Saint-Saturnin village

Built on a basalt mound, Saint-Saturnin, formerly the residence of the barons of la Tour d'Auvergne, is listed as one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France, and owes its appeal to the use of arkose and volcanic stone in its buildings. Down its steep and narrow alleyways are homes dating back to the Renaissance alongside winemakers’ homes, wash-houses, fountains and little, shady squares. We recommend that you should go down the Chemin des Lavoirs to see the Gorges de la Monne below the village. And in the holiday season, there are theme-based guided tours and “Les énigmes au clair de lune” moonlight tours.
Strolling through Saint-Saturnin is a real pleasure.
Numerous signposts around the village give you an insight into its history and monuments.

Set on a lava flow overlooking the Monne gorges to the south and the Veyre valley to the north, Saint-Saturnin is surrounded on three sides by the hills of the Parc Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne.

It is dominated by a spectacular, harmonious pairing of arkose and volcanic stone: the church, one of the five major Romanesque churches in Auvergne, and the château, built in the 13th century by the de La Tour d'Auvergne family.

As you stroll along its steep, narrow streets, you'll see Renaissance dwellings mixed with winegrowers' houses, washhouses, fountains and shady squares.
Don't forget to take the "chemin des lavoirs" to discover the Gorges de la Monne below the village.