Marcolès: A fortified town and craft traditions

Marcolès combines the character of a medieval fortified town with Renaissance façades, a Southern Gothic church and craft traditions. Its attractions range from the town’s layout and religious furnishings to clog-making and a historic forge. There is also a recurring evening event, a mead producer and a marked walking trail nearby. When planning your stay, you can decide whether architectural history, crafts or an event date should be the main focus.

Fortified town and Église Saint-Martin

Marcolès is a medieval fortified town, with two gates connected by Rue Longue. Renaissance façades line the street, adding another architectural period to the town’s character.

A small lane, or carriéron, leads to Église Saint-Martin, which stands at the town’s highest point. The church is built in the Southern Gothic style; its Baroque furnishings date from the 17th and 18th centuries. These include a listed polychrome pulpit and a listed painting of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. The Southern Gothic style and the Baroque furnishings represent distinct points of reference in art history.

Clog-making and the forge

The Saboterie de Marcolès is a traditional clog-making workshop dating from 1925. Original machinery has been preserved, and a demonstration shows how clogs are made. The workshop’s history and the manufacturing process are presented side by side.

The Forge de Marcolès dates from the 1930s; its forge and old tools have been preserved. While the Saboterie features original machinery and clog-making demonstrations, the preserved forge and tools at the Forge provide a tangible connection to blacksmithing.

La Galoche du Cantal also preserves a clog-making craft that has existed since 1800. During opening hours, you can watch traditional clogs being made on site.

Events and guided tours

Les Nuits de Marcolès is a recurring event held in the carriérons since 1994. It takes place after dark, with roving performances combining traditional stories and musical creations. It is usually held from Wednesday to Saturday in the penultimate week of July, and advance booking is required. If the event is a reason for your trip, check the exact dates and book in advance.

The Les Esclops association offers guided tours of Marcolès’ architectural heritage, led by volunteer guides. Guided tours of the town are available to groups year-round by prior reservation.

Mead and walking trail

At Hydromel Apis Terrae, mead is made by fermenting acacia and hawthorn honey. The Cave-Boutique on Rue Longue has a honey bar; tours are available on request. If you plan a visit, note that you need to request one in advance.

Walking is another option: a marked trail is less than 500 metres from Marcolès. For travellers who would like to include a walking route alongside culture and crafts, this proximity is useful information for planning.

Discover more destinations: Trémouille, Saint-Étienne-De-Maurs, Marcenat, Calvinet, Méallet, Coltines, Saint-Illide, Champs-Sur-Tarentaine-Marchal

For the wider travel overview: Cantal.