Cultural or leisure activities, discovering our heritage or just enjoying the great outdoors - there's plenty to occupy your days when you come to the gîte! I recommend that you start by discovering Vichy, the Queen of the water cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site = stroll through its magnificent streets, discover the freshness of Vichy's parks (and cross the path of the squirrels), pass by the Hall des Sources to taste the thermal waters, stroll along the banks of the Allier and sit on the terraces to enjoy the lively evenings. If you fancy a more sporting holiday, don't hesitate to spend some time in the Montagne Bourbonnaise. Just 35 minutes from the gîte, there are plenty of activities on offer: hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, trail running, climbing, orienteering or even water sports on the Saint-Clément lake, for example. The Montagne Bourbonnaise is a peaceful and diverse area, and the staff at the Montagne Bourbonnaise Tourist Office will be able to recommend tours and activities that you'll come back delighted with! Tip: the Châtel-Montagne tourist office hires out electrically-assisted mountain bikes - I've tried them out, they're fabulous! If you like to combine treasure hunts, heritage discovery and outdoor activities, I recommend the "Pépit" hikes. It's an application developed by the department of Allier that lets you go on treasure hunts throughout the department. There are currently more than 40 hikes available! Children (and adults) love it, because it's great fun and there's a challenge. NB: remember to check the app before you set off to make sure the one you've chosen isn't undergoing maintenance. To go a little further afield, here are the must-see places in the Allier, less than 1 hour's drive from the gîte: - Moulins (historic town centre) and its museums (musée du costume de scène, musée Anne de Beaujeu) - Charroux, a sublime stone village with numerous craft shops - Le Pal, a family-friendly zoo and amusement park - Château de La Palice (see also Montaigu-le-Blin) - Billy, a small medieval village and its fortress; don't hesitate to call the Billy tourist office before you go to find out more about the activities they offer = escape game (I tried it, it was great), treasure hunt for children, costumed tour of the fortress - Paléopolis, the theme park with its dinosaur hill - visit the vineyards of Saint-Pourçain - the route of the painted churches

My gîte is located in the south of the Allier (Auvergne region), on the border with the Puy-de-Dôme. We are 1 hour's drive from Moulins and 50 minutes from Clermont-Ferrand. The gîte is located 3.5km from the centre of Vichy. Whichever way you choose, my gîte is easily accessible, making your journey to your rental property simple and enjoyable. I look forward to welcoming you!