Today we cycled a short distance from Murat to Saint-Flour and booked our accommodation ahead, as it was the ascension day public holiday. We only just found a room as they also had a traveling fair and market in Saint-Flour. Our hotel was in the lower part of the town so we had a really steep walk back up to the centre. This town is built on what looks like an extinct volcano and there are lots of 'Puys' in these parts. Saint-Flour is also a finishing stage in this year's Tour de France cycle race and I expect it will be a horrendous last climb for the riders.
The towns and people in this area are very different from those in the Dordogne. The stone is grey and of volcanic origin and at 800 to 1000m altitude the air is cold. Folk dress in dark colours and look very hardy. In the Dordogne the buildings are a soft, cream limestone, there are lots of flowers and clearly more affluence.
Leaving Murat
On the way to Saint-Flour
Saint-Flour from the lower town
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Location:Avenue Charles de Gaulle,Saint-Flour,France
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