Allier, France
Self-catering Allier holiday rental homes - Gites Allier
Allier is a department in central France named after the Allier River. The department is situated in the Auvergne region. Montluçon, Vichy, and Moulins are the principal cities to see when you stay in a self-catering holiday rental home in Allier, France. The rest of the department consists of smaller sparsely populated towns, mostly along the rivers.
Moulins, the capital of the Allier department, is located on the banks of the Allier River - a must visit when renting Allier holiday rental houses, cottages, chalets or gites. Moulins was where the famous dress designer and fashion leader Coco Chanel went to school as an orphan.
Montluçon is the largest town to visit in Allier. The upper town, on the right bank of the river Cher, consists of steep, narrow, winding streets, and preserves several buildings of the 15th and 16th centuries. The church of Notre-Dame dates from the fourteenth century, the church of St Pierre partly from the 12th. Overlooking the town is the castle rebuilt by Louis II, Duke of Bourbon, and taken by Henry IV during the French Wars of Religion; it serves as a barracks.
When you rent a holiday home in Allier be sure to visit the beautiful spa town of Vichy is also found in Allier. Vichy has long been known for its water and thermal spas which are said to have curative powers. The water is exported worldwide. The city has been known for its thermal cures since Roman times. Its waters are famous worldwide (coming from springs, including the Vichy Celestins and Vichy Saint-Yorre), as well as the Vichy Pastilles made from soda contained in the spring waters.
Vichy lies on the banks of the Allier River. The source of the Allier is in the nearby Massif Central plateau. The historical existence of volcanic activity in the Massif Central is somewhat visually evident. Volcanic activity in the area is the direct cause of the many thermal springs that exist in and around Vichy.
While Vichy is principally known as a spa and resort town, it is also famous for being the capital of Nazi German occupied France from 1940 to 1944.
Travelling to your self-catering Allier holiday rental property, France
By Air: Vichy is 90 kilometres from the Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne Airport. The nearest international airports to the department’s largest town Montluçon are Clermont-Ferrand Airport and Limoges Airport. By Rail: Vichy is reached by Paris Gare de Lyon. The Gare de Montluçon-Ville railway station is served by three main passenger rail lines. Montluçon – Paris takes approx 3h15mins. By Road: Vichy is situated 20 km from the auto route A719 and 35 km from the auto route A89 (ex-A72). Montluçon is linked to the highway A71 from Orléans to Clermont-Ferrand.