The gare SNCF is on avenue Charles de Gaulle in the lower town. A few trains from Clermont-Ferrand and Aurillac stop here, but most journeys involve changing at Neussargues onto a SNCF bus, which can drop you off on the Promenades in the old town, saving you the walk up. The tourist office is on the Promenades, opposite the memorial (July & Aug Mon–Sat 9am–8pm, Sun 10am–noon & 3–7pm; May to June & first two weeks Sept daily 9am–noon & 2–6pm; last two weeks Sept to April Mon–Sat 9am–noon & 2–6pm; tel 04.71.60.22.50, www.st-flour.com).For a place to stay, try the Hôtel du Nord, at 18 rue des Lacs (tel 04.71.60.28.00, fax 04.71.60.07.33; €30–40), with spacious, traditional rooms and a good, popular restaurant serving local specialities (from €10–28). The Grand Hôtel de l'Europe, on cours Spy des Ternes, on the edge of Les Promenades (tel 04.71.60.03.64, [email protected]; €30–40), has rather chintzy rooms, though some have balconies with views of the mountains, and there's also a decent restaurant, serving pounti – a terrine of minced pork and prunes – chou farci and other local dishes (menus from €13.50). Another congenial place to eat is Chez Geneviève, 25 rue des Lacs, where menus start at €13 and you can eat a potée auvergnate for €8. The town's municipal campsite, Les Orgues, is off avenue des Orgues in the old town (tel 04.71.60.44.01; closed mid-Sept to mid-May).
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