Tag Archives: Cantal

A Virtual Visit to Cantal

Posted on 19/04/2020 by nessafrance

I had a list of places in SW France lined up to visit and write about this year, but they have to wait for better times. Meanwhile, I invite you to accompany me on a series of virtual voyages around … Continue reading →

Posted in Auvergne, Places, Virtual Visits | Tagged Auvergne, Cantal, Elancèze, La Roussière, Marcolès, Monts du Cantal, Murat, Pailherols, Thiézac, Vic-sur-Cère | 20 Comments

French Flavours: Pounti, Traditional Auvergnat Dish

Posted on 14/10/2018 by nessafrance

During our recent visit to Cantal, we had the opportunity to taste again a dish that is traditional to northern Aveyron/southern Cantal: pounti. Before we first visited that area, 25 years ago, I had never come across this dish, not … Continue reading →

Posted in Food/drink/recipes, History | Tagged Auvergne, Cantal, French regional cuisine, Goose Fat and Garlic, Jeanne Strang, peasant food, picoussel, pounti, SW France | 6 Comments

Coming Back to Cantal

Posted on 16/09/2018 by nessafrance

We have lost count of the number of visits we have made to the Auvergne, the mountainous region in south-central France. It’s not so spectacular as the Alps or the Pyrénées, but it has a charm and a character all … Continue reading →

Posted in Auvergne, Walking in France | Tagged Auvergne, Cantal, Elancèze, le Pas de Cère, Monts du Cantal, Murat, Puy Griou, Thiézac, Vallée de la Cère, Vic-sur-Cère | 4 Comments

A Mystery Tour on the Way to Cantal

Posted on 09/09/2018 by nessafrance

Revisiting old haunts can be tinged with disappointment. I once returned to a place where I had lived 30 years before and was saddened to see how much it had changed. Happily, Cantal has never fallen into that category. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Auvergne, Places | Tagged Auvergne, Cantal, Maison Carrée, Marcolès, Massif Central, Maurs, Monts du Cantal, Thiézac, Vallée de la Cère | 15 Comments

Cantal le Beau

Posted on 30/09/2016 by nessafrance

I’m never quite sure which destination appeals to me more: Cantal or Corsica. They are both mountainous and beautiful in their own way, but very different. Cantal, of course, is easier to get to, being only just over two hours’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Auvergne, Customs, Walking in France | Tagged Auvergne, burons, Cantal, cantal cheese, L'Elancèze, Monts du Cantal, Plomb du Cantal, Thiézac, Walking in France | 10 Comments

Cantal Revisited

Posted on 30/05/2016 by nessafrance

I’m always torn between sharing places I love with other people and keeping them to myself. After a fierce internal tussle, the altruistic side won. The Cantal is a part of France to which we keep returning, although our last … Continue reading →

Posted in Auvergne, Places | Tagged Auberge des Montagnes, Auvergne, Cantal, cantal cheese, Cère Valley, Elancèze, La Roussière, Pailherols, walking | 31 Comments

Captivated by Cantal 2

Posted on 29/09/2013 by nessafrance

We spent three nights and two days in Cantal last week, which wasn’t nearly enough. But we got in two good, long walks and the weather was glorious. The countryside is superb, especially in early autumn when the trees are … Continue reading →

Posted in Auvergne, French life, Places, Walking in France | Tagged Auvergne, Cantal, Monts de Cantal, Murat, Randonnée, Vallée de la Cère | 7 Comments

Captivated by Cantal 1

Posted on 26/09/2013 by nessafrance

Every year in September we try to get to the Auvergne for a short walking holiday. This is the mountainous Massif Central, formerly an area of significant volcanic activity and later gouged out by glaciers. Last year, we didn’t manage … Continue reading →

Posted in Auvergne, French life, Places, Walking in France | Tagged Aurillac, Auvergne, Cantal, Elancèze, Monts de Cantal, Randonnée, Thiézac, Vallée de la Cère, walking | 4 Comments

Blithe Spirits: Quirky French Apéritifs

Posted on 05/10/2011 by nessafrance

Behind the bar in all French cafés lurks a selection of bottles with evocative names such as Byrrh or Suze. They are usually made from aromatic plants to closely-guarded recipes. You still see ancient advertisements for them stencilled onto barn walls – … Continue reading →

Posted in Auvergne, Customs, Food/drink/recipes, Places | Tagged aperitifs, Auvergne, Aveze, Cantal, France, gentian roots, Gentiane liqueur, rural life, Salers, Suze, SW France | 17 Comments

Awesome Auvergne

Posted on 30/09/2011 by nessafrance

This week we made our annual short visit – almost a pilgrimage – to the Cantal Département. It is a spectacularly beautiful, mountainous area in the Auvergne Region, about two hours’ drive from us. It offers excellent walking: the peaks … Continue reading →

Posted in Auvergne, Nature, Places, Walking in France | Tagged Auvergne, Cantal, cantal cheese, France, L'Elancèze, Monts de Cantal, rural life, Thiézac, walking | 12 Comments

Six things that make French country hotels unique

Posted on 12/09/2010 by nessafrance

The picture shows not a misplaced extraterrestrial but the light fittings in our hotel room during a recent stay in the Cantal on a short walking holiday. More of those later. We have stayed in many French provincial hotels over … Continue reading →

Posted in Auvergne, French life, Places | Tagged Cantal, France, French hotels, living in France, rural life | Leave a comment