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The Cantal department is one of France’s lesser know regions – and it’s well worth discovering if you hanker for lush scenery, peace and quiet and the great outdoors.

The Cantal department is one of France’s lesser know regions – and it’s well worth discovering if you hanker for lush scenery, peace and quiet and the great outdoors.

All France lovers enjoy discovering a new region of the country, getting a thrill from local accents, stories, sights, food and wine. The Cantal lies in the dramatic natural park of the Volcans d'Auvergne at the heart of France, where long extinct volcanoes have created a lush mixture of green mountains, high pastures, deep valleys and lakes.

Here is nature wild, unspoilt and just inviting exploration. This peaceful natural paradise is perfect for lovers of the great outdoors, whether walking and taking in the stunning scenery and wildlife, doing a bit of fishing and boating or rushing down rapids in a canoe. The mountains are green with gentle crests and peaks, the pastures dotted with sheep and the famous Salers cattle that produce Cantal cheese – a tasty hard cheese similar to cheddar that features in 'aligot', a local dish of mashed potato and crushed garlic.

Most accommodation in Cantal is in attractive stone cottages or comfortable wood cabins with all mod cons, set in glorious countryside. But there are towns to visit, most notably the capital Aurillac, a market town with some museums, and Murat, where the Maison de la Faune is a resource on the wildlife of the natural park.