Cascade de Saillant

Saint-Nectaire means the Romanesque church and the cheese. But 1 km from the village, towards Issoire, the hamlet of Saillant hides something else: the Couze Chambon slices through an old lava flow there, and the result is a waterfall.

The drop is 7 m high. From the car park (with a picnic area), a few minutes of easy walking is enough to reach it. Open access all year round, 24 hours a day, free of charge. Dogs accepted on a lead. One thing to know: swimming is strictly forbidden both upstream and downstream of the waterfall.

The flow changes with the seasons. In spring, after the thaw and the rains, the water pounds and the place comes into its own. In summer, it is calmer. By a path that starts from the waterfall, a quarter of an hour's walk takes you to the dolmen known as the Palet de Roland, listed as a historic monument since 1862.

Our take, frankly: it is a short, free stop, perfect between two visits to Saint-Nectaire. You park, you walk five minutes, you listen to the water fall, and you head off again. Ideal with the family or to break up a cheese day.