Salers Cow and Cheese Day

The Cow and Cheese Day: a living tradition in Salers

In the heart of Cantal, in one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France, the Cow and Cheese Day is a must-attend event of the Cantal summer. Every first Wednesday of August, the medieval village of Salers, perched at 950 meters above sea level facing the Monts du Cantal, vibrates to the rhythm of this popular festival dedicated to the famous Salers cow with its mahogany coat and the AOP cheeses that make the region renowned.

Parade of Salers cows through the village streets

The highlight of the day is undoubtedly the parade of the finest Salers cows through the cobbled streets of the village. Breeders from the Pays de Salers proudly present their animals, selected from the finest specimens of this rustic and majestic bovine breed, an emblem of Cantal. The procession crosses the village under the admiring gaze of visitors, offering a picturesque and authentic spectacle at the foot of Renaissance houses with lauze roofs. A second parade is usually organized in the late afternoon.

Producers' market and cheese-making demonstration

Throughout the day, a local producers' market is held in the courtyard of the Salers school group. Artisans and producers from the Cantal region offer their specialties: Salers AOP cheese, Cantal AOP, Saint-Nectaire, mountain cured meats, honeys, jams, and other gastronomic treasures of Auvergne.

One of the afternoon's highlights is the demonstration of Salers cheese making, conducted by the Coopérative Laitière de Saint-Bonnet-de-Salers. Visitors can observe the different stages of making this raw milk cheese, exclusively produced when the cows are grazing in the mountain pastures, and understand the ancestral know-how of the Cantal burons.

Rustic meal and traditional aligot

Conviviality is at the heart of this day with the rustic meal served on the esplanade de la Barrouze. Visitors can enjoy a traditional menu consisting of Cantal cured meats, Salers beef accompanied by the famous aligot — this creamy mixture of mashed potatoes and fresh Cantal tomme cheese —, local cheeses, and fruit tarts. A moment of sharing and indulgence that embodies the Auvergne art of living.

A day for the whole family

The Cow and Cheese Day is a free event open to all. Activities for children, tastings, and a warm atmosphere make this festival an ideal moment for families to discover the living heritage of the Pays de Salers. Young children are amazed by the proximity to the imposing Salers cows, while food lovers can indulge in the authentic flavors of the Cantal region.

A tribute to the pastoral heritage of Cantal

Organized by the Comice Agricole du Canton de Salers, this event perpetuates a tradition of promoting local livestock farming and cheese-making expertise. The Salers breed, originating from this volcanic region, is recognized for its hardiness, its characteristic mahogany coat, and the exceptional quality of its milk, which produces some of France's most prestigious protected designation of origin cheeses. This day is an opportunity to pay tribute to the breeders and cheesemakers who maintain this living heritage on a daily basis.