Bédélat du Cassaïre

The place

Pastoral building at 1500 m on the foothills of the Puy Mary (Cantal, Massif Central), restored in 2020 using original techniques and materials salvaged on site. Single-storey construction, half sunk into the ground, made up of one large barrel-vaulted room with a lauze stone roof. 11 m long by 4.5 m wide, walls of trachyandesite 1 to 1.6 m thick. Built in the 18th century to shelter calves and sick livestock in bad weather, but able to house the whole herd if needed. No fireplace — the herdsman occupied a separate buron about 50 m away. Outdoor pen called the "afrontadou" accessible through an east-facing entrance. Now serves as a shelter for GR 400 hikers in bad weather.