The tall, black, lava stone buildings with their ox blood red or ‘rouge de Besse’ shutters, elaborate doors, and basket-handle bays, remnants of former shops, are emblematic of the historic medieval and Renaissance heart of Besse en Chandesse (merged with Saint-Anastaise in 1973), one of the six municipalities of the Massif du Sancy, Auvergne. The steep slated roofs prevent the dangerous accumulation of snow in winter. House doors are frequently decorated with brotherhood coats of arms, which are different from coats of arms of noble families.