St Flour Attractions

The old fortified town of St-Flour (pop. 9,200) lies at an altitude of 881m/2,890ft on a petrified lava flow. The impressive Gothic Cathedral of St-Pierre-et-St-Flour, built of black basalt, was founded by the abbey of Cluny in the 11th century. It possesses a large crucifix of black wood (13th or 15th century) known as the "Beau Dieu Noir". This iron viaduct spanning the Truyère, to the south of St-Flour, was built by Gustave Eiffel in 1884, and the experience he gained here no doubt stood him in good stead a few years later when he built the Eiffel Tower.