Preparing aligot at a buron in Aubrac.Valentine and her friends tested out a day out on the Aubrac plateau ! They opted for a must-do, tasting an aligot in a buron after a day exploring the authentic Aubrac plateaux.
Jeunes Randonneurs Compostelle © B. Colomb Lozère Sauvage Pour Pact Aubrac(3)8h00
We begin our epic journey with friends on the Aubrac plateau, in the picturesque village of Les Salces , with a fitness hike. I introducemy friendsto the beauty of the landscape , with its forests of beech, spruce, black pine and Scots pine, stopping first at the Trébatut panorama . Continuing our exploration, we noticed the wolf cross on an old track, then the Pierrefiche cross sculpted with a Naive Christ. Amazed by this wilderness, we return to our starting point and visit theRomanesque church of Saint-Privat, the fountain and the “ferradou” shoeing loom at Les Salces.
“The only way to know how far you can go is to set out and walk”, Henri Bergson.
Les Salces, a village in the foothills of the Lozère Aubrac.
Lake Bonnecombe on the Aubrac. Trout fishing pond from May 1 to mid-September. 11h30
We’re off to the Etang de Bonnecombe for a late-morning fishing trip with friends. At an altitude of 1,350 meters above sea level in the Aubrac region, the pond is an ideal place to come and fish for rainbow trout. Several pontoons have been laid out for easy access during a stroll around the pond with my friends. On the other hand, the setting is still wild enough to observe the local flora and fauna. When one of us catches a trout, we all have a greattime together, laughing and enjoying ourselves.
“The sweetest happiness is that which is shared”, Jacques Delille.
13h30
After our successful fishing trip, I suggest a picnic in an unusual spot in the middle of nature, so we head for thecascade du Saltou. Once again, we spend an unforgettable moment with friends! I explain that the cascade du Saltou is formed by a stream that starts at the Col de Bonnecombe and then forms a waterfall tumbling down remarkable basalt organs. The setting is made all the more picturesque by the fact that the waterfall is completely invisible from the surrounding area, and you have to be at its foot to enjoy the spectacle.
“Reality is what is shared”, Bernardo Carvalho.
Cascade du Saltou, on the Aubrac from Col de Bonnecombe - "Lou Saltou" hiking trail15h30
It’s time to continue our adventure to the Château de la Baume!
Listed as a Monument Historique, it is one of the highest castles in France. It has been inhabited by the de Las Case family for over a century and a half. The family is keen to show off the building to the many visitors who flock here every year to discover the “ little Versailles of Gévaudan “. My friends and Imarvel at the beauty of this building, which has survived the centuries without a trace.
“The desire to live is reborn in us each time we become aware once again of beauty and happiness”, Marcel Proust.
18H30
The Déroc waterfall, located on the Route des Lacs, 3 kilometers from Nasbinals, towers thirty meters above thesmall glacial valley of the Gambaïse stream. The highest waterfall in Aubrac, it is made up of this tributary of the Bès and the outlet of the Lac des Salhiens, which meet at a basalt ledge to plunge almost 30 metres below. What a surprise to discover that the waterfall is home to one of the Aubrac’s treasures: a small cave with a spectacular ceiling formed by imposing basalt organs. The cave is said to have been a refuge for brigands in ancient times. My friends and I loved this spectacle ofnature, which whetted our appetites.
“Water alone is eternal”, De Yun Seondo.
Cascade du Déroc on the Aubrac lake route
Aligot sausage, a speciality of Aubrac.20h30
Happy, we sit down at theAuberge du Radal to taste the famous Aubracaligot. The owner knows his trade: he prepares it before our very eyes, while talking with love about his country. With strength and dexterity, he spins the aligot higher and higher, until it’s ready to be tasted. There’s no time to lose: once the dish stops heating, it must be eaten without delay, otherwise the aligot will “fall back”. Charles Dauban approaches us and deftly serves the aligot directly onto our plates. It has to be said, he’s had a lot of practice. The Dauban family have “ Aubrac at heart “, as they say. Since 1975, they have run this inn perched on the Col du Trébatut. The evening continues in conviviality and joy with my friends, the Aubrac plateau hearing our bursts of laughter can consider itself the winner.
“Friendship improves happiness, soothes misery, doubles joy and divides sorrow”, Cherry Blossom.
Good to know
What’s the recipe for aligot?
Ingredients (4 pers.)
– 1 kg bintje
bintje potatoes
– 400g fresh tome cheese
– 200g heavy cream
cream
– 1 or 2 cloves garlic
– salt and pepper
1) Peel potatoes and garlic cloves. Cut the potatoes into large chunks and cook them
in boiling water for 20 min.
2) Meanwhile, cut the fresh tome cheese into thin strips. At the end of the cooking time, remove the garlic.
potatoes in a potato masher, adding a little cooking water if necessary, to obtain the desired consistency.
3) Stir in the crème fraîche with a wooden spoon, then add 400g of tome fraîche, stirring vigorously to aerate the aligot, which should run to the end of the spatula, forming a ribbon.
Ingredients for the aligot recipe.To get the most out of Aubrac, we recommend you take the Route des Lacs. Starting from the Rond-Point de la route des lacs (Booz traffic circle) or from Nasbinals, take this route through incomparable scenery: waterfalls, lakes, burons and Aubrac cows await you along the way…
If you’re looking for a real aligot, nothing beats a visit to a buron or inn on the Aubrac plateau. Discover theAuberge du Radal andthe Relais des lacs, two addresses not to be missed on the Lozère Aubrac.
Aubrac is beautiful all year round!
