

The district of Brassaget was known until the 16th century, only for its ferry, which allowed connecting the two sides of the Allier River. Its importance increased in the 17th century, with the joint development of the transportation by waterway and the mining. In 1795, almost 300 bargemen and other men working in relation with the water lived from the fluvial activity of the Allier River, and lived, for the majority, in the Brassaget district. The ferryboat of Brassaget was used until 1950.

The Renaissance facade of this XIV century building is architecturally extremely refined. It used to house the consuls as early as 1354. Nowadays it hosts collections of the Alfred Douët Museum of Art and History. Guided visits in French throughout the year. Visitor guidebooks in English.

Listed as Region of Art and History Guided tours of the city and night tours : narrow medieval streets, city walls and fortified gateways, Saint Peter’s Gothic Cathedral, the Renaissance façade of the Consular House, the Corn Exchange... Visits carried out in French. City walls circuit: walk along the walls and discover the city. Brochures in French available at the Tourist Office. Visits conducted in French.

Behind its Renaissance façade, the Maison Consulaire, once the residence of the Douët family, houses a cabinet of curiosities with an intimate, authentic charm. Beneath its Renaissance facade, the building houses works of fine and decorative arts gathered by Alfred Douët (1875-1952: paintings of French, Italian and Flemish Schools, sculptures from the XV to the XIX centuries, precious medieval metalwork, Renaissance enamels, earthenware, tapestries, an arms collection and furniture). The building and its collections are of remarkable interest.

The Cathedral itself dates from the XVth century. Its present-day Gothic appearance originates from significant restoration works carried out in the XIXth century. Among the masterpieces: the “Beautiful Black God”, the frescoes, the stained-glass windows... Open daily. Guided visits in French during July and August. Tourist information brochures are available in French and English at the Tourist Office.

The Auberge de l'Allagnonette welcomes you to a building full of character. The chef prepares delicious dishes: millefeuille of black pudding with foie gras, duck breast with red fruit, etc. Regional dishes: cantal tart, pounti, truffade, tripoux.

Menu based on fresh seasonal produce. Licence IV.

Refrigerated gourmet racks with specialties from Auvergne and other regions. Sweet gourmet racks. Open 24 hours a day.

Specialties include grilled meats and regional dishes: pounti, truffade, Auvergne platters and tasting platters, all served in a bright, open-plan dining room, under a covered terrace or in the open air.

In the heart of the Cézallier, magnificent, fully restored buron. Home cooking, local produce, local meat, quality and tradition.

The simple pleasure of dining by the lake... a creative cuisine that draws its influences from both land and lake, using the resources of the greenhouse, kitchen garden and forest to create recipes that revisit local produce with the seasons.

The "Les Volcans" restaurant offers "home-made" local cuisine based on fresh produce selected from local producers and suppliers and carefully prepared by the chef.

Welcome in a completely renovated farm barn that privileges wood, for a friendly and warm stay in the countryside at a few kilometres from the village. Ideal for a quiet stay with many hikes.

Quiet and wooded campsite facing the Leignecq waterbody. Ideal for fishing and hiking to discover nature. Caravan rental. Mobile homes. Possible motorhome reception (emptying area).

Véronique welcomes you in a rural setting, inside an old building completely renovated. The first traces of the house date from 1299 in the hare (cadastre) of Estivareilles. The traces of the mill can be found in the Napoleonian cadastral plane of 1826. The mill (always existing) was in operation until 1930, and a sawmill was installed to replace the mill shutdown. Located at an altitude of 900 m, come and refresh yourself in this greenery. You will find the grain mill for animal meal, in the center of the house, adjoining the guest rooms; the sawmill dating from the beginning of the 20th century and which stopped in 1985. The Andrable River passes through the house and runs along the rooms. In one of the rooms you will have the pleasure of hearing the sound of the water if you sleep the open window. Three rooms are at your disposal so that you can have a pleasant stay. The “Charbon” room of 20 m2, spacious and clean, will seduce you with its comfortable king size bedding and its modern and functional bathroom. The “Panah” room of 20 m2 will seduce you with its breathtaking view of the Andrable River and its modern and functional bathroom. The “Babet” room of 18 m2 will seduce you with its modern and functional bathroom and warm colors. Each room gives access to a relaxation area and shared kitchen, with the possibility of eating (hotplates, refrigerator, coffee maker). Sweet and/or savoury breakfast (depending on your desires) is served in the kitchen area from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. If necessary, we can agree on specific timetables.

Holiday house with panoramic view on the Truyère river In 1996 renovated stone house, semi-detached to the owner's house. Panoramic view over the Truyère gorges and 5 km from the river (bathing, water sports, boat hire). 1 bedroom with 1 double bed. Bathroom with shower. Living/dining room with kitchen nook. Central heating - fireplace (wood gratis). Terrace with garden furniture and deckchair. Barbecue. Bedcloths hire (10 € per person) and final cleaning on request. All charges included. Activities: hiking on marked trails, water sports... Shops and grocery 5 km.

Perched in a unique setting 850 metres above sea level, the Auberge de Marols is open all year round. The Auberge has 4 guestrooms available 7 days a week.