A walk to Saint Nectaire

Saint Nectaire

During my Erasmus in Clermont Ferrand I made an effort to visit some neighbouring countries. In this article I want to talk of my visit to the small and quiet village of Saint Nectaire.

This village is located on the Sancy ranges or the Dore mountains, part of the regional natural Park of the Volcanoes of Auvergne and the department of Puy-de-Dome, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

A village that owes its name not only to its homonymous cheese but also to the presence of the imposing church of the twelfth century in honour of its patron saint.

Saint-Nectaire-le-Haut and Saint-Nectaire-le-Bas: two places with the same name

Within the name Saint Nectaire we can find two places, i. e. Uppper and Lower Saint Nectaire, that is Saint-Nectaire-le-Haut and Saint-Nectaire-le-Bas. The first is located near the church from which it takes its name, on Mount Cornadore, the second is the spa town, located near the thermal springs. The spa town has more than 40 thermal springs. The best-known treatment facility is "Gravières". Its waters flow at a temperature between 8 and 56 degrees.

What to see in Saint-Nectaire-le-Haut

The Church of Saint Nectaire

This church makes a part of the 5 churches of Alvernia known as “superior”, with the Basilica of Notre-Dame-du-Port in Clermont-Ferrand, the church of Saint-Austremoine d’Issoire, the Basilica of Notre-Dame-d’Orcival, and the church of Notre-Dame de Saint-Saturnin.

It’s the church built in honour of Saint Nectaire by the monks of the abbey of La Chaise-Dieu. It represents a typical example of the Roman architecture in Alvernia.

Inside, you can admire the 103 sculpted capitals and a treasure. The “treasure” is also represented by two splendid busts. One is that of Saint Baudime in gilded copper, and the second is the of the Virgin of Mount Cornadore. Due to the presence of this “treasure”, this building is classified as an historic monument.

Bust of Saint Baudime

Bust of the Virgin of Mount Cornadore

Saint Nectaire

A part of the "Treasure" of the Church of Saint Nectaire

What to see in Saint-Nectaire-le-Bas

Stone fountains

The water flows at more than 50° from volcanic faults. Since 1821, seven generations of the same family have developed the technique of petrification, using the crust as a mould for sculpture, in a veritable demonstration of artistic prowess.

The Dolmen

The region of Saint Nectaire has 6 dolmen and 2 menhir. The Dolmen are located in the higher part of the regional park.

Route of the Puy d'Éraigne

A rocky path that takes at least 30 minutes to walk. Once you reach the top you’ll have a wonderful view of the Dore Mountains.

Saint Nectaire cheese

Saint Nectaire is a fatty cheese, it can be mild or mature. It’s characterised by a cylindrical shape and a semi-hard paste. The crust is flowery and has white, yellow or orange moulds.

It is said that women created this cheese. They transformed the leftover milk from the cows in the valley when the men left with the flock for the pastures.

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