maison d'hôtes
La Grange
15140 salers
Our favourite places and experiences in the Cantal
The Cantal, told by the people who bring it to life
This is not intended to be an exhaustive guide. These are people and places we genuinely want to introduce to our guests, in the Cantal and nearby, for those who wish to discover the area differently and take the time to enjoy a real encounter.
Guides, science and accessible nature
Our first recommendations for experiencing the mountains, understanding the landscape and making the Cantal accessible to everyone.
Vincent Terrisse — Terre du Cantal
The Cantal mountains at their wildest
A passionate guide with extensive knowledge of the mountains, Vincent offers an active and very human way to discover the Cantal. Canyoning, aquatic hiking, walking, rock climbing and via ferrata are available, along with snowshoeing, ski touring, mountaineering and ice climbing depending on the season. Each outing is adapted to the group’s level and expectations.
- Guided activities in the Aspre, Maronne and Mars valleys
- Activities available throughout the year, depending on weather conditions
- Friendly approach, small groups and tailor-made outings
Évelyne Pradal
Reading the landscape with a volcanologist
A geologist, volcanologist and mountain guide, Évelyne reveals the story of the Cantal mountains through their landforms, rocks and valleys. Her outings are particularly rewarding for understanding what can be seen from Salers: how the volcano formed and how erosion subsequently shaped the landscape we see today.
- Summer outings on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, by prior booking
- Puy Violent area and the Falgoux / Col de Néronne sector
- Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes of walking and explanations, from age six
Antoine — ÉTerre
Understanding the sky and the Earth, made simple
Trained in Earth sciences, geology and astronomy, Antoine makes science accessible to everyone. His evening sessions help participants identify constellations, understand the movement of the sky and hear the stories associated with the stars. He also offers scientific walks devoted to the rocks and geology of the Cantal.
- Evening stargazing sessions in Marcolès during July and August
- Scientific walks, talks and workshops
- Activities designed for adults and children alike
Salers Bik’Evasion
Explore the Pays de Salers by electric bicycle
Located only a short distance from the historic centre, Richard offers a broad selection of electric bicycles for discovering the roads, villages and hills of the Pays de Salers at your own pace. Comfortable hybrid bikes, gravel bikes, road bikes, hardtail mountain bikes and full-suspension mountain bikes are available for relaxed outings and more demanding routes.
- Hire periods of two hours, half a day or a full day
- Adult bicycles and electric mountain bikes for children from age eight; two-seat trailer for younger children
- Maintenance and repair workshop, with new and second-hand bicycles for sale
Cantal Nature — Joëlette outings
The great landscapes of the Cantal made accessible to everyone
Cantal Nature enables people with reduced mobility, older visitors and anyone who experiences difficulty walking to enjoy the mountains fully. The all-terrain Joëlette, fitted with electric assistance, is operated with a professional guide and a team of helpers. Friends and relatives can join the outing, making it possible to share a genuine outdoor experience together.
- Outings available throughout the department on request
- Distance and difficulty adapted to the individual and the group
- Half-day or full-day outings with family, friends or support workers
Local food, producers and tastings
From mountain cheeses to terraced vineyards, with a brewery overlooking the volcano in between.
Marie-Jo and Guy Chambon — Buron d’Algour
Traditional Salers cheese made on the summer pasture
Above the Col de Néronne, Marie-Jo and Guy preserve an increasingly rare skill: producing Salers AOP Tradition cheese in a mountain buron with their herd of Salers cattle. Milking is inseparable from the calf, which begins the milk let-down before the herdsman can milk the cow. It is an authentic encounter with mountain farming and with a cheese deeply connected to its landscape.
- Usually present on the summer pasture from June to September
- Buron d’Algour above the Col de Néronne, in the commune of Le Falgoux
- Possibility of observing the milking and purchasing Salers Tradition cheese
Charlotte Salat — Salat Tradition
Farmhouse cheese made with milk from Salers cows
In Cussac, Charlotte Salat continues a farming tradition entirely centred on the Salers breed. The cow is milked with her calf beside her, a distinctive and inseparable feature of this hardy breed. Her raw-milk farmhouse cheese is produced during the grass-growing season and strongly reflects the high-altitude pastures of the Cantal.
- Herd made up entirely of Salers cattle
- Seasonal production using whole raw milk
- Please make contact before travelling: the farm is not open for unrestricted visits
Les 3 Burons de Salers
Truffade, summer-pasture traditions and an exceptional view
On the road towards the Puy Mary and Col de Néronne, the Burons de Salers present three emblems of the region: the Salers cow, cheese and gentian. Exhibition areas, a film and tastings explain the lives of the buronniers and the pastoral traditions of the mountains. At lunchtime, the traditional herdsman’s meal, including a generous serving of truffade, is available by prior booking with superb views over the valleys and the Cantal mountains.
- 2026 season announced from 1 May until the end of September, 10 am to 7 pm
- Lunch served every day by prior booking
- Guided tour every day except Friday; bank cards are not accepted on site
La Maison de la Salers
A place entirely devoted to the Salers breed
In Saint-Bonnet-de-Salers, a seventeenth-century barn houses a museum entirely devoted to the Cantal’s emblematic cow and the work of its breeders. Interactive screens, personal accounts, films and a projection room explain the breed’s origins, its distinctive characteristics, the summer-pasture season and its deep connection with the Pays de Salers. The visit ends with a tasting of local products and can be continued in the shop.
- Interactive museum suitable for adults and children
- Tasting of cheese, charcuterie, a biscuit and a drink included in the admission price
- On-site parking, wheelchair access and a lift
Brasserie 360
Volcanic beers, organic drinks and a Cantal panorama
At Les Quatre Routes de Salers, Brasserie 360 combines a production site, shop, bar and welcoming social space overlooking the Cantal mountains. Visitors can discover its organic CRAT’R craft beers, along with locally produced lemonade, cola and iced tea. The large terrace and glazed indoor area make it possible to enjoy the scenery while tasting the brewery’s creations.
- Organic craft beer and a range of alcohol-free drinks
- Bar and shop, tastings, light meals and events
- 2 rue des Céréales, Les Quatre Routes de Salers, Saint-Martin-Valmeroux
Chloé Chassang-Itier — Le Chlo d’Auzit
The revival of the terraced vineyards of Massiac
On the Palhàs terraces of Molompize and Massiac, Chloé grows vines in one of the Cantal’s most distinctive microclimates. Pinot noir, syrah, gamay, chardonnay, pinot gris and altesse are used to produce small quantities of red and white wines, crafted by hand at Domaine Le Chlo d’Auzit.
- Vineyard and cellar visits by prior booking only
- Wine sold at the estate, at the Massiac orchard, at markets and through selected wine merchants
- La Roche, 15500 Molompize
The wines of Entraygues–Le Fel
Terraced vineyards between the Lot and Truyère valleys
On the borders of the Aveyron and Cantal departments, this small appellation produces white, red and rosé wines on spectacular hillsides. Chenin is the principal white grape, while fer servadou plays an important role in the reds and rosés. Domaine Mousset, in the heart of Le Fel, is an excellent starting point for discovering the vineyard and its landscapes.
- Terraced vineyards overlooking the Lot valley
- Domaine Mousset is certified for organic farming
- Tastings and sales at the winery, with summer visits and appointments outside the main season
Heritage and major sites
Architecture, medieval history and spectacular engineering works to discover from Salers.
Monolithic Saint-Michel Chapel
A chapel carved into the rock at Fontanges
At the entrance to Fontanges, this remarkable chapel was carved directly into a volcanic rock and inaugurated in 1901. Its cross-shaped interior covers approximately 130 square metres and has a vaulted ceiling between seven and eight metres high. Visitors will find a Romanesque-inspired façade, stone altar, stained-glass window and wrought-iron gate. The walk can be continued to the top of the rock and the statue of the Virgin.
- 76 route de la Chapelle, 15140 Fontanges
- Free access announced from 14 February to 11 November, from 9 am to 8 pm
- Approximately ten minutes from Salers
Château d’Anjony — Tournemire
Six centuries of history in an inhabited fortress
Standing above the Doire valley, Château d’Anjony is one of the great landmarks of the Cantal. Its fifteenth-century keep, flanked by four towers, contains furnished interiors and remarkable sixteenth-century frescoes. Still occupied by the same family since it was built, the castle can only be visited on a guided tour. Walking through Tournemire, listed as one of France’s Most Beautiful Villages, is an integral part of the experience.
- Open to the public from February to November, according to the castle’s calendar
- Approximately fifteen minutes on foot from the village car park
- Guided visit with 139 steps and a wall walk almost forty metres high
Les Tours de Merle
A natural fortress in the heart of the Xaintrie
Approximately fifty minutes from Salers, the Tours de Merle rise from a rocky spur surrounded by the Maronne river. Between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries, seven noble families built a genuine co-lordship here. The route combines medieval ruins, forest, river, dramatic views and family activities.
- 2026 season announced from 5 April to 31 October
- Self-guided, guided or dramatised visits depending on the programme
- Steep paths: sturdy footwear and a baby carrier are preferable to a pushchair
The Garabit Viaduct
The great work of Léon Boyer and Gustave Eiffel
This immense metal arch spans the Truyère gorges with an almost unreal sense of lightness. Designed by the Cantal-born engineer Léon Boyer and constructed by Gustave Eiffel’s company between 1880 and 1884, the viaduct is almost 565 metres long and towers more than 120 metres above the river. Its red silhouette is particularly striking at dusk.
- Free access to the viewpoints around the viaduct throughout the year
- Free outdoor exhibition devoted to its construction
- Guided visits may be available, with seasonal illumination
Our favourite walks
Seven very different ideas: a circular route directly around Salers, high summer-pasture ridges, two emblematic summits, a heritage walk and two spectacular waterfalls. Mountain conditions can change quickly, so always check the weather and access conditions before setting out.
La Ronde de Salers
A complete circuit around the medieval town, with views of the ramparts, the Aspre valley, the summer pastures of the Puy Violent, traditional barns and former burons. A small detail close to our hearts: the route crosses Les Prés de Nards and passes directly beside La Grange.
Le Sentier d’Émilie — Récusset
From the Col de Néronne, the path reaches the ridge between the Mars and Récusset valleys. The return route passes the Buron du Roc de Labro, through a protected natural area rich in wildlife and plants. Dogs are not permitted.
La Promenade des Estives
A high-altitude path marked with information about burons, wildlife and cheesemaking. The orientation table at Bournazel offers a 360-degree view over the Cantal mountains, the Sancy massif and, in clear weather, the highlands of the Limousin.
La cascade de la Pissa del Coin
A broad and powerful fifteen-metre waterfall hidden in the woods above the hamlet of La Bastide. The route briefly follows the GR400 before a small sign and a yellow-marked path. It is a short outing, particularly pleasant on hot days.
La cascade de Salins
The Auze river drops thirty metres here among basalt columns. The path passes behind the waterfall before reaching a suspension bridge and the village of Salins. The ground can be very slippery and the first descent is steep, so suitable footwear is essential.
The Puy Violent from the Croix des Vachers
A beautiful way to reach the emblematic summit visible from La Grange. From the Croix des Vachers, the route crosses the summer-pasture plateau before climbing to the Puy Violent at 1,594 metres. The panorama extends towards the Puy Mary, Roc des Ombres, the glacial valleys and, in clear weather, as far as the Sancy massif.
From the Col de Légal to the Puy Chavaroche
A demanding walk for experienced hikers. From the Col de Légal, the GR400 crosses the summer pastures, passes close to the Cabrespine and Cassaïre burons, then reaches the Puy Chavaroche at 1,739 metres and its famous stone man. From the summit, the view extends across the Puy Mary, Puy Violent, Puy Griou, Plomb du Cantal and Peyre Arse.
Planning your discovery
The Cantal sometimes needs to be approached with a little patience. Distances may appear short on a map, but mountain roads and changing weather can significantly alter the day’s plans.
- Book or telephone before setting out, even when an activity appears to be freely accessible.
- Take suitable footwear, water, sun protection and a warm or waterproof layer.
- Check whether mountain passes are open, especially outside the main season.
- Respect working farms, livestock and the instructions given by local professionals.