In the south-west of the department of Cantal lies a natural region with hilly, rural landscapes dotted with fields and woods: welcome to the Cantal chestnut forest (Châtaigneraie cantalienne), thus named because of its chestnut production! This peaceful, green territory is a backdrop for several medieval villages like Marcolès, Montsalvy and Maurs la Jolie.

At the heart of the Auvergne chestnut forest, Marcolès is a pleasant, characterful little town with picturesque cobbled streets, where visitors can admire the granite houses on the old rampart, the two town gates, houses with mullioned windows and the Meridional Gothic Church of St. Martin.

In Montsalvy, whose origins date back to the 11th century, some beautiful architectural heritage awaits you: medieval porches, a castle flanked by a 15th-century tower, the Abbey Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and its St. Gausbert cloister, the monks' old refectory… At the northern exit from the village, on the road to Aurillac, be sure to stop by the Puy de l'Arbre, 825 metres above sea level. The highest point in the Cantal chestnut forest, it has an orientation table and offers superb views over the Mounts of Cantal, Aubrac and the Aurillac basin.

In Maurs la Jolie, the little Nice of Cantal, the 14th-century Gothic abbey church houses a masterpiece of the goldsmith's art, the bust reliquary of St. Caesar from the 12th century, as well as some fine wooden statues and carved stalls from the 15th and 16th centuries.

To find out all about the region's famous nut, head to the House of Chestnuts in Mourjou, a fascinating eco-museum where the entire history of the Cantal chestnut forest and its emblematic tree will be revealed to you. In the landscaped outdoor spaces around the old farm building, you can discover chestnut orchards, a kitchen garden and a garden of aromatic plants.

Lastly, families with children won't want to miss Deer Valley (Vallée des Daims), a 30-hectare animal park in Cols, in the municipality of Junhac, about thirty kilometres south of Aurillac. A 2-kilometre circuit, along which you can walk or ride in a little train, will reveal the world of deer to you.

City of Art and History, Figeac is also a delightful medieval town. With a rich heritage, the old town is a lovely place for a stroll. The picturesque narrow streets lined by mansions with carved facades and timber-framed stone residences will definitely delight walkers. An essential place to visit on a trip round the historic centre, the beautiful Ecritures (Writings) square is home to the black granite contemporary artwork of Joseph Kosuth representing an immense reproduction of the Rosetta Stone. For all those wishing to know more about writing, the Champollion museum offers a rich exhibition about the famous hieroglyphs decoder Jean-François Champollion, as well as the history of writing. The visit of Figeac continues with the ancient Monnaie mansion. This magnificent medieval residence of the 13th century is home to the Old Figeac museum, which allows to better know the history of the city through its mineral and coin collections. Finally, to take advantage of a beautiful panoramic view of the medieval town, take the direction of the viewpoint situated near the Notre-Dame-du-Puy church. From there, the view of the roofs of the old town is splendid!

Famous for its Romanesque abbey church, a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Way of St James, the village of Conques in Aveyron is well worth a visit for a number of reasons. An important stopping-place for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela, Conques is also an unmissable destination for all lovers of architectural heritage.

A listed Historic Monument, the Abbey Church of St Foy, built in the 11th and 12th centuries, is a masterpiece of Romanesque art with its western door. This sculpted gem has a tympanum adorned with 124 figures illustrating the Last Judgment. Inside the building, the contemporary stained glass windows are the work of the Aveyron artist Pierre Soulages. Another wonder to behold is the treasure of medieval goldsmithery, the undisputed centrepiece being the Majesty of St Foy, a reliquary statue from the 10th century made of yew wood covered in gold and silver panels! Continue your tour with a look at the Romanesque cloister, with its geminated bays and serpentine central basin, and then lose yourself in the wonderful maze of paved side streets dotted with old houses... A delightful walk that will take you back to the medieval era!

Before you leave Conques, don't forget the site of Le Bancarel, where you can enjoy a superb panoramic view of the abbey church towers and the village's thackstone roofs, which blend in harmoniously with their verdant setting...

The small town of Entraygues-sur-Truyère in Aveyron forms a picturesque whole with its old houses with thackstone roofs, and its castle fort at the confluence of the Lot and the Truyère. The truly photogenic 13th-century Gothic bridge is sure to appeal to photographers! Entraygues-sur-Truyère is the ideal starting point for a canoe-kayak ride, or for an excursion into the pretty Lot Gorges towards d'Estaing...

In a wild, verdant setting just below the village of Peyrusse-le-Roc lies a medieval site of great beauty. Follow the pleasant sloping path departing from the village centre to discover the various buildings that make up this remarkable group. The photogenic towers of the lower castle, perched on the Roc del Thaluc, the ruins of the old Church of Our Lady of Laval, the Faubourg bridge across the Audierne, the King's Tomb, a 14th-century mausoleum, the remains of the English Hospital, the belfry and the Barbican gate all provide a reminder of the area's medieval past, and can be admired on a walk. There is also an exhibition of wheelbarrows and medieval machines along the way.

Lake Saint-Étienne-Cantalès is the biggest artificial lake in Auvergne, providing a reservoir for the waters of the Cère thanks to the dam of the same name, in the municipalities of Saint-Gérons and Saint-Étienne-Cantalès. Covering 562 hectares, its shores are varied in appearance: jagged and steep in places, sandy or rocky. There are peninsulas, two of which, the Rénac and Espinet peninsulas, are connected by a 124-metre-long rope bridge.

The well-stocked Lake Saint-Étienne-Cantalès is a popular fishing destination. It was one of the first places in France to offer vertical fishing for zander, and is a refuge for several types of predatory fish.

The lake's wooded, hilly surroundings offer visitors a haven of peace and tranquillity for country walks. Thanks to the landscaped beaches and leisure centres, they can also enjoy water sports: swimming, pedalo, windsurfing, canoeing, catamaran, stand up paddle and more.

A Historic Monument in Arpajon-sur-Cère in Cantal, Conros Castle is an elegant medieval residence that was remodelled in Renaissance times, and is perched on a rocky spur overlooking a meander of the Cère. Inhabited since 1130, it includes an imposing keep, two round towers (one with machicolations) and a main building.

Featuring a permanent exhibition about perfume, Conros Castle is also home to the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions in the Cère Valley. Based in the old kitchens, it tells the story of the rural world in the 19th century.

Beneath its impressive flagstone roof, one of the biggest in Cantal, it also has a lovely vaulted arms room, immense fireplaces, a Renaissance staircase, and a chapel containing a Merovingian sarcophagus in white marble, discovered in Arpajon-sur-Cère in 1988.

An ideal place for a stroll, the romantic park surrounding the castle is adorned with sweet-smelling plants and features some remarkable trees: Virginian tulip tree, cedars and even a beech tree over a hundred years old!

The welcoming small town of Villeneuve d'Aveyron has preserved some beautiful reminders of its past as a comital then royal fortified town. The superb central square with archways, lined with medieval and Renaissance houses, the Great Door and Cardalhac Door (both medieval), the vaulted passages, the Church of St Sepulchre, as well as the pretty stone façades with mullioned windows, are some of the things you can admire on a lovely walk.

Why not round off your visit with a trip to Place des Conques, a museum of popular arts and skills dedicated to the craft trades.

A colourful medieval festival takes place every last Sunday in July, with street performances, processions in period costume, a fire show and medieval market.

Carlat Rock, a former basalt flow, is where the most important fortress in Haute-Auvergne once stood. The headquarters of the Carladès viscounty, the castle fort was destroyed in 1604 on the orders of King Henry IV but a few ruins still remain. Queen Margot famously stayed there during her exile in Auvergne.

Nowadays owned by the Principality of Monaco, the rock standing 40 metres tall is known not only for its climbing site, but also for its stunning views. Carved into the rock, the Queen's steps will lead you to the top, where you can enjoy superb views over the Mounts of Cantal!

The former capital of Haute-Auvergne, Aurillac's origins date back to Gallo-Roman times and the town nestles at the foot of the Mounts of Cantal, on the banks of the Jordanne. This small Cantal river brings a very special charm to the town, especially in the Pont Rouge area, where you can enjoy a lovely view of the picturesque old houses by the water.

The thousand-year-old town of Aurillac boasts a rich architectural heritage. There is a historical circuit which you can follow to see the old town's attractions: the Abbey Church of St. Gerald, the remains of an old Benedictine abbey, the Romanesque façade of the Abbey Hospital of St. Gerald with its arcades and small columns, the Renaissance-style Consuls' Mansion, featuring mullioned windows and sculptures, Aurinques Chapel, built during the reign of Henry IV in the 16th century, or the famous Place du Square, an ideal place to take a stroll and unwind, can all be admired along the way.

Near the agreeable Carmes Garden, you can visit the Museum of Art and Archaeology. Based in the old 17th-century Visitandines Convent, as well as its archaeology and fine art collections, it contains a reconstruction of a traditional Cantal interior, a contemporary photographic archive, and a space devoted to the local umbrella industry.

Next, head towards the heights of the town to discover the medieval Saint-Étienne Castle and its Volcano Museum, a fascinating site about the volcanic history of Cantal and the mysteries of Planet Earth, featuring a permanent collection of rocks, minerals and taxidermy. After the visit, don't hesitate to pay a visit to the pretty park downhill from the castle, where you will have a lovely view of the town!

When it comes to events, if you like street arts, don't miss the international street theatre festival, which livens up the town for 4 days in late August.

If you are looking for a souvenir to take home, don't miss the chance to acquire an umbrella, Aurillac's most famous product, which has conquered the luxury goods industry and is exported all over the world!

The beginning of the Ridge Route (Route des Crêtes) begins at the exit from the town. This is a very beautiful itinerary which you can travel along by car, motorbike or bicycle, to enjoy stunning views over the Mounts of Cantal…

If you own an "Aurillac", the authentic umbrella made in the factories of the town of Aurillac, then you've chosen a high-quality product made using age-old skills.

Founded in 1884, Maison Piganiol has been "Living Heritage Enterprise" certified since 2009 and is one of the oldest umbrella factories. In 1997, the local manufacturers formed an economic interest grouping in order to create the "L'Aurillac Parapluie" label.

In Aurillac, the umbrellas are made following a semi-artisanal method. From cutting to assembly and finishing touches, all the technical steps in the manufacturing process contribute to creating an exceptional product, sought after by luxury stores and exported all over the world.

From "essentials" to men's and women's umbrellas, from collections by colour to shepherd's umbrellas and folding designs, Aurillac umbrellas have earned a reputation for excellence which continues to help raise the profile of Haute-Auvergne's capital.

From Ronesque Rock in Cantal, visitors can gaze upon the whole of Carladès, as well as Aubrac and the Renaissance castle of Messilhac, overlooking the Goul Valley. Access is by a small path starting at the hamlet of Ronesque, five kilometres south of the town of Cros-de-Ronesque.

This heart-shaped basaltic table is formed by inverted relief, which created a plateau from an old lava flow. A small Neo-Romanesque church dedicated to St. James, open on summer afternoons, stands on top of the rock.

Accessible by car, the site has two orientation tables where you can enjoy superb views of the Mounts of Cantal and Aubrac!

Village of the Regional Nature Park of the Quercy Limestone Plateaus, Assier offers visitors its 16th-century Renaissance buildings, which are the castle and the church. This latter is especially rich in carved figures as one can see on the outside frieze of the building, which represents war scenes. The funeral chapel of the church boasts Galiot de Genouillac's tomb, master of the artillery of François I and founder of the castle and the church of the village. Partly destroyed in the 18th century, the Renaissance château flanked by towers nevertheless kept its prestigious appearance, with its interior and exterior decoration typical of this period.

Every summer in July, the village of Assier hosts a music festival named "Assier dans tous ses états", an event dedicated to jazz, improvisation and theatre.

Nestling at the heart of the Aveyron Valley, the superb village of Belcastel, listed among the most beautiful villages of France, looks like something from a picture postcard, with its stone houses and their thackstone roofs, old bridge reflected in the peaceful water of the river, and the imposing form of its medieval castle standing next to a square keep. You can also enjoy a lovely walk along on the banks of the Aveyron and long the charming paved side streets!

Dating from the 15th century, the village church located on the left bank contains the tomb of Alzias de Saunhac, lord of Belcastel.

From Ruynes-en-Margeride in south-east Cantal all the way to Entraygues-sur-Truyère in north-east Aveyron, the River Truyère winds its way among beautiful, unspoilt green landscapes. On its well-preserved banks are the magnificent Truyère gorges, a remarkable natural site carved out by the river with the passing of the years.

Located south of Saint-Flour, these spectacular gorges contain three dam lakes: Grandval, Lanau and Sarrans. You can also access them from the Garabit Viaduct, designed by Gustave Eiffel, which is also a starting point for boat trips in the gorges.

The Natura 2000-listed Truyère gorges are the place to enjoy many water activities: fishing, swimming, canoe, catamaran, sailing dinghy, windsurfing, stand up paddle… Near the famous viaduct, Garabit water sports centre rents out boats and jet-skis for power boating. The Mallet centre offers sailing, kayak, rowing and supervised bathing in July-August. At Lake Lanau, dragon boats and rabaskas await visiting adventurers!

A tourist trail of around sixty kilometres starting from Saint-Flour also enables visitors to discover the region's historical heritage: Chassan Castle in Faverolles, an elegant house in the Classical style built in the 18th century on the site of a medieval castle, of which some ruins remain, and the remarkable site of Alleuze Castle, where the ruins of an old 14th-century fortress appear perched on a rocky peak.

Ramblers will be delighted by the many hikes available, dotted with plant and wildlife-spotting opportunities. Stunning landscapes can be admired from belvederes like the Mallet belvedere, with its superb views of the gorges and Lake Grandval. There is also a very beautiful view of the woodland environment from Tréboul suspension bridge, the first version of which was due to the English and is a listed Historic Monument. But to enjoy the view from the old 14th-century stone bridge, you will need to wait until the Sarrans lake dam is next emptied, as the old bridge is now totally submerged!

The exploration continues on the north side of Aveyron, in Carladez, between the Sarrans dam and the Couesques dam, not far from Entraygues-sur-Truyère, where the Truyère's winding gorges continue to unfurl. An extremely green natural area dotted with wonderful sights to see, like the feudal castle of Valon - in the municipality of Lacroix-Barrez - which towers proudly over the gorges from its hillside location, and viewpoints over the gentle meanders of the Truyère…

In Polminhac in Cantal, a department of France that has many fortresses and medieval castles, stands the magnificent Pesteils Castle, perched on a craggy rock towering majestically over the Cère Valley. Built in the 13th century then remodelled in the 17th and 19th centuries, it is now a listed Historic Monument.

A remarkable reminder of the medieval era, the imposing keep standing 40 metres tall, whose five floors are served by a spiral staircase, features a wall walk with machicolations. In the vaulted room on the second floor are the 15th-century murals depicting "the four heroes of Antiquity" and "the master and his pupil".

In the main building, the bedrooms with 17th-century painted ceilings, as well as the main drawing room adorned with tapestries, furniture and paintings, remind us that the fortress was later converted into a holiday residence. Also worth a look are the beautiful kitchens from the early 20th century, typical of the Auvergne area.

At the foot of the keep, from the castle gardens, you can enjoy superb views of the Cère Valley and the Mounts of Cantal!

In July-August, Pesteils Castle offers fancy dress activities for children, candlelit night-time tours and historical playlets in period costume. Incidentally, it was the location for scenes in Jean Cocteau's film The Eternal Return in 1942.

The former stronghold of the earldom of Carladez and fiefdom of the princes de Monaco from 1643 to 1791, Mur-de-Barrez has kept many architectural reminders of its rich past. Take a walk and discover the Monaco Door, the emblem of the town, old houses made of black basalt, Church of St Thomas of Canterbury, consular house and more. Also don't forget to pay a visit to the charming Marie Garden, a medieval-inspired public park with a pretty view of the surrounding landscape.

The village of Autoire is nestled in an impressive cirque formed by high limestone cliffs. Small manor houses with turrets, delightful fountain surrounded by typical houses and river below contribute to the charm of this site. Near the village, a beautiful 33-metre high waterfall!

Founded in 1252 by Alphonse de Poitiers, Count of Toulouse and brother of St Louis, the royal fortified town of Villefranche-de-Rouergue in the Aveyron Valley boasts a remarkable and picturesque range of buildings. At the heart of the town is Place Notre-Dame, a listed Historic Monument which is simply superb, with its medieval archways, beautiful old houses and an imposing bell-tower standing 54 metres high on top of the Collegiate Church of Our Lady. The latter contains carved wood stalls and a stone pulpit from the15th century.

On a tour of Villefranche-de-Rouergue you can also admire the details on the façades of its splendid houses, like the houses of Armand, Combettes, Dardenne and Gaubert.

Opposite the charming Place de la Fontaine, the Urbain Cabrol Municipal Museum, based in an 18th-century mansion, displays collections about local history: mineralogy, archaeology, baroque art, popular arts and traditions...

Don't miss the local produce market that takes place every Thursday morning on Place Notre-Dame!

Built from the 12th to the 17th century on a hill overhanging various valleys, the Castelnau-Bretenoux fortified castle situated in Prudhomat is an imposing red stone medieval fortress boasting a keep and ramparts. The castle and its furnished interiors are open to visitors.

A stopping place on the Way of St James at the heart of the Lot Valley, the medieval town of Estaing forms a harmonious whole, with its old houses, castle and keep, and old Gothic bridge over the Lot. You can of course admire this magnificent scene from the opposite riverbank. While this view of the whole town is particularly remarkable, the historical centre is also worth a closer look, if only to see the Church of St Fleuret, the Cayron Mansion - which is now the town hall - and Estaing Castle, where you can learn about the history of its various owners on a tour, guided or otherwise.

Dominating several valleys, which are the Dordogne valley, the Bave valley and the Cère valley, the hilltop village of Loubressac forms a harmonious architectural whole its castle, its church and its old stone houses with very picturesque brown-tiled roofs. The village also offers to its visitors a magnificent view of the surrounding valleys.

Perched on a rocky peak at an altitude of 627 metres, the capital of Aveyron invites lovers of built heritage to discover its many architectural and artistic treasures.

The emblem of Rodez, the splendid Cathedral of Our Lady, built between the 13th and 16th centuries out of pink sandstone, is a masterpiece of Gothic art. Topped by a magnificent wrought bell-tower in the Flamboyant Gothic style, this fortress-style historic monument, with two massive towers on either side of the western façade, contains a stone jube and carved oak stalls from the 15th century, as well as a 17th-century organ case.

Near the cathedral, discover the many attractions of the old town: the bishop's palace and its horseshoe staircase, the 15th-century Corbières and Raynalde towers, the pedestrianised shopping streets and the superb medieval and Renaissance houses, like for example the houses of Benoît, Guitard, Armagnac and Annonciation. There's so much to see in Rodez's historic centre.

When it comes to culture, you have the choice between the Fenaille Museum, with its remarkable collection of statue-menhirs and exhibitions about Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance; the Denys-Puech Museum of Fine Arts, with its collections of 19th and 20th-century sculptures and paintings, alongside temporary exhibitions of contemporary art; the Soulages Museum, with its collection of over 500 works and documents by the painter Pierre Soulages, who was born in Rodez.

The main event of the summer, the Estivada, an inter-regional festival of Occitan cultures which takes place in the last week of July, offers five days of music, singing, theatre, literature, storytelling, poetry, dance, cinema and conferences, all in a friendly atmosphere!

Natural cavern of 33 metres in diameter and 75 metres deep, the Padirac chasm located on the Gramat Limestone plateau, formed when the roof collapsed. In the heart of this cavity, 103 metres below ground to be precise, flows a underground river. Visitors descend 75 metres via a lift or staircase and go to the end of a gallery where they board boats for the first leg of the guided tour by river. 500 metres further, the visitors continue the circuit on foot through a series of beautiful rooms: the Salle du Lac de la Pluie (Rain Lake) and the pendant-like Pendeloque (giant stalactite), the Salle des Grands Gours with a lake, and then the Salle du Grand Dôme with its impressive 94-metre-high ceiling. All these natural formations are awe-inspiring.

In peaceful, unspoilt countryside on the borders of Corrèze, Cantal and Lot, you can enjoy a very beautiful panorama from the Painter's Rock belvedere in the municipality of Camps-Saint-Mathurin-Léobazel. From there you can enjoy wonderful views of the green Cère gorges. Picnic tables and benches opposite the panorama help to make it an extremely pleasant place to stop!

A land of volcanoes that's ideal for hiking and outdoor activities, Cantal has many natural attractions. In the municipality of Saint-Cirgues-de-Jordanne, twenty minutes or so from Aurillac, you can explore the unspoilt and steep-sided Jordanne gorges, from early June to late September.

In exchange for an admission fee, you can walk along a landscaped trail of 4 kilometres there and back, all the way from the bottom of the gorges to the ledges, and from one bank to the other via bridges and walkways. Braver visitors can try the thrill trail, and cross the river by ziplines, rope bridges and via ferrata!

Popular with budding adventurers, this lovely circuit can be completed in 2h30 and is dotted with fun information points about wildlife and plants.

This small pink sandstone building in the commune of Bessuéjouls has a magnificent Romanesque chapel on the first floor of its bell tower. The latter, known as the aerial chapel, contains figurative capitals, lintels sculpted with interlaced designs, and a 12th-century altar.

Halfway between Aurillac and Salers, in the Cantal village of Tournemire, in a charming little locality with lava stone houses that's listed among the most beautiful villages of France, walkers can admire a 15th-century fortress built by a companion of Joan of Arc.

Very well-preserved and located on a rocky promontory, in a beautiful green environment, the medieval castle of Anjony has been inhabited by the same family since it was built. It consists of an impressive keep flanked by four round towers with pepper box roofs. Visitors enter through one of the towers, into a vaulted reception room, formerly a cellar where supplies were stored.

The lavishly furnished castle has a chapel decorated with magnificent 16th-century religious frescoes depicting the life of Christ, as well as an exceptional collection of secular frescoes in the Knights' Room. In the Arms Room, a large tapestry of the Emperor Justinian's triumph is on display, with the Emperor depicted in the likeness of Louis XIII. At the top of the keep, there is a superb view of the Doire Valley through the wall walk's arrow slits! The tour of the fortress, which is open from February to mid-November, takes the form of a guided trail and lasts around an hour.

At the heart of the Lot Valley, discover the charming little town of Espalion, whose riverbanks remain delightfully picturesque! Between its two bridges over the Lot, you can admire its old tanneries, known as calquières, typical houses with wooden balconies, with tiles on which the hides used to be washed... A listed Historic Monument, the 11th-century Old Bridge (Pont Vieux) made of pink sandstone adds to the charm of the place.

Perched on the edge of tall cliffs overlooking a stream, the village of Bozouls in Aveyron occupies an extremely impressive natural site. A splendid cirque in the shape of a horseshoe, around 400 metres in diameter and 100 metres deep, which you can view from the terrace on Place de la Mairie. A superb viewpoint that's enough to make you feel dizzy!