A 10.8-kilometre circular trail, an insight into beekeeping and local production reveal different sides of Saint-Constant. There are several ways to visit: La Randonnée des Collines is free to access year-round when weather conditions are favourable; you can visit the Rochery teaching apiary at any time of year by appointment. You can also learn about a duck farm, ceramics and traces of the past.
Walking Trail and Landscape
La Randonnée des Collines is a marked circular trail measuring 10.8 kilometres, with 270 metres of ascent and a stated duration of 3.5 hours. The yellow markings and the time estimate give you a clear guide for planning your day; you can allow extra time for breaks as you see fit. The trail is free to access year-round, provided weather conditions are favourable. Check the weather before setting out, as it affects access.
Looking southwest, the route offers views of the La Garenne hill, the two churches of the twin village of Saint-Santin and the Maurs basin. The Célé River also flows through Saint-Constant.
Observe Bees and Taste Honey
The Rochery teaching apiary is a wooden building with two glass-fronted beehives. On a visit, you can observe bees, breathe in the air of the hive, taste dozens of different honeys and ask questions about the lives of bees and the products of the hive. Visits are possible year-round by appointment, so arrange your visit in advance.
Observation, tasting and questions are all part of a visit here. This makes the teaching apiary a specific place to visit for anyone who wants to learn more about bees and hive products as well as honey. Arranging an appointment is part of planning your visit, unlike the circular trail, which is free year-round but subject to weather conditions.
A Look at Duck Farming
Ferme de Lascombes is a traditional family farm that produces ducks for fattening. The ducks are raised outdoors. Its products include foie gras, confit, pâtés, rillettes and fresh duck breasts – with no preservatives or chemical products.
The farm offers tours of various areas, including animal rearing, force-feeding and processing. A visit can therefore complement the products with insights into different aspects of the farm. If you are interested in both food and how it is made, the range of products and the farm visit offer two sides of the same subject.
Church, Ruins and Local History
The parish church of Saint-Constant features stained-glass windows, altarpieces, paintings, banners, statues and a varied collection of liturgical furnishings.
The ruins of the Château de Merle lie about three kilometres from Saint-Constant. Preserved towers and sections of the curtain wall can be seen from the road towards Fournoulès. The ruins and their surviving structures offer a different focus from the furnishings of the parish church. Local tradition reaches further back, too: the relics of Constant of Ancona, a fifth-century Italian sacristan, were once kept for a time in Saint-Constant-sur-Célé.
Ceramics and Crafts
In her studio in Saint-Constant-Fournoulès, Christine Grave has been making stoneware ceramics for around three decades. The material and her long experience offer a concrete insight into her ceramic craft.
La Poterie du Tilleul offers a wide selection of pottery, including bowls, cups, salad bowls and jugs. There are also pieces with gold decoration, as well as numerous ceramic jewellery items. Together, the two ceramic offerings show different sides of the material – from working with stoneware in the studio to the variety of forms and decorations described.
Discover more destinations: Polminhac, Massiac, Vèze, Saint-Mamet-La-Salvetat, Valuéjols, Chaudes-Aigues, Ferrières-Saint-Mary, Salers
For the broader travel overview: Cantal.
