Aurillac (Cantal)

Aurillac

Aurillac (Cantal) mini guide

Aurillac is located in the Cantal region, in south-west Auvergne (40 kilometres south of Salers). It lies along the Jourdanne River at an elevation of approximately 2000 feet.

Situated in the High Auvergne, there is no shortage of views and Aurillac is rated by some as one of the most scenic areas of France.

Historically Aurillac is the capital of the umbrella and produces over half the umbrellas made in France, some 250,000.

Things To Do

Aurillac is a great place to spend some time, whether it is shopping and sightseeing or you enjoy something a little more active.

Take a wander through the old town with its narrow streets and squares and appreciate some of the town's history while enjoying some shopping. Then take time to relax in one of the many cafes around the town.

The most interesting part of town is the kernel of old streets, now largely pedestrianized and full of good shops, just to the north of the central place du Square. Rue Duclaux leads through to the attractive place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, where the big Wednesday and Saturday markets are held in the shadow of the handsome grey-stone Hôtel de Ville, built in restrained Republican-classical style in 1803.

Beyond it, the continuation of rue des Forgerons leads to the beautiful little place St-Géraud, with a round twelfth-century fountain overlooked by a Romanesque house that was probably part of the original abbey guesthouse, and the externally rather unprepossessing church of St-Géraud, which nonetheless has a beautifully ribbed late Gothic ceiling.

If you prefer something a little more energetic, then there are plenty of sporting activities within the region. The area provides perfect terrain for rock climbing and plenty of open space for golfing. You will also find many fishing opportunities.

During August, there is a "Festival of Street Theatre" during the last week of the month with many performances each day - most of them free.

Places of Interest

• Benedictine Abbey, founded by Saint Geraud in the 9th Century
• River Jourdanne
• Notre-Dame-aux-Neiges

Weather

Unfortunately Aurillac has the reputation of being one of the coldest cities in France.  This is however not true, it is simply that it is the city at the highest altitude and therefore generally always shown on the TV weather forecasts.