Murat Arts and Crafts Festival

Murat, City of Arts and Crafts

Since 2020, Murat has proudly held the City of Arts and Crafts label, a distinction that recognizes the medieval Cantal town's commitment to exceptional craftsmanship and skills. The Arts and Crafts Festival, created in 2014, is the showcase of this commitment: every first weekend of August, it transforms the historic center of Murat into a true open-air workshop.

Over 40 Exceptional Artisans

Each edition brings together between 40 and 50 artisans, rigorously selected, from all over France to present their original creations and demonstrate their skills. The diversity of crafts represented is remarkable: leatherworkers, cutlers, woodturners, weavers, miniaturists, candlemakers, jewelers, basket makers, glassblowers, ceramicists, enamellers, card lace makers, embroiderers, bookbinders, stained-glass artists, and many more. Among them, Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (Best Craftsmen of France) come to share their exceptional expertise.

A Journey Through Medieval Heritage

The festival takes over the most emblematic sites of the medieval town: the Halle de Murat, the Maison paroissiale, the Salle d'honneur de la Mairie, the Place du Balat, the Place Marchande, and the Place du Planol. This route allows visitors to discover the artisans while strolling through the picturesque alleys and historic squares of Murat, at the foot of the majestic Rocher de Bonnevie.

Demonstrations, Workshops, and Encounters

The festival is not limited to a simple exhibition of creations. Artisans offer live demonstrations of their techniques: woodturning, glassblowing, leatherwork, weaving, enameling, and many other precise and fascinating gestures. Participatory workshops allow the public, especially children, to get introduced to some of the crafts. These moments of meeting and exchange between artisans and visitors form the soul of the festival.

A Family-Friendly and Accessible Event

The Murat Arts and Crafts Festival is a free event open to all. Its friendly atmosphere and the quality of the creations presented make it an ideal gathering for families, craft enthusiasts, and the curious. With over 3,500 visitors each year, the festival contributes to the cultural and tourist appeal of Murat and the Hautes Terres du Cantal region.

A Commitment to Skills

Organized by the Mairie de Murat in partnership with the national association Ville et Métiers d'Art, the festival is part of an initiative to promote arts and crafts and artisanal skills. It demonstrates the vitality of these professions and their ability to innovate while preserving ancestral techniques. The festival also contributes to the attractiveness of Murat, a small town of character that has made arts and crafts a pillar of its identity.