Saint-Floret

Visit Saint-Floret, Auvergne

Saint Floret is one of the most beautiful villages in France. It is in the Puy-de-Dome department in the Auvergne region.

Exploring Saint-Floret

Saint Floret is a small village located in an attractive river valley and centers around the Place de la Roche with its church and steps leading up to the castle. The church dates from the 18th century and contains Baroque furniture.

The castle is built on a rocky spur above the village and dates back to the 13th century. Not much remains besides its donjon but inside the donjon is a room with a vaulted ceiling and the remains of some wonderful murals telling the story of Tristan and Iseut. The frescoes are painted in beautiful, rich colours and parts of them are still in superb condition. The frescoes were painted in the 14th century and 13 of the original 40 or so still exist.

It is possible to visit the chateau and from here you can get superb views over the surrounding countryside. The chateau is open from June to October.

There is an old bridge crossing the river which has a small chapel on the top housing a statue of the Virgin. When the village was bombed in the second world war a bomb landed under this bridge but fortunately failed to detonate.

There is also a church, du Chastel, high above the village which has an ossuary and some tombs carved into the rock. Another place to get excellent views over the countryside and also over the village.

Whilst attractive enough the village is tiny and so worth a visit if you are nearby but not worth travelling long distances to see.

Attractions nearby

Several kilometers to the west of Saint-Floret is a picnic area and a natural spring. This one is particularly interesting as the limescale deposits have formed into a remarkably convincing shape of the head of a lion! The water in the source itself is red due to the presence of iron oxide.

See Auvergne and Puy-de-Dome (the region and department for Saint-Floret) for more travel ideas...

Photos of Saint-Floret

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Suggested places to visit near Saint-Floret, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Murol 13km; Usson 18km; Mont-Dore 23km; Orcival 25km; Clermont-Ferrand 26km; Blesle 26km; Puy-de-Dome 27km; La Bourboule 29km; Parc des Volcans 30km; Mozac 36km; Brioude 36km;

Saint-Floret tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Villeneuve-Lembron Chateau - national monument (10km) : Jardins du château d'Hauterive - remarkable garden (11km) : Eglise de Saint Austremoine d'Issoire (Issoire) - religious monument (11km) : Eglise Notre Dame (Saint-Saturnin) - religious monument (12km) : Eglise de Notre Dame (Saint-Nectaire) - religious monument (12km) : Jardins du château de la Batisse - remarkable garden (16km) : Lac Pavin - site of natural beauty (18km) : Jardins du château d'Opme - remarkable garden (20km) :

See more places and a map at places near Saint-Floret