Murat, which means steep rock in Celtic, covers 12.4 square miles (20.26 km²) between 2,847 and 4,461 ft (868 and 1,360 m) of altitude. The village extends in the heart of the Monts du Cantal (Cantal Mounts), in the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Nature Park, at the foot of the largest volcano in Europe. The municipality had only 1,855 inhabitants in 2018, but its rich heritage, its eleven listed buildings, its favorable environment, and its festivals attract numerous visitors in summer and winter.