The small town of Salers, a veritable black pearl in a setting of lush greenery, will surprise you with the beauty and homogeneous quality of its fine buildings. Houses built of basalt and roofed with shale tiles testify to the skills and ingenuity of their builders. Door surrounds, mouldings and windows sculpted from breccia (a composite rock of volcanic origin) are among the decorative features of its superb Renaissance and 16 th century buildings.

On a rocky spur overlooking the Aspre and the Maronne, with the Cantal mountains as a backdrop, the village lies at the heart of the Volcans d’Auvergne Regional Nature Park. The surrounding countryside offers its visitors the sumptuous and unspoilt landscapes of a region of mountains in which rocky reliefs and lush valleys present opportunities to enjoy blissful relaxation or a wide range of sporting activities. A host of walking trails lead lovers of wide open spaces among flocks of the distinctive Salers breed of cattle with their lyre-shaped horns and mahogany coloured coat.

On mountain walks you can also discover a plant life of extraordinary diversity and remarkable colours, and perhaps even spot chamois and marmots…

Lovers of architecture will delight in the many castles, chateaux and Romanesque churches in the district.

After your hearty breakfast, the owners will be pleased to advise you on the various activities, trails and visits available to ensure that you have an enjoyable stay and see something of the many different facets of the Cantal.

The Hôtel Saluces offers walking trails with a ramblers' guide who will show you the flora and fauna of the hills and their landscapes, as well as introduce you to hill-farming and volcanism.