Valuéjols enjoys an exceptionally fine situation at the heart of the volcanic basalt plateau known as the Planèze around Saint-Flour, over 1000 m above sea-level.  

A few facts and figures :

- 543 inhabitants - 3842 hectares - 15 villages between 975 m and 1400 m above sea-level - 1 main town with principal services and shops - holiday facilities: gîtes, hotel-restaurants, stopover gîte reception centre - hire of sports equipment and facilities
	Photo Véronique Salat

The commune is part of the Planèze group of communes.

The Planèze has been occupied since Neolithic times (see the dolmen at Nouvialle)
At the time of Charlemagne, the town became the centre of the juridical authorities (the 'Viguerie') of the Planèze.
The land belonged for a long time to the lords of Brezons, and later to those of Murat. At that time there was a castle, but it disappeared in the XIXth century.
With rich soils so favourable to the growing of rye, the Planèze has long been considered the breadbasket of the Auvergne.

The commune has three churches:
   - the parish church of Saint-Saturnin, in the town
   - the former parish church of Saint-Maurice
   - the pilgrims' church at Lescure

THE LESCURE PILGRIMAGE :

"In 1717 Jean Paillé, a native of Le Chambon in the parish of Paulhac, was tending the sheep of the village of L'Escure. The tradition has it that one day in early July he was taking them, as was his custom, onto the hill of Le Peuch-de-Besse when he discovered the miraculous statuette that has, from that time on, been so venerated by the faithful. He hastened to build a small oratory on the very site of his discovery. Eight years later, in 1725, the people of L'Escure and the surrounding area, who had witnessed the favours which the Virgin Mary bestowed on those who came to pray there, replaced the oratory with a chapel which still exists and serves as the choir of the present-day church. (…)
The pilgrimage of Our Lady of L'Escure was soon of great renown, and the number of pilgrims grew year by year."

Translated from: Dictionnaire statistique ou histoire, description et statistique du département du Cantal, by M. Deribier-du-Chatelet