Saint-Flour
148 km
Saturday 15 September
The 3 bell-towers – Photo Credit : Craponne Town Hall
A meeting-point for pre-Celtic ways, Craponne-sur-Arzon is an old medieval village where narrow alleyways and squares have preserved many traces of the past, whose most impressive symbol is the 12th-century keep.
In addition to the village, the municipality includes 40 or so villages scattered over its 3,337 hectares (8,242 acres), through many of which the Tour de l’Avenir will be going on its 9th and 10th stages.
The ancient ways which once served the village now provide numerous trekking possibilities.
Craponne boasts some 60 local organisations which benefit from numerous municipal facilities such as halls, gymnasium, stadium, tennis courts etc.
A thousand-year old village, Craponne-sur-Arzon is situated at the meeting point of three departments: the Haute-Loire, Loire and Puy-de-Dôme.
The village centre features three bell-towers that have seen their fair share of history and serve as backdrop to traditional events such as the Saturday morning market and annual fairs.
The eight municipalities of the Canton, of which Craponne is the principal town, make up the Community of Municipalities of the Pays de Craponne, whose headquarters are located in the old rehabilitated railway station which also welcomes Babets train travellers on the Estivareilles-Sembadel tourist line.
Besides the Tour de l’Avenir, the 2007 season also featured the Country Music Festival’s 20th anniversary. On 28 October next, the 6th edition of the potato festival Trifola will be taking place.
Saint-Flour, aerial view – Photo Credit : Jean-François FERRATON
Set in the heart of wide open spaces, between the wooded mounts of Margeride, the steep gorges of the Truyère and the basalt plateau of Planèze which extends to the Plomb du Cantal, the Pays de Saint-Flour is a treasure-trove of heritage, architecture and landscape, as testified by the Land of Art & History label that has rewarded the effort to conserve and enhance local legacies.
An ideal backdrop for a family stay and activities that can be pursued in a pure, natural environment!
Saint-Flour and its surrounding Land have proved their ability to organise major sporting events in the cycling sector. It goes without saying that Saint-Flour is once more, as it was in 2002, proud to host the final finish of the Tour de l’Avenir.
