Cantal: Ancient Volcanoes, Ancient Cheese
Cantal occupies some of the most dramatic volcanic terrain in the Auvergne. The Plomb du Cantal (1,855 metres) and the Puy Mary (1,787 metres) are remnants of the largest stratovolcano in Europe, active roughly seven million years ago. The cheese that bears the department's name, Cantal, has been produced here for at least two thousand years and is one of France's oldest cheeses.
Aurillac, the prefecture, is known for its International Street Theatre Festival held each August, which transforms the town of 26,000. Saint-Flour, perched on a basalt cliff, is a striking small town. The population is about 144,000 and has been declining for over a century. Salers, a village of grey volcanic stone, gives its name to both a cattle breed and another local cheese. The department is one of the coldest in France in winter.
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Cantal occupies some of the most dramatic volcanic terrain in the Auvergne. The Plomb du Cantal (1,855 metres) and the Puy Mary (1,787 metres) are remnants of the largest stratovolcano in Europe, active roughly seven million years ago. The cheese that bears the department's name, Cantal, has been produced here for at least two thousand years and is one of France's oldest cheeses.
Aurillac, the prefecture, is known for its International Street Theatre Festival held each August, which transforms the town of 26,000. Saint-Flour, perched on a basalt cliff, is a striking small town. The population is about 144,000 and has been declining for over a century. Salers, a village of grey volcanic stone, gives its name to both a cattle breed and another local cheese. The department is one of the coldest in France in winter.
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