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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.
Major towns include
Vichy
It is known as a spa and resort town. The inhabitants are known as Vichyssois. It was the de facto capital of Vichy France during the World War
II Nazi German occupation from 1940 to 1944
Vichy lies on the banks of the Allier River. The source of the Allier is in the nearby Massif Central Mountain range which lies only a few
miles to the south, near the region's capital Clermont-Ferrand. Heavy snows in the Massif Central often make roads impassable, but Vichy is
low enough at 817 feet that climate is more continental. Rainfall is moderate, averaging 30 inches annually.uits head down to the lake which
has become a centre for all sorts of sports and special events.
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