The department of the Allier, in the Massif Central in the Auvergne, is much appreciated for its landscapes: its gorges, its ancient forests, its mountains, its leafy bocage countryside… a land where tourism and leisure go hand in hand, a country for walks, horseriding, cycling and water-based activities of all kinds…

Cradle of the Bourbon dynasty and fief of the lords of La Palice, the Allier is also a land teeming with castles, fortresses and stately homes waiting to be discovered on visits or on your breaks in gîtes, hotels, campsite, youth hostel and touring lets.

Vichy, Moulins and Montluçon, the Tronçais forest, the Sioule gorges, the vineyards of Saint-Pourçain are among the many delightful places to stop at. And as for festivities, the bustling spas, the medieval fairs, the markets with their local produce and products are among the attractions that promise visitors a particularly colourful atmosphere…