Tournemire

Visit Tournemire, Auvergne

Tournemire village is situated 15km north of Aurillac, in the Massif Central (Auvergne region) of central France. The village is classed among the 'most beautiful villages of France'. The village sits on a tree covered hill overlooking the valley of the River Doire and falls in the Cantal mountains at the southern edge of the Natural Park of the Auvergne volcanoes.

The history of the village is tied up with two families - the Tournemire and the Anjony, and their battles to control the village.

Exploring Tournemire

Parking is available on the edge of the village - the village itself is not accessible to vehicles (residents only can enter by car) - with a small tourist office next to the car park.

The village is small, yet perfectly formed, with many attractive small houses and easy to visit - the road follows a loop around the village, with a path leading off to the castle at the top.

Some of the houses are said to have been built on earlier Roman foundations, and almost all are built from the local volcanic rock with slate roofs.

The large-turretted Chateau de Anjony that dominates the village of Tournemire is a sturdy castle with fortified walls and round towers in each corner and dates from the 15th century, with the adjacent living accommodation added in the 18th century - the castle is open to visitors.

You will also see the 12th century roman style church in the village centre above the castle. Be sure to go into the church to see the colourful wall paintings and a thorn from the crown of thorns brought here after one of the Crusades. In the square in front of the church there is a path that leads up to some small natural caves in the cliff.

You can also visit a small exhibition of 'automata' - toys and games from the pre-electronic era!

Around the castle and church at the top of Tournemire there are also several lovely viewpoints across the valleys below, while further up the hill above the top of the village there is a calvary, with a statue of the crucifixion, views across the village itself and a nice place for a picnic.

Local highlights

There is a great deal of attractive scenery around Tournemire - try and visit the Gorges de la Maronne - and several of the other nearby villages are also worth a visit.

The village of Salers, also in the Cantal region to the north, is another very good example of the traditional local architecture.

See Auvergne and Cantal (the region and department for Tournemire) for more travel ideas...

Tourist classifications for Tournemire: One of the most beautiful village in France (plus beau villages);

Suggested places to visit near Tournemire, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Marcoles 32km; Mourjou 42km; Argentat 43km; Maurs 44km; Parc des Volcans 44km; Vieillevie 46km; Entraygues 46km; Saint-Flour 48km;

Tournemire tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Puy Mary - grand site of france (16km) : Verger de Déduit - remarkable garden (17km) : Salins - town of art and history (17km) : Puy Griou - site of natural beauty (18km) : Plomb du Cantal - site of natural beauty (22km) : Parc-arboretum de Neuvic d'Ussel - remarkable garden (40km) :

See more places and a map at places near Tournemire