Cantal and Salers Cheese Trail

Maison de la Salers

At the Domaine du Fau in Saint-Bonnet-de-Salers, a museum devoted to the Salers cow, the emblem of the Cantal: its history, breeding and bond with the land. With luck you will see Salers cattle in the fields around it. The visit takes about an hour and a half and ends with a tasting of local products, including cheese, charcuterie and a drink. No booking is needed.

It opens every day from the February school holidays until 11 November, and over the Christmas holidays, from 10am to noon and 2 to 6pm, and from 9am to 7pm in July and August. Last tickets are 75 minutes before closing. Adults pay €7, ages 8 to 18 pay €4.50, under 8s are free, and families pay €20 (two adults, two children) or €23 (three children). There is parking, a lift inside, picnic tables, and dogs are welcome on a lead. A 4 km return footpath links the museum to Salers village; wear sturdy shoes, as it can be wet.

Cellars and Dairies

• Cave de Salers, Les Prés de Faure, Salers.
• Coopérative de Saint-Bonnet-de-Salers.
• Société Fromagère de Riom-ès-Montagnes.
• Société Fromagère de Condat.
• Les Fromageries Occitanes, Saint-Mamet.
• Fromagerie Paul Dischamp, Saint-Flour, a shop and workshop.

All are on the Route des Fromages AOP d'Auvergne as places to visit a dairy or cellar. Check opening days on the route's website before you go.

Farms

• Milking and cheesemaking: Ferme Bonnafoux (GAEC du Cèdre Bleu) at Rageade, and GAEC de la Calsade at Badailhac.
• Cheesemaking: Ferme la Falleixoise at Montboudif, EARL de Malgorce at Saint-Martin-Valmeroux, Ferme de Clédart at Fontanges, and the Ferme du Griou at Saint-Jacques-des-Blats.
• Milking: Grange de la Haute Vallée at Albepierre-Bredons, Ferme du Puy de Coujoule at Coren, and Ferme de Labouygues at Arpajon-sur-Cère.

Every visit ends with a tasting. Ring ahead to ask when the milking or the make happens.

Nearby

The Saint-Nectaire farms of the Puy-de-Dôme are on the same route: see Saint-Nectaire farm visits. To the south, the Aubrac has the Laguiole cooperative.