Introduction

Allier is one of the four French departments which comprise the region of Auvergne. It has a central location in the region and for tourists wishing to visit France's capital it also borders Paris. As part of the Massif Central, Allier is an elevated part of central France and is famous for its agriculture and beautiful landscape consisting of mountains, forests and gorges.

History

Allier was named after the Allier River (a tributary of the Loire), and is one of the original departments created during the French Revolution of 1789. It was combined with portions of the former provinces of Auvergne and Bourbonnais and like many other French departments, it is rich in history. There was a rapid increase in population until the end of the 19th century due industrial development and such as the thermal resources at Vichy, a major town in Allier. Today, the department is sparsely populated due to large losses in World War I.

Major cities

• Vichy
• Montluçon
• Moulins
• Cusset
• Yzeure
• Domérat
• Bellerive-sur-Allier
• Commentry
• Gannat

Weather

The south-east of Allier is known to be frequently rainy. The climate elsewhere is much milder, but can vary considerably.

The following table shows average temperatures across Allier over the course of a year:

Average temperatures in Allier

Month	Celsius
January	2
February	3
March	4
April	6
May	12
June	15
July	18
August	18
September	15
October	8
November	3
December	2

Tourist attractions

Much of Allier's tourism lies in its beautiful surroundings and historical chateaux. For those who are particularly interested in scenery and nature, there are plenty of interesting places to visit. For example, Allier is home to The Balaine Arboretum which is the oldest private botanical and floral park in France. There is also the Val d'Allier nature reserve which is a great place to go and see some of the 253 species of birds. It is near the River Allier and not far from the Bocage Bourbonnais trails.

Tourists may want to see a gigantic Buddha which has towered over the outskirts of the town in the heart of the Bourbonnais region. Those interested in science should see try to go to see the world's largest ball-and-water clock which is in Lavoine.

If you have seen the hit films of Audrey Tautou you may be interested to learn that she was born in Allier and spent her childhood in Domérat, near Montluçon.

Family entertainment

There is plenty to do in Allier for all ages. One fun place to go is Le Pal, a water park and zoo near Saint-Pourcain-sur-Bresbre, 60km north of Vichy. There are a variety of rides, train rides and a zoo with a great bird and sea-lion display as well.

In the centre of the town of Vichy, there is the Parc des Sources with a beautiful virtual panorama. This park has a children's carousel, frequent dance shows and a bandstand. There is also a fish observatory and a famous opera theatre in Vichy. Allier is abundant in cinemas and theatres and for the more adventurous, there are opportunities for paintballing as well as rollerskating in cities such as Moulins.

Museums, galleries and culture

Because Allier is rich in history, there are lots of places to visit for those interested in the cultural and historical side. There are hundreds of chateaux, fortresses and mansions, each of a different character. For example, it is worth visiting the medieval fortress at Bourbon-l'Archambault, and the chateau de Busset.

One of Allier's major cities, Moulins, has come to be known as City of Art and History as it contains so many museums and other places of cultural interest. For example, it has the famous monument of the Clock tower which has animated figures that sound the hour. Similarly, Vichy is famous for its architecture and was pivotal in the movements of Art Nouveau and Art Deco.

Wine tasting

Like most regions of France, Allier is renowned for its fine local wines. In particular there are the Saint-Pourçain red, white and rosé wines which have won awards for quality. They are produced by the Union des Vignerons and there are some twenty individual wine cellars located around the department which offer free tastings.

Skiing

There are various opportunities to ski and participate in other mountain sports such as mountainboarding. A key place for activities of this kind is La Loge des Gardes which is situated at 1100m on the mountain of Madeleine.

Walking

Allier is a beautiful place in which to walk as it is full of rural scenery and hiking routes. It is worth visiting Le Montagne Bourbonnaise, an easily-accessible unspoilt area that contains 400km of marked paths which take you through scenic green countryside.

Golf

There are at least five golf clubs in the region of Allier, so no keen golfer will be deprived of their hobby. Most offer lessons and are open to all and some golf courses have beautiful locations in the gardens of chateaux.

Food and drink

Apart from its famous wines, Allier is also home to great cuisine with its own local specialities, with cheeses such as the Cérilly, a fresh cow's milk cheese which is one of the oldest cheeses in the Auvergne. There is also Allier's own traditional mustard made using Saint-Pourçain white wine from the Tressallier grape.

In Allier you will also find the famous sweet "La pastille de Vichy" These sweets are renowned for their digestive properties and are one of France's best-known confectioneries. Allier is full of distinctive restaurants and cafes, such as the Art Deco style Grand Café, an artistic place of good food and philosophical discussion.

Ease of access

Allier has a convenient location in the heart of France, and it is connected to many other regions by rail and road.

Value for money

Allier is great value for money as there are many places to see and low-cost (or free!) things to do. Most of the charm of Allier lies in its scenic surroundings which can be freely enjoyed at all times. The department is a lower cost destination to travel within and eat in than other departments and particularly Paris.

Summary

Overall, Allier is a beautiful department which boasts a wealth of activities for all types of people and all age groups. It is both a historical and modern department and there is something unique to be taken away from it whatever the length of trip or type of holiday.