Wanderers : France 🇫🇷

Salers is a medieval jewel perched high in the Auvergne volcanic region, where time seems to stand still. Salers is not only a medieval gem but also the birthplace of the iconic Salers cattle, known for their striking mahogany coats and sweeping horns.

Perched high in the Auvergne volcanic region, Salers is one of France’s “Most Beautiful Villages”, with cobbled streets, black volcanic stone houses, and panoramic views of the Cantal mountains. Its medieval gates and squares transport visitors back to the 15th century.

What did we do?

We made a pit stop in Saint-Cirq-Lapopie a picturesque village overlooking the Lot River. So glad we did even in the rain.

First we go down into the village.

Calvaires de Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

Then head up to Vènes Cirque - Lookout Point

Eglise Saint-Cirq-et-Sainte-Julitte dates from the second half of the 12th century.

These Sculptures created by Pierre Prevost were located throughout the village, pretty cool.

We really enjoyed our stop and would have liked to have spent a little more time.

Salers

Barrouze's esplanada

"This extraordinary landscape fashioned by fire and ice constitutes the largest volcanic entity of Europe. The Puy Violent dominates (300m higher) the glacial valleys of the rivers. Mankind has been adaptable. The ancestral activity of seasonal migration (transhumance) marks plateaus and valleys. Little by little goats and sheep have given way to the famous red cows with horns formed like a lyre. Crosses, Saints and Virgins will continue to show the way of God..."

I'm not the virgin

Église Saint-Mathieu building was listed as a historical monument in 1994.

Entombment
Donated in 1495

Monument aux Morts de Salers & Le cimetière Vieux

The great war memorial
was erected in 1922

The Old Graveyard
Here stood the ancient cemetery
and the entry to the crypt of
the church

Notre-Dame de Lorette

Salers Cows

Spa Afternoon (located in our hotel's basement) where we enjoyed a sauna, hammam, whirlpool, sensory shower, and a pool with a counter-current swimming system and hydrotherapy jets.

All around Salers

Office of Tourism

One of many walkways

Beffroi ou Tour de l'Horloge

Another quaint town with good food and wine.

What did we eat?

If you are ever in this area you need to visit each place listed below. The food and service was terrific and reservations are necessay.

Hotel Restaurant And Spa Le Bailliage Salers France

We paired our dinner with a Le Chlo d'Auzit 2023 Rouge

Salers Filet

Salers beef tenderloin with Bleu
d'Auvergne cheese sauce

Cheesy mashed potatoes

Note: the Tenderloin was seasoned and cooked perfectly, however was it was so tough that Rob declared his flip flop would have been easier to chew. He couldn't even get through three bites.

Lunch

Puff pastry with Bleu d'Auvergne
cheese and a small salad

This dinner was paired with a Chateau Haut-Logat Haut Medoc 2018

La Diligence

We paired our burgers with a Nuée Ardente Pinot Noir.

We enjoyed our dinner so much we went back for lunch. This place was packed at lunch time and the owner was slammed, but still very friendly.

Bourriol is a specialty of this area. A buckwheat leavened flatbread. It was delicious!

The Paysan Bourriol 😋
Country ham, egg, & Cantal cheese 🧀

Le Petit Comptoir we tried to visit a second time and we were not able to get a seat.

Salers Beef Burger with
lettuce, tomato 🍅, onions 🌰,
pickles, Cantal cheese 🧀

Aligot (cheesy mashed potatoes) 🥔
and a salad 🥗

Where did we stay?

Hotel Restaurant And Spa Le Bailliage our room was located on the top floor with no elevators, but we had a huge area with a massage chair and a spa tub.

Massage chair

Double sided sinks

Huge tub

Mirrors on the wall

How did we get there?

We had about a three hour drive from Cahors to Salers but I read that Saint-Cirq-Lapopie was one of the most beautiful towns in France. We made a short detour about 40 minutes outside of Cahors to visit the village.