Unveil the Charms of Charmeil, Allier, Auvergne

On pleasant paths, the route guides you to the Boire des Carrés. The wild banks of the Allier River are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. The Espace Naturel Sensible de la Boire des Carrés offers a pleasant way to discover these natural treasures.

On your own, in a group or with the family, on foot or by bike, enjoy the sights and sounds of the Allier, France's last wild river, on the three discovery trails around the voie verte. Three loops have been laid out around the greenway, allowing visitors to enjoy the lush green surroundings of the river banks and discover the cultural and environmental treasures on offer. The comfortable, 3-meter-wide paths are safe and accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. A link between the hustle and bustle of the city and the serenity of its surroundings, this loop will let you glide gently from the landscaped banks of the spa town to the natural meanders of the Allier River, which quickly reveals its true wilderness character that some will rediscover, but many will also discover. A few kilometers after the Allier parks, created on the initiative of Emperor Napoleon III during his visits to Vichy, we discover Abrest. At the foot of the church, the railway footbridge offers a unique view of the Allier and transports you to the left bank. It's a real invitation to take a break alongside the fishermen who keep the Talon drink alive with its unique atmosphere, silences and smells. Halfway between nature and developed banks, the Boucle des Isles brings you back to civilization via the well-tended allotment gardens of Bellerive-sur-Allier, just a stone's throw from an 80-year-old black poplar. After a few meters, your olfactory senses will be awakened by the many restaurants offering incredible waterside terraces. The rest of the route takes you back to Vichy's majestic parks, where you can take a break, cool off on the beach or try your hand at the water sports on offer all summer long on Lac d'Allier. Along the way, in addition to shaded picnic areas, you can rent bikes in Abrest at the Cabane à vélo, which has set up a store along the route. Other bike rentals are available in the city center: in front of the Pôle universitaire (Vivelo˝), at Fun Loisirs in Vichy, at Cycl'Expresso in Bellerive-sur-Allier and at Gaillardin in Vichy.

On your own, in a group or with the family, on foot or by bike, enjoy the sights and sounds of the Allier, France's last wild river, on the three discovery trails around the voie verte. Three loops have been laid out around the greenway, allowing visitors to enjoy the lush green surroundings of the river banks and discover the cultural and environmental treasures on offer. The comfortable, 3-meter-wide paths are safe and accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. The Boucle du Lac needs no introduction! Inaugurated in October 2019, the landscaped left bank of the Allier River is a popular walking and cycling area. Accessible for people with reduced mobility and offering uninterrupted views over the green expanses of Vichy's Parc Omnisports Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes or the racecourse, it is also a unique opportunity to race against the rowers and other sailors of the Lac d'Allier.

In French, C.R.A.P.A. stands for Circuit rustique aménagé de plein air (outdoor rustic run). It is an obstacle course with a length of 2.3 kilometers through the Parc Omnisports (sports park) Pierre Coulon . It is stepped with fitness exercises alternating with recovery times, all in a pleasant setting made of clearings, groves and meandering lazy river. The departure of the run is located in the car park of the Palais du Lac, in the southeast of the Pierre Coulon Arena. On the course, changes of direction at intersections are indicated by blue triangular arrows.

This itinerary takes you gently upwards, offering lovely views over Vichy and the Creuzier hillsides. At the halfway point, the brick-built Tour de Rollat stands on a hillside. The only vestige of the castle of the Lords of Rollat, it gives an idea of the size and importance of the castle and its lords.

With the exception of the Béron valley, this hilly walk takes you through the terraced farmlands of the region. The trails on this route take you as far as the forêt des Souches, one of the largest forests in the eastern part of the Vichy Communauté. You'll also pass through Lourdy, an ancient pottery village.

Trail no. 9, labelled Uni'Vert Trail by the Fédération Française d'Athlétisme, 10.8 km from Creuzier-le-Vieux. This trail, suitable for beginners, passes through the village of Creuzier-le-Vieux, north of Vichy, which you can reach after your run by following the Voie Verte along the river Allier. Fuchsia markings

This accessible walk takes in the hamlet of Laudemarière, set on the limestone slopes overlooking the Allier. Few traces remain of former crops such as watercress or vines. Even today, however, agriculture still shapes an open landscape of crops and beautiful meadows.

On foot, jogging, rollerblading, cycling or even in a rosalie, the tour of the lake is a must. This 6 km walk takes you through the Parc Napoléon, along the new Esplanade du Lac d'Allier to the dam-bridge, then along the left bank to the Centre Omnisports, the racecourse, the marina and the golf course, with a breathtaking view over the town. At the end of this major project, Lac d'Allier was created in 1963. With a surface area of 120 hectares and a length of 2.5 km between the pont de Bellerive and the pont-barrage, this lake is in fact the extension of the first lake designed by Napoleon III in 1868. It is used for national and international water sports competitions, including rowing, water skiing, sailing and speedboating.

The Boire des Carrés, a former branch of the river, has been transformed into a watering hole, creating a veritable natural setting combining alluvial forests, meadows, lawns and small islands. Watch for birds (including 4 species of heron...), listen to and understand their songs and calls, observe the occupation of spaces by animal and plant species, follow in the footsteps of the beaver or the discreet Cistude tortoise... All this is now possible at Boire des Carrés. Listed under the department's Espaces Naturels Sensibles (ENS) scheme, this site is located on the banks of the Allier near Saint-Rémy-en-Rollat and Charmeil. The diversity of the site's environments means that different themes can be explored throughout the year. Two loops with interpretation panels on river dynamics and biodiversity are accessible to all. Free access all year round or guided tour. Before setting off, download the "La Boire des Carrés" Mobile Application: as you walk, audiovisual content and quizzes appear on the screen, depending on your GPS position, to tell the story of the site. Observing the flora and fauna is no longer the privilege of specialists: you can spot beaver tracks, see and hear remarkable birds and recognize trees.

The Club Nautique de Vichy is an association under the French law of 1901, and comprises three sections: Sailing, Water Skiing and Wakeboarding and Stand Up Paddle. Three sections: - Introductory and advanced sailing from age 4, as well as free practice (rental). - Water skiing and classic wakeboarding, slalom and baby skiing from age 4, - Stand-up paddle, for free practice, supervised practice or as a walk from age 11. Situated on a 100-hectare lake in the heart of the town, the water sports center also offers towed buoys. All activities are supervised by qualified, registered staff. Approved by the French Ministry of Education and the Allier Departmental Directorate for Social Cohesion and Population Protection.

Do you like to travel through time and history? Discover Vichy at the pace of Françoise's prestige car. You'll be delighted by the different options and themes on offer. Do you like to travel through time and history? Discover Vichy to the rhythm of the "Rive d'Allier" horse-drawn carriages, on a refined and elegant tour guided by Françoise, a professional coachman and former student of the Ecole du Louvre in Paris. The 8-seater prestige carriage - which can be privatized - will offer you comfort and an intimate atmosphere. The tours on offer will enable you to discover the Queen of the Spa Towns in a personalized way, with the option of exploring in greater depth the themes of Vichy's spa industry, the Second Empire or the 1940/1944 period. Tours can last 35 minutes or one hour. Commentaries are available in French, English and, by prior arrangement, Spanish or German. Les Calèches "Rive d'Allier" also makes its other carriages available for groups (by reservation), weddings, or any other event (village festivals, Christmas markets, company or family celebrations...). Les Calèches "Rive d'Allier" has been awarded the "Qualité France Energie Animale" label for its horse-drawn services (respect for regulations and animal welfare). Depending on climatic conditions (heatwaves, etc.), services may be subject to modifications, in order to respect animal welfare.

Today, the complex offers 14 clay courts, 4 of which are covered, in a privileged setting close to Vichy town center, near the golf course and along the redeveloped banks of the lake.

If you want to try out a fun, easy-to-access sport, go for it!

Close to Vichy, this 18-hole, PAR 72 (5,893 m) course lies in the heart of a forest of hundred-year-old oaks, and has a teaching structure suitable for all. Slightly undulating, enhanced by water features, the course will appeal to the most demanding golfers. Club House (bar; 7/7 lunchtime restaurant).

15th-century renovated barn, authentic, which combines modern and old properties. It is surrounded by a flowered garden, with a viexwon the rolling countryside and a lake for fishing.

Craft brewery offering a dozen different organic and local beers. The store is open late afternoon on weekdays. Full tours and tastings by appointment. our beer: organic, craft, natural beer, no additives, no technological aids.The Brewery is located in the ancient commons of the Château de L'Anglard, a 15th century building that features a medieval painted chapel representing the Last Judgment and which gave its name to the brewery.

A theme park dedicated to paleontology, Paléopolis, the dinosaur hill in Gannat (03), tells the most fascinating story of all: the evolution of life. In 2025, the park will present 5 new large animated sculptures of prehistoric animals! Located in a preserved natural environment, Paléopolis is a theme park dedicated to palaeontology. A trip of 4 billion years is waiting for you with exhibitions, workshops, animations… Through exhibitions, you will discover the whole evolution of life with more than 300 fossils of species which inhabited the Earth with the famous T-Rex as a star. Varied workshops are offered to children to wear the shoes of a palaeontologist. Exhibitions with an important scientific content, a cinema, life-size dinosaurs, virtual reality and an optical theatre will provide you a unique experience. Novelties: the movie "Le monde perdu de la Limagne" offers a trip 23 million years ago, when the Limagne was a tropical land, and "Retour vers le passé", a 3D movie offering you a trip between past and present, sea and land, T-rex and Mosasaurus...

The Saint-Jean-Baptiste church dates from the XIIth century. The church has the particularity of having a truncated belfry Free tour with leaflet and information panel or as part of the guided tours of the village. The church of Saint John the Baptist dates from the twelfth century and was once part of the fortifications of the medieval city. It has the particularity of having a truncated bell tower whose mystery is finally elucidated.

Tasting cellar featuring Saint-Pourçain reds, whites, rosés and sparkling wines. Gift store. Free tasting. The only cooperative in the vineyard, with nearly 40 cooperative winemakers. Cellar for tasting where the different red, white and rosé wines as well as traditional method are presented. Shop. Free tasting. Only cooperative of the vineyard bringing almost 60 cooperative winegrowers together. Gallery with a view on the vats and with a game of scents.

Set in over 120 hectares of wooded parkland on the shores of Lac d'Allier, this complex boasts high-performance facilities for a wide range of sports in a unique setting.

The indoor boulodrome (120 games) and outdoor courts (32 games) are ideal for pétanque and boule lyonnaise all year round.

The Boulodrome Roger-Dromard has 8 long sets.

The parish church of Saint-Mazeran dates from the 11th-12th centuries. It has been listed in the inventory of historical monuments since 1933. It is part of the European Federation of Cluniac Sites and of the Association of the Route of Painted Churches. Architecture of the bedside dating from the 11th and 12th centuries, wall painting dating from the 16th century, paintings from the Second Empire, and the Merovingian sarcophagus presumed to be of the Patron Saint, Saint-Mazeran, await visitors. A Merovingian cemetery, was discovered in 2015, in front of the church. The parish church (ISMH) of the 11th-12th century, in the Auvergne Romanesque style, is the work of a family: the Majoran who were once lords of Schools and the Region. In the second half of the 10th century, Théobald Majoran, better known under the name of Saint-Mazeran, (illustration: painted wall of the church of the saint with its square and a plumb line), entered into religion and began the construction of 'a priory. According to legend, the saint himself drew up the plans for the first chapel around 1070 which was to be attached to the Benedictine priory of Souvigny around 1095, then to Cluny. 12th century Development: After 1160, the priory church will be enlarged to become a parish in 1168. The 18th century and the French revolution: The main Altar in gray marble dates from 1765. This Altar survived the Revolution without damage, while the church was closed to worship for 10 years (in 1796 it was sold as national property). Period during which it served as a workshop and barn meeting room. It was at this time that the bell tower was knocked down. Nineteenth century: The upper part of the bell tower will be rebuilt around 1830. In 1842, a first bell was installed, a second in 1866.

The present building was erected in the Romanesque era in several construction campaigns. Church part of the Bourbonnais Route of the Painted Churches. Free visit with document and information panel. The current building was erected in the Romanesque era in several construction campaigns (ISMH). The bell tower, initially built at the transept's crossing, was redeposited on the narthex,which then required the demolition of this latter in 1908. The bells were then installed on a trestle close to the ground. The church contains many carved supports, a fresco, a pantocrator Christ from the late 13th century, and the remainings of murals from the 15th century. Church part of the Bourbonnais Route of the Painted Churches.

The tower of this romanesque church is circular on a square plan. The choir and its capitals are romanesque.

15th century castle, visible from outside.

Former 12th-century abbey founded by Saint-Gilbert, patron saint of the Bourbonnais region. Self-guided tour of interiors and exteriors with information booklet. After many miracles (healings), he will be sanctified. The abbey will serve as a hospital (reserved for poor people) and as a shelter for aging religious and sick people. The cooker and the Cistercian-inspired Romanesque capitular hall remain today. Rooms' rental for family or business events. On site bed and breakfast. The Saint-Gilbert de Neuffonts abbey dates back to the 12th century (MH) and was founded in 1152 by Gilbert, Auvergnat lord, coming back from the crusades.

Mound built in honour of the soldiers of the Estern army, after the fall of Fort Malakoff and the taking of Sabestopol during the Crimean War.

A cosy bar-restaurant where homemade food is king, right down to the charcuterie. Chef Benoît trained as a pork butcher and caterer.

Traditional French cuisine with fresh products. Bistro ambience. Terrace during summer. Traditional French cuisine with fresh products. Bistro ambience. Terrace during summer.

Bar-restaurant offering workers' menus. General food, FDJ and themed evenings at weekends. Wednesday: frogs' legs; Thursday: calf's head; Friday: chips and prawns flambéed in whisky.

Homemade bread,world wines,local products, no menu, all homemade . Cool, vintage, clasic frame..that happiness! Reservation required Homemade bread,world wines,local products, no menu, all homemade . Cool, vintage, clasic frame..that happiness!! Reservation required

By historical N7. On the premises and to take away.

Artisanal pizzas. This pizzeria offers diverse pizzas, fresh pasta, salads, desserts and ice creams. On site or to take away.

Cuisine from near and far. Customised meals available on request. Grocery shop.

Homemade pizzas. Takeaway. Open 7 / 7 noon and evening. All information on the website and facebook page Homemade pizzas. Takeaway,open 7/7 noon and evening.All informations on the website and facebook page

Artisanal bakery, patisserie Artisanal bakery, patisserie. Possibility of eating on site: sandwiches, salads, gratins, coffees,

The Auberge des Tureaux is both a bistro with 40 seats for the daily menu and a gourmet restaurant to take your time. Possibility of welcoming groups. Whether for the dish of the day or the seasonal menu, Didier Neboud is a fervent defender of local products and makes it a point of honor to serve only fresh products.

15th-century renovated barn, authentic, which combines modern and old properties. It is surrounded by a flowered garden, with a viexwon the rolling countryside and a lake for fishing.

Large holiday house (130m²) in the bourbonnaise countryside, situated near a farm, near a large pond which offers the possibility of fishing, and near hiking pathes, le Pal and historic sites

Night parking possible. Sewage draining.

Great and quiet holiday house with a pleasant view.

Isolated house for a festive weekend.

Quiet house with small garden and near shops, swimming-pool and sporting installations.

With its yard in front of the house, this charming small house is situated nearby the town center.

18th-century arge house with its centenarian trees park. Sunbathing, nap in the shade of a horse chestnut, soothed by song of the birds... Relaxation and serenity garanteed.

Settled in a centenarian trees park of a 18th-century large house. Sunbathing, nap in the shade of a horse chestnut, soothed by song of the birds... Relaxation and serenity garanteed.

Well-equipped studio close to all amenities.