Mourjou is a small village to the west of Maurs in the Auvergne region of southern France. It is in the south-western part of the Cantal department in an area known as the Chataigneraie after the chestnut trees that are the main trees in the forests of this area.
Mourjou: a village of chestnuts
Both historical and modern Mourjou have been shaped by the locally harvested chestnuts, These were once an important crop in this area but production has dropped from 510,000 tonnes in 1890 to 10,000 tonnes in recent years.
Despite the decline in importance of the crop the trees continue to be a distinctive and attractive part of the local landscape.
Mourjou has a small chestnut museum (the Maison de la Chataigne) dedicated to the history and uses of chestnuts in this area. As well as the chestnut museum there is also a recreation of a 1950s shop full of products from that period.
Every year during the last week of October there is a chestnut fair in the village with a procession, music and, of course, roasted chestnuts. All the villagers dress up in medieval style clothes for the event, and many thousands of people visit to enjoy the festivities.
The Auberge de Mourjou restaurant even has a menu where every course is based on chestnuts - very nice it is too, especially the chestnut ice-cream!
Foodies (and French cinema buffs) may be interested to note that Peter Graham lives in this village which inspired his book 'Mourjou: The Life and Food of an Auvergne Village'.
Attractions nearby
The most popular activity with visitors in the countryside around the village is to follow one of the trails through the woods, usually on foot or mountain bike.
There is a marked trail that follows through the countryside along the gorges of the Célé Valley and is a nice introduction to the local scenery. The walk takes about two hours and leaves from the Maison de la Chataigne.
Also in the Chataigneraie region you can visit the small villages of Marcoles and Boisset. The other very important highlight near here is the village of Conques: a little to the south of Mourjou, Conques is a beautiful village with an impressive abbey.
Explore elsewhere in the Massif Central. You can find more travel ideas in the Cantal guide and the Auvergne guide.
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Map of Mourjou and places nearby
Visit near Mourjou with France This Way reviews
Vieillevie
On the banks of the Lot river the small village of Vieillevie is very pretty and also in a very attractive region of France
Vieillevie guide
Marcoles
The fortified village of Marcoles dates from the 10th century and is one of our favourite Cantal villages
Marcoles guide
Maurs
In Maurs you can see the Abbey Church of Saint-Cesaire and half-timbered houses in the medieval town centre
Maurs guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Cantal
Address: Mourjou, Maurs, Aurillac, Auvergne, 15340, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 44.691389, longitude 2.33
Plan your visit to Mourjou, Cantal
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Conques pont sur le Dourdou (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (11 km)
- Conques: most beautiful village (12 km)
- Conques abbatiale Sainte-Foy (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (12 km)
- Figeac: recommended detour (25 km)
- Figeac Hopital St Jacques (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (25 km)
- Estaing: most beautiful village (31 km)
- Estaing pont sur le Lot (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (31 km)
- Jardin d'Eden du château du Colombier: remarkable garden (32 km)
- Belcastel: most beautiful village (34 km)
- Tindoul de la Vayssière: site of natural beauty (34 km)
- Assier Chateau: national monument (36 km)
- Espalion Pont Vieux (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (39 km)
The French version of this page is at Mourjou (Francais)