At an altitude of around 1,000 metres at the upper end of the Cère Valley, Saint-Jacques-des-Blats lies both within the Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne and on the Grand Site de France du Puy Mary. Part of the Station du Lioran is also within the commune. The area offers a range of experiences: marked mountain trails, traces of local history and Cantal cheese-making at the Ferme du Griou. The details on trail length, duration and format distinguish the hikes; visits to the Ferme require a reservation.

Mountain trails with different route formats

Saint-Jacques-des-Blats is the starting point for several hiking trails that can be explored on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback. The marked hike to Plomb du Cantal starts in the hamlet of Les Gardes, is 11 kilometres long, takes five hours and is classified as a difficult out-and-back route. Its destination is the 1,855-metre summit of the Cantal Volcano; the route also offers a viewpoint overlooking Puy Griou. The starting point, time required and stated difficulty provide practical information for planning this hike.

The route “Les Boissines,” which is still listed by the tourist office, offers a different format. This marked circular route runs from Place de l'Église to the summit of Puy Griou, covers 15.1 kilometres and is rated moderate. The route details were updated in 2021. By comparison, Les Boissines is longer than the Plomb trail but is described as a circular route, while the Plomb trail is listed as an out-and-back hike taking five hours and classified as difficult. When weighing up the options, the route format, length and stated difficulty matter alongside the summit destination.

The Boucle des hauts de Saint Jacques leads to the Bouguette viewpoint. There you will find an orientation table and views of Plomb du Cantal, Bec de l'Aigle and Puy Griou. Unlike the hikes described above, which focus on summit destinations, this route centres on a viewpoint with several named landscape features.

Church, local history and Cantal cheese

The Church of Saint Jacques was restored and extended in the 19th century and is built in the Neo-Gothic style. Its entrance hall houses a permanent exhibition about the village's links to Saint-Jacques de Compostelle; it is part of Via-Arverna Stage 4. The former cemetery cross of Saint-Jacques-des-Blats dates from the late 16th or early 17th century and is made of volcanic rock. Together, the Neo-Gothic church, the exhibition and the older stone cross represent different aspects of the area's history.

Visits to the Ferme du Griou explain how Cantal cheese is made; reservations are required. The farm processes 95 percent of its milk production into farm-made AOP Cantal and other farm-made dairy products. These include Tome fraîche, fromage blanc, fromage frais à tartiner, faisselles and raw milk. A reserved visit therefore combines an explanation of Cantal cheese-making with an insight into the Ferme's range of products.

Travel by bus

Bus and coach routes pass through Saint-Jacques-des-Blats all year round. If you plan to travel by bus, check the timetables with the regional transport service before setting off. This will help you factor the connection into your plans without assuming a specific departure time.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Le Lioran, Tournemire, Valuéjols, Labrousse, Chavagnac, Arches, Le Falgoux, Paulhac.

For the main travel overview: Cantal.