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 The green island -
Between the Dore-Mounts (Monts-Dore) and the Cantal Mounts (Monts du Cantal), the high plateau of the Cézallier makes a point in keeping its insular nature with its average altitude of 3960ft (1200m). Virgin and mysterious, this concentration of infinite landscapes  characterized by its pasture lands scattered with "burons" (traditional buildings where cheese was made), is the domain of the "Estive". Summer pastures par excellence, where visitors can still follow the animals on the large plateaux during the fair of l'Estive which takes place every year in May in the town of Allanche.Delimited in the East by the Alagnon Valley, the Cézallier still offers the possibility to have a nice poetical stroll in the region of Massiac, a small atypical basin, which enchants thanks to its Mediterranean aspect.
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A city (town) in the heart of the Alagnon's valley - When arriving in the Cantal, the region of Massiac surprises one by its obvious Mediterranean identity with its traditional palhŕs where many fruit grow in abundance. At the centre of this astonishing southern outpost, Massiac is a place not to be missed on the way to the Alagnon valley. From the top of the picturesque rocky peak of the Romanesque chapel of Sainte Madeleine, visitors can discover the beautiful town centre enclosed by the basaltic peak of Saint Victor and its rich Neolithic vestiges on the other side of the river.  Massiac is a cultural place which shelters many treasures, such as the rear "Vierge Ouvrante" (Virgin with open arms) of the 15th century. These treasures are preserved in the Saint André's church or in the Elise Rieul's museum, a unique place in France dedicated to women painters of the 20th century.
Hikes in Cézallier -
Peaceful land where pastures undulate as far as the eye can see, the Cézallier is the region of quiet hiking. Within 4 or 9 days, "the path of red cows" (le sentier des vaches rouges) will lead you between gentians and burons to discover this region entirely dedicated to the pastures that so pleases the Salers cows. Less experienced hikers will appreciate astonishing landscapes along 40 short signposted footpaths. From the Pinatelle forest which is renowned for its deer population, visitors come to hear them bell in autumn at the magnificent waterfall of the Saillant, close to Marcenat. Devoted nature lovers will be delighted!
A water island - In Cézallier, water, either quiet on the lakebeds or wild when rushing down steep waterfalls, will accompany visitors' discovery of the region. Active or contemplative, you will appreciate, several kilometres away from Allanche, the 55 acres (22ha) lake of Pęcher with its pure and generous waters appreciated by fly fishermen. In this place, at the edge of the Pinatelle woods, every season offers its magic and trappers from the far north will not resist to go for a sleigh ride or a steep slope on the ski domain of 30000 acres (12000ha) of the Cézallier and the Cantal.
Cheese and dessert - If Auvergne is "a great plate of cheese", it is also due to these fertile pastures of Cézallier where Cantal cheese was first made, 2000 years ago, and which is now AOC (a guarantee of origin) since 1957. Different intensities are available; from the Cantal "jeune" (young) to the Cantal "vieux" (old), this flagship of the traditional agriculture of Auvergne has to be tasted simply with some grapes or walnuts or on a slice of bread. Visitors will be pleased with its taste and its history as willingly told by local farmers. For dessert, visitors can then bite into a delicious little macaroon the pride of Massiac's gastronomical reputation.
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