Semi-Detached Stone Cottage 3 Bedroom Cottage (OC001760)

Eating Out

'Good Food'
"The restaurant at l'Hôtel des Voyageurs in Le Falgoux has a good selection of regional dishes on its menus and stunning panoramic views of the Puy Mary. For fantastic crêpes, we would strongly recommend Le Drac in Salers. Now, this may not be the gastronomic experience you thought you were going to France for, but trust me on this, you should definitely try a takeaway pizza from Pizza Borie in Mauriac - thin crispy bases cooked in a traditional pizza oven and topped with local cheeses and meats - very, very good."

Local Area and Activities

'Argentat'
"A pretty town situated on the banks of the Dordogne – about 35 minutes drive from our cottage. http://www.tourisme-argentat.com/index.html"

'Aurillac'
"Aurillac – the nearest ‘large’ town (all of 60,000 inhabitants!) and about 45 minutes drive away. The old part of the town is lovely to walk around and it offers a wider range of shops than Mauriac. There is also a covered market on Wednesdays and an international festival of street theatre in August (normally the third week). http://www.iaurillac.com/"

'Bort-les-Orgues'
"So named because of the unusual organ pipe formation of the rocks on the hillside above the town. You can drive up to the top of the 'organ pipes' and walk around the top – its reasonably level once you’re up there. http://www.bort-les-orgues.com/cadre1.htm "

'Chateaux'
"There are various chateaux in the area (including the Chateaux de la Vigne, which is only 10 minutes walk from the cottage) – this website gives details http://www.route-chateaux-auvergne.org/Liste_anglais.htm"

'Clermont Ferrand'
"The capital of the Auvergne, this is a beautiful city about 2 hours drive away. Architecture is dramatic, many buildings, including the cathedral, being built from black volcanic rock. A good range of shops, restaurants and cinemas. Clermont is also near the Puy de Dôme and Vulcania. Further information on Clermont and the surrounding area is available on the tourist office website http://www.ot-clermont-ferrand.fr/uk/HTML/Quelques_jours/p411.htm "

'Escorailles'
"Escorailles – this village is about 10–15 minutes’ walk from the house. There are a couple of nice walks (details of these are in a brochure in the cottage), particularly the one that leads to the panorama – a reasonably gentle climb with lovely views towards the mountains. There is also a crazy golf course. http://escorailles.cantalpassion.com/accueil.html"

'Fêtes'
"Look out for posters advertising local fêtes or kermesses - sometimes you need to book in advance (if so, it will say on the poster), but often you can just turn up. These are normally really good fun with lots of food and wine (not free, but very cheap). Accordion music does seem to be obligatory, but its a great way to meet the locals."

'Le Gouffre de Padirac and Rocamadour'
"This is a bit of a drive – its actually in the Lot – about 1½/2 hours away. The 'Gouffre' is a guided tour along an underground river and through caverns. It is lovely and can be combined with a trip to nearby Rocamadour (a medieval fortress city, built into the side of a cliff) for a good long day out. http://www.gouffre-de-padirac.com/ http://www.rocamadour.com/index-us.htm"

'Les Tours de Merle'
"Les Tours de Merle – ancient ruined castle. You can explore the bits that are still standing. This is about 30/40 minutes drive away. http://www.st-geniez-o-merle.com/ "

'Puy Mary'
"This is probably the Cantal’s most famous tourist spot, and deservedly so. It is one of the region’s highest peaks and offers stunning views over 12 valleys. You can drive as far as the Pas de Peyrol, but I’m afraid you need to walk the final leg – its not far, but it is very, very steep. The views are well worth the effort though. To reach the Pas de Peyrol, you can either follow the narrow, twisty road from Salers, which affords yet more unbelievably beautiful views over the Cantalien landscapes. Alternatively, drive through the Vallée du Mars – this will take about 45 minutes from the house, but is a truly beautiful drive, with the Puy Mary looming ever larger as you advance through the valley. If you do go this way, there is a very good restaurant at L’Hotel des Voyagers at Le Falgoux, which serves a number of regional dishes and has floor to ceiling windows on 2 sides, looking out towards the Puy Mary. http://www.puymary.fr/versen/index.htm# "

'Salers'
"Salers – officially one of the most beautiful villages in France, this medieval ‘city’ is just 20 minutes’ drive from the cottage. The architecture is gorgeous, there are some pretty shops to look around and you should definitely visit the panorama – a small garden area giving good views over the surrounding countryside. We would definitely recommend lunch at the crêperie in the square – Le Drac. http://www.pays-de-salers.com/"

'Salins Waterfall'
"Around 20-25 minutes' away - from Mauriac follow signs for Aurillac and then watch out for signs for La Cascade. You can walk down the path and stand behind the waterfall. http://man.del.free.fr/cascadesalin.htm "

'Sports'
"I can’t pretend to be an expert on this subject, but I know there are lots available. Mauriac has a 9-hole golf course and a lake with beach for swimming/watersports and various other sporting facilities – see http://comint.fr/revea_full/campings/uk/milieu_fiche.php?id=valstjean15&resolution including fishing, volley ball, basket ball, football, table tennis, archery and mountain bike hire (some of these only available in July and August). Hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, fishing, rock climbing and cross country ski-ing are all very popular in the region, this site has some contact phone numbers http://www.pays-de-salers.com/frame.htm (you need to click on ‘Nature et Détente’ - please contact me if you need any help translating any of the web sites)The area is a lovely place for walking. Routes are generally signposted (although not always very well!) by colour-coded system. See this website for more details http://www.cantal-walking.com/ "