Aware of the importance of its heritage and the responsibility of transmitting it, the municipality of Vic-sur-Cère is taking a new step in 2026 with the elaboration of a Remarkable Heritage Site (SPR). This project, also aiming for the « Petite Cité de Caractère » label, will be carried out in collaboration with Carladès Communauté and state services, while involving the population.
A SPR is an urban planning tool defined by the law of July 7, 2016, intended to identify the architectural, urban, and landscape heritage of territories of public interest for their conservation and enhancement. It is governed by a classification perimeter under the Ministry of Culture, integrating remarkable elements due to their history, architecture, or landscapes. Annexed to the PLUi (Intercommunal Local Urban Plan), the SPR constitutes a public utility servitude that frames work permit applications and specifies the quality and nature of interventions.
Inclusion in an SPR process strengthens the attractiveness of Vic-sur-Cère by affirming its heritage identity and enhancing its living environment. The classification procedure, supervised by the State (DRAC) and approved by ministerial decree, involves close partnership between territorial authorities (Vic-sur-Cère and Carladès Communauté), the Architecte des Bâtiments de France of Cantal, and other partners such as the Regional Natural Park of the Volcans d’Auvergne.
The preliminary study phase, launched in spring 2026, was entrusted to architects Grégoire Olivier and Julien Delannoy from the Kargo Sud agency, as well as landscape architect Alexandra Raybaud. This stage aims to define a perimeter and a management plan, with completion expected by the end of 2027 for SPR classification. Consultation periods with residents (public meetings, exhibitions, heritage walks, workshops) are planned for the first half of 2027, before a public inquiry at the end of 2027.
Vic-sur-Cère joins the association « Sites & Cités remarquables de France », a national network that supports local authorities in their SPR initiatives. The SPR concerns all residents, enhancing the town's attractiveness through its medieval village and thermal district. It will clarify work regulations, particularly around existing Historic Monuments, and may offer tax advantages for property owners.
