Puy Mary, Salers France

Travelled: 156km
Visited: Puy Mary, Salers
Stay: Cayrols - aire free parking, € services, toilets GPS N44°49.783' E2°13.967'

Had a beautiful drive to Puy Mary. On the way we stopped at the information office in Condat and we were told that the roads have time restrictions on them for camping-cars. On the D17 from Aurillac and the D680 from Cheylade or Murat, you can only go up until 12:15 and leave to go down from 12:45. On the D680 from Salers it is the opposite, so go down until 12:15 and up from 12:45. As we wanted to go up from Cheylade then down to Salers we had to be going off the mountain before 12:15. 

We arrived at the Pas de Peyrol alt.1589 at 10:30. After a quick breakfast we rugged up, as the wind was gusty and cold and walked 20 mins UP to the Puy Mary alt.1783. Our effort was rewarded with superb 360° views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. We also had the special treat of 2 airforce jets zipping past us. Even though it was windy, we were surprised that we were the only ones who walked all the way to the top! The French must be scared of the wind!?

Having walked back down and taken a look in the information centre we started down the road well before 12:15.

In Salers we parked in the Camping-car designated parking area for €3. 

We took a walk through the classified "beautiful french village". We once again admired the buildings built from the local dark volcanic stone, many in Renaissance style. 

Mark loves these 'dagger' shops!

Salers is well known for its local contal cheese made from Salers cows milk.

Of course we had to venture in the church.

The wind was still very gusty and after lunch we decided to do some kms and so pin pointed an aire in Caylors- past Aurillac, towards Cahors. A lovely peaceful spot (if the wind ever dies down) on the edge of town.