Activities

Known for its enjoyable lifestyle, the Allier is a department that combines beautiful landscapes with superb villages. The pleasant Bocage Bourbonnais, Tronçais Forest, Sioule Valley with its gorges, Allier Valley and its endless meanders, the Bourbonnais Mountain... so many varied terrains that provide visitors with a wealth of playgrounds.

Located in the heart of the former Duchy of Bourbon, its history is inextricably linked to the saga of the famous House of Bourbon. Filled with fortified castles, Romanesque churches, towns and museums, this illustrious heritage reflects its rich history.

What to visit in the Allier: Montluçon and the MuPop Music Museum, Vichy, Moulins, the villages of Verneuil-en-Bourbonnais, Châtel-Montagne, Charroux (voted one of the most beautiful villages in France) renowned for its mustard, the Arboretum in Balaine, the Bourbon-related tourist sites, the castles. Allier is the department with the second most castles and ancient houses in France: 574 buildings in total.