Petite cité de caractère
Châteldon is a village known for its mineral water, naturally fizzy, with elegant little bubbles. The most eminent person to have appreciated the water’s benefits was none other than France’s Sun King, Louis XIV, Châteldon water regularly ordered for Versailles. Châteldon is also a charming parish centred around its medieval village nestling in a green setting at the foot of a steep forest, the Massif des Bois Noirs. Three circuits encourage visitors to wander through the lanes around the castle and to look for vestiges of buildings from down the centuries as well as of signs of how the inhabitants’ lives developed through time.
Map of the route
Map of the route
6 Vichy / Puy-Guillaume
Well-rested and relaxed, cycle south from Vichy by getting back on the greenway alongside the Allier River, riding towards Saint-Yorre. Take in the peaceful, unspoilt atmosphere and enjoy glimpses over the Allier Valley, the river dominating along certain stretches, flora and fauna taking centre stage along others. Further on, the Allier’s waters are joined by those of the Dore River at the Bec de Dore, a spot providing many species with a tranquil refuge. In the distance, you can make out the Auvergne’s mountains, presaging greater shifts in altitude. Do make a detour to the Domaine Royal de Randan and to Ris and its Holy Cross Church, part of a former Cluniac priory.
7 Puy-Guillaume / Pont-du-Château
Along this Via Allier stage, you’ll become aware of the upcoming transition from the fertile Limagne Plain to the steeper ancient volcanic area extending out from the Chaîne des Puys, the extinct volcanic range towering above the Auvergne’s capital city, Clermont-Ferrand. The Allier River, so much wilder downstream, with its shifting banks, is constricted by narrow rocky sides further upstream. This stage is dotted with dovecotes. Close by, the Maringues tanneries make a picturesque architectural scene, while the Musée de la Céramique in Lezoux relates how this town’s renown spread far and wide back in Antiquity, thanks to its production of sigillated pottery. Pont-du-Château, the historic port of the Clermont area, is the stopover point for this stage.