Aurillac and its historical centre
A mix of red and blue roofs. Sometimes as black as basalt, sometimes as sunny as its ochre facades, Aurillac will win you over...
Weather-wise, Aurillac is one of the sunniest towns in France. Founded by Saint-Géraud in the 9th century, the town is full of treasures.
The capital of the Haute-Auvergne region, Aurillac was built around the old town with its winding streets beside the river.
Start your visit at Place Saint-Géraud and its church, whose majestic steeple rises to a height of 77m. Next, take a stroll along the Rue du Collège and the Rue du Consulat, home to some magnificent town houses dating from the 15th to 18th centuries.
Continue on to the imperial-style town hall. From here, enter the maze of narrow streets lined with century-old shops selling the famous Aurillac umbrellas, Cantal charcuterie and cheeses, cutlery and distilleries...
Take a break in the lush greenery of the Square Vermenouze, then head for the Château Saint-Étienne to discover the town, and then on to the banks of the River Jordanne with its half-timbered houses.
Both festive and generous, Aurillac is lively all year round with its markets, fairs, exhibitions and its International Street Theatre Festival, which attracts over 100,000 visitors every August.
A festive town with a rich heritage built around the river
Weather-wise, Aurillac is one of the sunniest towns in France. Founded by Saint-Géraud in the 9th century, the town is full of treasures.
The capital of the Haute-Auvergne region, Aurillac was built around the old town with its winding streets beside the river.
Start your visit at Place Saint-Géraud and its church, whose majestic steeple rises to a height of 77m. Next, take a stroll along the Rue du Collège and the Rue du Consulat, home to some magnificent town houses dating from the 15th to 18th centuries.
Continue on to the imperial-style town hall. From here, enter the maze of narrow streets lined with century-old shops selling the famous Aurillac umbrellas, Cantal charcuterie and cheeses, cutlery and distilleries...
Take a break in the lush greenery of the Square Vermenouze, then head for the Château Saint-Étienne to discover the town, and then on to the banks of the River Jordanne with its half-timbered houses.
Both festive and generous, Aurillac is lively all year round with its markets, fairs, exhibitions and its International Street Theatre Festival, which attracts over 100,000 visitors every August.
To visit in Aurillac :
- the Muséum des Volcans in the wing of the Château Saint-Étienne
- the Museum of Art and Archaeology, housed in a former convent
- the Saint-Géraud abbey church
- the church of Notre-Dame-aux-Neiges and its Black Madonna
- the Aurillac National Stud...
