27km from Billy to Saint-Yorre
This ride along the Via Allier’s greenway, sticking close to the river, offers a gentle cycling outing. The Allier is the omnipresent star along this stretch, revealing its many different sides. Pedalling along beside the water, discover a mosaic of landscapes, heritage treasures along the way inviting you to explore the waterside parishes, with their many activities, shops and riverside restaurants, or guinguettes. Whether travelling solo, in a group or as a family, by bike or by foot, take in all the different atmospheres, landscapes and noises of the Allier, known as one of Western Europe’s last-remaining wild rivers, and make the most of three discovery circuits that add further options to this green outing.
Lord for the day at Billy Fortress
Visit Billy Fortress
On a tour of Billy Fortress, your guide will faithfully recount the history of this iconic defensive spot. And what history it has witnessed! Looking around the fort, rising so dramatically over its stretch of the Allier Valley, you feel like you’re travelling back in time. Entering this different world, you’ll head off to see the captain’s house, the courtroom and fort’s vital everyday facilities, such as the well. Think back to how you might have arrived in front of this vertiginous defence in medieval times.
All aboard the little tourist train!
Travel gently through Vichy’s different periods
Travel through Vichy’s different periods aboard the town’s little tourist train. Admire the architectural and cultural riches of this famed thermal spa resort, including the opera house-cum-conference centre (Palais des congrès-opéra in French), the ornate Sévigné Pavillon, the thermal springs, historic Vichy, the thermal establishments, the imposing hotels, the chalets de l'empereur (fine 19th-century villas), the public parks, the lake on the Allier…
Visit Vichy by little tourist train
Starts from the Parc des Sources (public gardens opposite the tourist office) – on the side of Rue Wilson
Like a fish in water!
Visit the Observatoire des Poissons Migrateurs in Vichy
Located on the Allier’s east bank, the Observatoire des Poissons Migrateurs boasts a long room equipped with four large underwater windows and tiered seating. Sat in front of the four aquarium-like windows, children and adults alike can observe the ceaseless ballet of river fish here and look out for migrating fish making their way upriver. Occasionally, visitors may spot a wild salmon, come from cold waters far away, swimming upstream against the current, trying to reach a precise spot to reproduce, in fresh water nearly 1,000km from the Atlantic Ocean. At Vichy, the salmon are aided by a fish pass or fishway, to bypass the bridge-cum-dam here.
Map of the route
Map of the route
5 Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule / Vichy
