At an altitude of 1,050 m, traditional houses made of lava stone with slate roofs shape the landscape of Murat-Le-Quaire. The village can be explored through different themes: a discovery walk leads to rural village sights, the church and Scénomusée reveal different aspects of its history, and Lake Pré Cohadon and the Banne d’Ordanche bring the mountain landscape into focus. When planning your visit, it is worth comparing the different durations and experiences.
Village history on a walking tour
The “Patrimoine rural de Murat-le-Quaire” walking tour is a 30-minute to one-hour walk through the village. Numbered information panels introduce the Ferme Château, fountains, barns, church, fortification walls and promontory, as well as a bread oven, washhouse and a small mill. The stops give the walk a clear focus: instead of looking at just one building, you encounter different traces of rural village life.
Mill, church and ways of exploring history
The small village mill is a scale model of a real watermill. Its waterwheel is powered by water from the stream at Les Couderts. The use of water power is therefore one of the tangible details of the village’s history.
The Eglise Saint-Maurice dates from the 13th century and was restored several times in the 19th century; partial reconstruction was completed in 1902. Its features include a baptismal font carved from Volvic stone, an enamelled lava altar and a painting by P. de Plument. The Scénomusée Toinette et Julien offers a different way to explore the history of Auvergne: it conveys two centuries of history through lighting effects, music, moving objects and special effects.
Lake and mountain views
The Plan d'eau du Pré Cohadon is a 2.5-hectare lake at an altitude of 1,100 m, above Murat-Le-Quaire and near the Banne d’Ordanche. It is enjoyed for its panoramic views, for relaxation and for fishing. The lake can be walked around in about 15 minutes. Compared with the village walk, this is a much shorter walking option.
The Banne d’Ordanche is a 1,515 m-high basalt cone. Daffodils bloom there in spring; from the viewpoint, panoramic views extend across Artense, the Sancy Massif, the Dordogne Valley, La Bourboule, and the Puys de la Tache and de la Monne. The “SANCY TOUR No. 2 – Le chemin de l’estive ovine” themed route near Murat-Le-Quaire passes through the open landscapes of the Banne d’Ordanche and offers insights into sheep farming, summer grazing and the local mountain fauna.
Guided tour and planning your stay
If you are interested in regional food production, La ferme des Estives offers a guided tour of Saint-Nectaire AOP production, lasting about an hour, by reservation. Bear the reservation requirement in mind when planning this tour. The durations make it easy to compare the options: the village walk takes 30 minutes to one hour, walking around the lake takes about 15 minutes, and the farm tour lasts approximately one hour. You can choose between a walk through the village, a short loop by the lake and a reservation-only look at cheese production, each offering a different focus.
Discover more destinations: Montpeyroux, Riom, Condat-En-Combraille, Saint-Maurice-Près-Pionsat, Parent, Medeyrolles, Lisseuil, Ceyrat
For the broader travel guide: Puy-De-Dôme.
