Salers, the French medieval village that you cannot miss
Located in the French region of Auvergne, more specifically in the department of Cantal, the municipality of Salers is one of the great unknowns of the neighboring country. And that which is within the association Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages in France).
This is because it is located at the western end of the Cantal mountain range, so it is far from large urban areas such as Aurillac. However, this enclave near the Auvergne Volcanoes Natural Park It has given a unique aspect to the town.
And it is that its proximity to the volcanic zone has meant that (almost) all the buildings in Salers have been built with this black stone, which gives it a dark hue.
In this way, thanks to this characteristic and to the fact that it is a small town (about 300 people live in it) and to the fact that its streets keep the old and narrow framework, the moment you set foot there you are automatically transported to another time.
Salers, one of the most beautiful villages in France
FOLLOWING THE MEDIEVAL FOOTPRINT
Although its origins are unknown today, there is evidence of the importance it had during the Middle Ages. A transcendence that meant that in 1428 it had to be surrounded by a wall, since bourgeois families were tired of the continuous sieges they suffered. A fortress of which, unfortunately, not much remains standing.
A notoriety that grew little by little until more than 100 years later, specifically from 1550, it reached its peak when Different wealthy families settled there and built beautiful stone buildings that are preserved to this day. Among them, the most outstanding are the lava mansions that surround the current square in the center of the town of Tyssandier d'Escous.
Here we will start, since it is one of the most beautiful postcards. It is full of tall buildings surrounded by towers, which gives them a very peculiar appearance, and lava walls and flagstone roofs. In addition, in the center there is a small fountain surrounded by pots with different types of colorful flowers.
A beautiful walk through Salers
Apart from this square, they are also distributed throughout the historic center other famous houses such as Lafarge, the Templiers, Flogeac, the Ronade mansion and Sevestre. Mansions all of them with a unique character.
But the beauty of Salers does not reside only in its mansions. As was customary at the time, religion was also very important in this town and from that time a large church is preserved that is worth stopping at. We refer to that of Saint Mathieu, which is located at one of the entrances to the town, whose portal had to be rebuilt in the 19th century and which has 17th-century Aubusson tapestries inside.
Other places to visit are the door-bell tower and the tower of the old wall, one of the few spaces where the medieval fortification is still preserved. Even so, it must be emphasized that beyond a specific building, the uniqueness of the town lies in the whole, in its cobbled and narrow streets and in the beauty that its buildings release.
Salers cheese: exquisite!
RELAX MOMENT, SALERS CHEESE MOMENT
Salers is a small town that can be easily seen in a few hours. For this reason, a good excuse to spend more time there and enjoy it in peace is to eat in one of its restaurants and try its typical dishes. Cheese is, without a doubt, one of them.
A snack that, in addition to giving the town its name, is how the area's cheese is known. A delicacy that comes from the cows native to the place and that cheese lovers cannot miss. It is a strong cheese, with a thick rind and a relatively hard yellow interior that is made with a recipe that has been known for about 2000 years.
Salers is also known for the meat from the local cows
But, in addition to cheese, Salers is also known for the meat from local cows. These animals are very easy to distinguish since they have a characteristic reddish-brown color and long horns. Regarding the taste of its meat, I advise the reader to go to the area and check it out (but here's a hint: it's very tasty).
Some very striking cows that can be seen from the Esplanade de Barrouze. And it is that, from this park that also works as a viewpoint, the valleys of the Maronne and Aspre open up, showing all the nature that surrounds the town. A perfect excuse to sit down and rest after having toured Salers and let the day fade to the beat of these animals' cowbells.
Views from the Esplanade de Barrouze