The abbey church and the well-known music festival made this place famous. The village is full of life and a visit is absolutely worthwhile when you are staying with us.

Le Puy-en-Velay is a protected town, situated uniquely in the world, with an exceptional sacred inheritance. Le Puy-en-Velay is worldwide known as a starting point of the ‘Via Podiensis’, the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella. Le Puy-en-Velay is especially interesting because of the cultural qualities of the buildings: the Cathedral Notre-Dame du Puy, which is on the Worldheritage list of UNESCO and houses a Black Madonna and a monastry corridor from the 12th century, the high statue of Notre-Dame-de-France, the town’s patroness, highly placed on the ‘Rocher Corneille’ and the Rocher and Chapelle Saint Michel d’Aiguilhe (82 m. high). The town is also known for its 'hand made lacework‘, another proof that the town still is an inspiration for the conservation of calm and centuries-old activities.

With its 7500 residents Ambert has had a key function in the valley from way back. Of course Ambert is well-known because of its 'La Fourme d’Ambert‘, a blue moulded cheese that you will find on our cheese plate during dinner. The big weekly market on thursdaymorning attracts many people from far and near. One of the best tips we can give you is a visit to the 14th century paper mill Richard Bas. Highly recommanded!

This is the capital of the Auvergne region. It is situated at the foot of the Puy de Dôme (volcano) and the Chaine des Puys (volcanic area). Apart from that there are many possibilites as far as culture, rock evenings, the festival of the short film and museums are concerned. In the city many good restaurants, crowded terraces and shopping possibilities give a special colour to a walk in the historic centres Clermont and Montferrand. Here you discover the inheritance , like the Basilique Notre-Dame-du-Port (basilica), a masterpiece of Roman art that is also on the Worldheritage list of UNESCO.

In the surrounding area -which you can visit by car- you will find a number of villages that are on the list of ‘The Finest Villages In France‘. Each of these villages has its own charm, a rich inheritance and a highly interesting history. Regularly you‘ll find artists here who keep the knowhow of the region or its art alive.
Allier: Charroux           Puy-de-Dôme: Montpeyroux          Cantal: SalersHaute-Loire: Arlempdes

The primitive castle of the Allègre family, quoted in the titles of 1217, was besieged and captured twice in four years (1361 and 1365). In 1385, Morinot de Tourzel, who had just received the title of Lord by succeeding Jean II d'Armagnac, began the construction of the new fort that would consist of three fortified enclosures with a total of 23 towers.Nowadays there is only a ruin on top of the mountain, and from up there the view of the Velay is amazing, with all the volcanic 'bumps'.