Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Mountains, lakes, volcanoes, vineyards and characterful towns.
Discover the Cantal
Discover Cantal: mountains, lakes, volcanoes, vineyards and characterful towns, with independently owned holiday homes that make a comfortable base for exploring.
Cantal brings together mountains, lakes, volcanoes, vineyards and characterful towns. Build a stay around Aurillac, Salers and the smaller places in between, leaving time for markets, local food and unhurried day trips.
Independent holiday rentals
Browse independent holiday rentals, cottages, gîtes and other places to stay in the Cantal, then contact owners and managers directly. Holiday House France does not add a guest booking fee.
We are building a collection of independently owned holiday homes across France.
Explore the whole department
Cantal changes character as you travel across it. These four starting points make it easier to plan days out without reducing the department to a single headline attraction.
Historic centre & local highlights
Use Aurillac as a starting point for exploring this part of Cantal, combining local heritage, everyday French life and the landscapes that give the department its character.
Aurillac · Salers · Murat · Saint-Flour
A rewarding base for day trips
Use Salers as a starting point for exploring this part of Cantal, combining local heritage, everyday French life and the landscapes that give the department its character.
Aurillac · Salers · Murat · Saint-Flour
Character, scenery & local life
Use Murat as a starting point for exploring this part of Cantal, combining local heritage, everyday French life and the landscapes that give the department its character.
Aurillac · Salers · Murat · Saint-Flour
Quieter corners & wider landscapes
Use Saint-Flour as a starting point for exploring this part of Cantal, combining local heritage, everyday French life and the landscapes that give the department its character.
Aurillac · Salers · Murat · Saint-Flour
Towns & villages
From Aurillac to Saint-Flour, these are useful anchors for discovering the history, scenery and everyday character of Cantal.
A natural starting point for discovering Cantal, with local heritage, places to eat and useful connections into the surrounding area.
One of the department’s best-known stops, rewarding for its setting, history and the chance to explore at a slower pace.
A characterful place to add to a day out, offering another side of Cantal beyond its principal town.
A useful base for reaching the wider countryside and discovering smaller communities nearby.
Make a holiday of it
Cantal rewards days built around its best-known sights as well as smaller discoveries. From Aurillac to Salers, heritage and landscape sit comfortably alongside markets, cafés and local life.
The wider department opens up beyond the main towns, with scenic routes, walks and relaxed day trips around Murat and Saint-Flour. It is well suited to visitors who like to mix sightseeing with time outdoors.
Weekly markets, regional produce and independent restaurants are an easy way to get under the skin of Cantal. Leave room in the itinerary for an unplanned lunch, a village market or a local speciality.
Travel & getting around
Cantal can be reached through the wider road and rail network of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The most convenient arrival point will depend on where in the department you are staying.
A car is often the easiest way to combine towns, villages and countryside, particularly for holiday homes outside the larger centres.
Plan day trips geographically rather than by distance alone: local roads can be part of the experience, and allowing time for markets, viewpoints and spontaneous stops makes for a more relaxed holiday.
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