Saint-Étienne-Cantalès offers different perspectives on nature, construction history and art: the Marais du Cassan et de Prentegarde can be explored via a short educational trail or a long circular route; at the dam, the hydroelectric power station and the ASTER artwork take centre stage. The Church of Saint Etienne, the Via Arverna and the Ferme Equestre de Cantalès add architecture, a pilgrimage route and horse-riding activities. When planning your visit, it is worth distinguishing between these options by route length and scheduling requirements.
Choosing a route in the Marais
The PR Marais du Cassan et de Prentegarde includes a 2 km educational trail through the marshland as well as a 13.4 km circular route around the Marais du Cassan. The two distances call for different planning decisions: the educational trail is the shorter option for walking through the area, while the circular route goes around the Marais and requires planning for a considerably longer walk. This lets you choose how much walking you want to include in your nature outing.
The Marais du Cassan et de Prentegarde is designated as a ZNIEFF, Espace Naturel Sensible and Natura 2000 site; its administrative boundaries may be adjusted.
The dam: technology, tours and ASTER
The Saint-Étienne-Cantalès dam is 69 m high and is a concrete arch-gravity dam. Tours of the hydroelectric power station cover the construction, the surrounding area and how the dam works. They take visitors through the inspection gallery, the machine room and the turbine area. Check booking requirements and dates before making a tour a fixed part of your itinerary.
At the entrance to the dam on the Saint-Étienne-Cantalès side, there is a platform in front of ASTER, the public artwork. Video projections at ASTER begin at nightfall. A different animation cycle is scheduled for each day of the week; the timing varies seasonally. If the projections are important to you, take the day of the week and the season into account when planning your visit.
Church, pilgrimage route and horse-riding activities
The Church of Saint Etienne dates from the 17th century. Its entrance features a bell gable with two bells. This puts a specific architectural detail alongside the date of the building.
The Via Arverna pilgrimage route passes by the Saint-Étienne-Cantalès dam and then continues into the Cère gorges. This distinguishes the route from a tour focused on the hydroelectric power station itself.
The Ferme Equestre de Cantalès offers horse rides, riding lessons, classes, courses and demonstrations; ponies are also available to rent. As bookings and the programme may change, check both in advance if a riding activity is to be a fixed part of your plans.
Search for hotels with a clear focus
The options differ mainly in what you need to plan around: route length at the Marais, dates, booking requirements or the programme for tours and riding activities, and nightfall, the day of the week and the season for ASTER. You can then match your search for a hotel in Saint-Étienne-Cantalès to the time available for the experiences you want.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Landeyrat, Saint-Cirgues-De-Jordanne, Vezels Roussy, Champs-Sur-Tarentaine-Marchal, Anglards-De-Saint-Flour, Clavières, Saint-Mary-le-Plain, Jussac.
For the main travel overview: Cantal.
