Chaussenac offers both cultural and scenic experiences: the Eglise Saint-Etienne and the Chapelle de Contres provide two specific points of interest for sacred art, while the PR Les Tilleuls hiking trail passes through forests and descends into the ravine of the Cussac stream. To plan your trip, you can first decide whether to focus on church visits or hiking.

Church Art in Chaussenac

The Eglise Saint-Etienne has a Romanesque Limousin-style apse and paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries. This brings together an architectural feature and artworks from later centuries in the same church. The apse provides the architectural focal point, while the paintings add a distinct art-historical dimension. If you like to distinguish between architecture and painting when you visit, you can find both here in one place.

The Chapelle de Contres was first mentioned in the 13th century. It houses a polychrome limestone Pietà, dated to the late 15th or early 16th century. “Polychrome” refers to a multicoloured finish; a Pietà depicts Mary with the dead Christ. You can consider both the sculpture’s material and colouring, as well as its date. The chapel’s early mention and the later dating of the artwork mark different historical points of reference. Together with Saint-Etienne, they create a cultural contrast between architecture and painting on the one hand, and coloured stone sculpture on the other.

Hiking near Cussac

The PR Les Tilleuls trail follows shaded paths through the forests of Cussac and Osternac and descends into the ravine of the Cussac stream. The transition between forest paths and ravine gives the route a distinctive landscape character. If you would like to spend time outdoors as well as visit the churches during your stay, this trail is an option in its own right.

The hiking trail starts at the second hamlet of Cussac; parking is available in the square there. This gives you a specific starting point and parking location to use in your plans.

Terre du Cantal in Cussac, Chaussenac, offers a different way to plan. Hikes can be adapted to the participants’ ability levels and preferences. It is also possible to arrange a two-day hike with an overnight stay in a gîte; bivouac stays in the Cantal massif are available on request. These arrangements need to be organised in advance. Confirm the booking details before travelling. The difference from the PR Les Tilleuls lies in the planning: the latter describes a specific trail and starting point, while Terre du Cantal can tailor hikes to the participants. This lets you choose between a specific route description and a customised tour.

Food and Local Offerings

Le Comptoir de Chaussenac complements the churches and trails with a dining option. The restaurant serves convivial cuisine and offers a bespoke catering service in the village. It is also a café with a bread and newspaper depot open in the morning. The cuisine, catering, and morning depot are separate offerings that can serve different purposes depending on your plans for the day. If you are planning a restaurant visit, the cuisine is relevant; in the morning, bread and newspapers are part of the café offering. The catering service is an option for individually tailored meals. This means you can also keep local options for food and morning errands in mind alongside sightseeing and hiking.

Discover more destinations: Thiézac, Champs-Sur-Tarentaine-Marchal, Rézentières, Laveissière, Marmanhac, Antignac, Mandailles-Saint-Julien, Vèze.

Go to the main travel overview: Cantal.