Marcenat is a pastoral village in the Monts du Cézallier, at an altitude of 770 to 1,449 metres. Saint-Blaise Church, the Orthodox Monastery of the Mother of God Znaménié, agricultural traditions and the countryside along the Bonjon each offer a different perspective. When planning your visit, you can focus on architectural and religious history, cheesemaking or the landscape.

Church, Monastery and Historical Traces

Saint-Blaise Church was built in the Romanesque period and remodelled in the Gothic period; its Baroque altarpieces are listed as historic monuments. Another cultural highlight is the Orthodox Monastery of the Mother of God Znaménié, which introduces visitors to Orthodox religious culture, architecture and monastic crafts. These offer different ways to explore the area: Saint-Blaise is defined by its architectural phases and altarpieces, while the monastery is shaped by Orthodox culture and craft traditions.

The Château d’Aubijoux is said to have been a former fief of the de Castellane family; its medieval ruins add to the region’s history. The story of the so-called marchands de toile from the Cézallier offers another perspective. Traditionally, they left their home region for six to nine months each year to sell cloth and linen. Spending long periods away from home and trading textiles provide a different historical perspective from the church and monastery.

Agriculture and the Yearly Cycle

On the route from Marcenat to Montgreleix, the traditional movement of herds to the high pastures of the Cézallier is known as “la montade.” It traditionally takes place from mid-May to mid-October, with the timing depending on the weather. This distinction is important when planning: the dates given describe the seasonal window, not a fixed date regardless of weather.

GAEC de l’Estival offers guided tours showing the traditional production of Saint-Nectaire AOP, from milking the cows to ageing the cheese in the cellar. These two agricultural activities have different focal points: for la montade, the weather-dependent timing is key, while the tour follows the cheesemaking process from milking through to ageing.

Bonjon Valley and Cascade du Saillant

The Bonjon Valley is shaped by the Bonjon stream and offers views of the Massif du Sancy, Mont Chamaroux, Marcenat and the dome of the Orthodox monastery. The “Autour du Bonjon” circular trail passes the monastery and Cascade du Saillant. These two named destinations are thus also linked by a specific walking route.

At Cascade du Saillant, in the commune of Marcenat, a geological fault is visible. The waterfall can be reached from the village of Le Saillant and lies a few kilometres from Marcenat. The approach is considered family-friendly, is accessible year-round and is free in favourable weather conditions. Take the weather into account when planning your visit.

Discover more destinations: Leynhac, Aurillac, Mauriac, Parlan, Chaussenac, Pers, Saint-Flour, Celoux

For the broader travel overview: Cantal.