CANTAL

GENERAL INFORMATION

Cantal is a département in south-central France and is part of the current région of Auvergne, which is surrounded by the departments of Puy-de-Dôme, Haute-Loire, Aveyron, Lot, Lozère, and Corrèze.

The principal cities are Aurillac, Saint-Flour, and Mauriac.

The Cantal is the southern part of the Auvergne Volcanoes National Park. It was originally the largest volcano in Europe. It is now a region of mountains, valleys and ridges. There are a number of major Grande Randonnée footpaths in the area plus many local tracks and paths. 

The Monts du Cantal is the oldest and largest of the major volcanic centers of the Massif Central in Auvergne, and the largest volcano by area in Europe. Eruptive activity at Cantal ceased several million years ago, and since then erosion has carved deeply into all parts of the volcano. A major highway cuts through the center of the massif, with a mile-long tunnel built in the 1840's (the Tunnel du Lioran) located below the pass at the summit. The highest remaining point of the volcano, the Plomb du Cantal, is home to a major ski area on its north and west flanks, with expanded terrain and lifts now wrapping around to the east side of the peak.

HISTORY

Cantal was one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Auvergne.

THINGS TO DO AND SEE

The Cantal, the southern part of the Auvergne Volcanoes National Park, is a relatively unknown part of the Massif Central in France. It is, nevertheless, a paradise for enthusiastic hill and mountain walkers. Although about the size of Snowdonia in Wales, or the Lake District in England, it does not suffer from the same popularity. You would see more people in a few hours in Snowdonia than you would in a week in the Cantal. So if you are interested in superb mountain, ridge, and valley walking (at altitudes up to 1855 metres), in peace and quiet, try the Cantal.

The winter sports station at Super Lioran offers opportunities for other activities in summer, as well as downhill and cross-country skiing in winter. The cable car to the top of Plomb du Cantal leaves from there and there are mountain bike hire facilities close to the cable car station. Paragliding is possible locally.

Fishing is possible in most of the local rivers. A few kilometres south of St. Flour is the Lac de Garabit-Grandval which offers lake fishing facilities and is a water sports centre.

For levels of excitement varying from relatively gentle to totally scary the "Lioran Aventure" park is a must. This is a series of high level obstacle courses built in the forest at Super Lioran. The courses are colour-coded from yellow (for "small adventurers") through green and red to black ("no limits").