The Allier is the Auvergne in its sweet, confidential and varied version. There is Vichy and the thermal baths, but also the resorts of Néris-les-Bains and Bourbon-l'Archambault. The famous amusement park and animalier du PALits lodges where you can sleep as on safari, the 10,000 hectares of the Tronçais forest, the beautiful town of Moulins with its 5 museums including the Centre national du costume de scène, Montluçon in the medieval centre and Charroux, one of the most beautiful villages in France. So much to see and so much to do! For example, you can follow in the footsteps of the Bourbons who marked the territory, follow the route of the painted churches, discover the Saint-Pourçain vineyard with its amazing wines. Since 2017, there has been a surprising open-air museum on the outskirts of the village of Lurcy-Levis: Street Art City, an artistic performance in progress on the abandoned site of the 13 buildings of the former PTT training centre. An abandoned vintage set whose walls have been offered to engravers all over the world. Finally, you should know that the Allier is a natural destination where you can enjoy outdoor activities: hiking along the Chemin de Compostelle, mountain biking across the department on the GTMC (Grande Traversée du Massif Central), canoeing on the Allier or Sioule, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing when the snow falls on the small ski resort of La Loge-des-Gardes.
When to go to the Allier ? Allier is a spring and summer destination. These two seasons are the most touristic. The rest of the year, many establishments and attractions are not accessible. Private castles, in particular, close in winter. In early autumn, however, and during the All Saints' vacation, there is still a lot of tourist activity. But of course, the big cities, their beautiful architectural heritage and their museums can be discovered all year round. At the beginning of December, the traditional "Ficelle de Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule" festival, dedicated to the wine of the same name produced in the local vineyard, is a good opportunity for a convivial, greedy and instructive stay: you will know everything about the ficelle! At Christmas you have animations at the Saint-Géran castle, small markets in Moulins and Vichy or Montluçon. However, the Christmas vacations are not a particularly touristy period in the Allier. So if you are looking for peace and quiet, why not.
The Allier is located between two climatic zones: mountain climate in the south and more or less altered oceanic climate in the north and west. In the centre, the hills of medium altitude experience winter episodes of snow and especially fog. The Bosse massif and the Madeleine mountains have lower average temperatures and much higher rainfall than the rest of the department. Weather in the Ebeueil region (windy micro-climate).
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Lumières sur le Bourbonnais proposes a show common to all the sites of the Allier. A colorful and dreamlike mapping that sublimates the ...
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