TOP-RATED HIKES, WALKS AND VISITS IN ALLIER

The Loge des Gardes ski resort only 6 km from the campsite

The resort is open in the summer and offers sliding activities on grass for the whole family (bobsled, tubby, go-kart and scooters) as well as zip-lines, a slide in the trees, electric quads for children and various outdoor sports: paragliding, orienteering, disc-golf, mini golf, etc.

Vichy Aventure offers rafting, canoeing, paintball and other activities on the banks of the river Allier

In Saint-Clément, the leisure center located 15 km from the campsite offers various activities on the lake or around it, such as tree-top adventure…

Leisure park at the foot of the Renaison dams near Roanne.
Minigolf, outdoor bowling, donkey rides, shaded terrace with ice cream and drinks.

Aux Cimes de Bécajat , tree-top adventure park near Roanne in the Loire.
10 minutes driver from the campsite or 25 minutes by bike

Le Pal theme and animal park located 70 km from the campsite, have fun with family between animals and rides in the heart of Auvergne.

Leisure center located on the edge of Mayet de Montagne /Saint-Clément lake in the heart of the Bourbonnais mountain in Allier

For young people (11-17 years old). Outdoor activities (hiking, snowshoeing, climbing, orienteering...)

Theme and animal park in Dompierre sur Besbre, a great time with family.
The PAL is the most famous theme park in France.

On the programme: thrills and animal discovery. The whole family will enjoy this place.

La Ferme aux Cabris vous invite à découvrir son ferme aux cabris et à participer à certaines activités avec les animaux.
Dégustation de produits sur place.

Bison breeding and tasting of bison meat.

The Goutaudier Mill located in Saint Nicolas, invites you to come and discover its trout farm and to fish for your meal if you wish.

Information at 06 70 96 78 36

Don't forget to spend a day at Vulcania, a theme park with rides, interactive high-tech shows & educational movies about volcanoes and science. About 100 km from the campsite.

The Roanne coast has several vineyards to visit and charming little villages to discover:

• Ambierle, its abbey and its priory
• Le Crozet, its medieval houses
• La Pacaudière, its Petit Louvre
• Saint Haon le Châtel, its treasure hunt
• Saint Alban les eaux, its springs park
• Saint André d'Apchon, its church

and many other places to discover,... see flyers at the campsite reception.

An optical phenomenon which gives the impression that the road is going downhill when in fact it is going up!

Don’t forget to bring some rolling objects with you, so you can have fun and pretend to be Einstein

In Arfeuille, the Barbenan forms several waterfalls within the Pisserote waterfall.
A must-see on a warm day.
There are several paths that take you there, from a 40-minute walk to a 3-hour walk.

Equestrian Center located in Le Breuil in Allier

Pony and horse riding

Paleopolis is a theme park about paleontology in Allier.

Travel back over 4 billion years with exhibitions, workshops and entertainment.

• L’allée des hêtres tortueux of Saint Nicolas  Site web
• Pierre Châtel hike  Site web
• Roc du Vacher hike  Site web
• The plateau of the verrerie Tourbière discovery path Natura 2000 zone  Site web
• Les Hormières hike  Site web

Glass Museum in St Nicolas des Biefs.
Discover the history of the glassmakers who spent several decades at "La Verrerie" as well as the explanation of the rediscovery of the place and some beautiful pieces of glassware.

Ferrières sur Sichon is a small village near Le Mayet de Montagne which offers several activities and sights: Montgilbert castle ruins, the fairy cave and the museum of Glozel (archaeological site): 04 70 41 12 96

Le Mayet de Montagne Tourist Office : 04 70 59 38 40

In Vichy and Cusset, located about 45 km from the campsite, you will find all kinds of shops as well as places to visit (the underground museum in Cusset, the thermal baths, springs, parks, the opera in Vichy...).

For more information, please contact
Cusset tourist office : 04 70 30 95 24
Vichy tourist office : 0 825 77 10 10.

Roanne is an old industrial town, you will find there the Déchelette Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology, a theater, several typical churches and a marina on the Loire.

You will find as well a swimming pool and an ice rink.

The culinary masterpiece of Roanne is the Praluline, a brioche with pralines made by the famous chocolate maker François Pralus, always imitated and never equalled.

A must-taste (Pralus shop at the Renaison market).

A little further you will find the town of Moulins, the prefecture of the Allier, with several museums to visit:

The CNCS : National center of stage Costumes presents a permanent exhibition of Nureyev and several temporary exhibitions throughout the year. Information at 04 70 20 76 20.

The MIJ : (Museum of Youth Illustration offers an original collection of illustrations aout young people from the 1950s to the present day, as well as temporary exhibitions that change regularly. Information at 04 70 35 72 58.

The MAB : Anne de Beaujeu Museum which presents art and archaeology collections.

The Mantin house shows you the bourgeois interior of a 19th century house.

The Dukes of Bourbon castle is open to the public 04 70 20 48 47.

In Clermont-Ferrand go to visit with family the Michelin factories as well as the Michelin Adventure Museum.

Saint Nicolas des Biefs is the highest village in Allier situated about 930 meters above the sea level
The plateau de la Verrerie, listed as a Natura 2000 site, with its twisted beech trees avenue, is a must-see.

Hundreds of years old glass fragments can still be found in the biefs (small streams that run through the fields).
Information at 04 70 56 49 15.

In Saint Nicolas, there is a microbrewery "Saint Nicolas Da Bière" which offers tastings and sell its products. Please give them a phone call to be sure that Nicolas will be there to Tél. 06 42 95 70 58.

In Chatel-Montagne, a small village located about 12 kilometers from the campsite, you will find a magnificent 11th century Romanesque church, some art craftsmen and the Maison du Patrimoine (heritage house) which offers exhibitions all year round

Tél. 04 70 59 37 89

Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice sur Loire, listed as "village de caractère", invites you to strool through its picturesque streets.

Unique view of the Loire!

In Saint Rirand, you will find another tree-top adventure park in a place called Bécajat and the bison farm opens to visitors.

Tél. 04 77 65 76 88.

In Mayet de Montagne, the house of the mountain will welcome you to show you all the productions which exist on the Bourbonnaise mountain: from the manufacture of small objects, paintings, to the production of the farms (jams, cheeses, cooked pork meats...) and many other things still.
Tél.04 70 59 75 24

Also at Le Mayet de Montagne, a lovely open-air swimming pool.
Tél.04 70 41 06 33.

And of course the traditional Monday morning market.

In Lavoine is a lively small village with several walking trails, a water sawmill, the wood and forest house and a magnificent water and ball clock almost unique in the world.

In Lapalisse, located about 40 km from the campsite, you will find the beautiful castle of Jacques II de Chabanne who is at the precursor of the French lapalissades.

People say when he died: "15 minutes bedfore he died, he was still alive".

A sound and light show as well as a falconry show are offered some evenings.

Information : www.spectacle-lapalisse.com.

The town of Lapalisse which is situated on the famous National 7 organises traffic jam re-enactments with vintage cars and costumed characters.

• Monday: Le Mayet de Montagne
• Tuesday: Le Donjon and Varennes sur Allier
• Wednesday: Arfeuilles, Jaligny and Vichy
• Thursday: Lapalisse
• Friday: Saint Germain des fossés
• Saturday: Renaison, Cusset, Dompierre, Bellerive sur Allier

In Dompierre sur Besbre, you can spend the whole day with family in the amusement and animal park. The PAL is the most famous amusement park in France.

Laughs, thrills and animal discovery for a fantastic day!
There is something for everyone!