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Discovering the Allier: choose your approach

Published 4 March 2021

During your stay in the Allier, we invite you to venture out and discover hidden landscapes in the heart of nature that is still wild in places. Follow your instinct or take one of the suggested routes. Here are four original ways of getting around, as alternatives to the car:

• The Allier on foot

Put on your walking boots

and discover the Allier differently! A hike under the trees of the Forêt de Tronçais, on the heights of the Montagne bourbonnaise or in the Gorges de la Sioule? Whether for a longer stay or a day walk, the Allier's rich natural and architectural heritage holds plenty of surprises!

All the Allier walking routes:

https://www.allier-auvergne-tourisme.com/activites/activites-nature/randonnee-allier-randonnee-pedestre-en-auvergne-allier-tourisme/amateurs-aventuriers/tous-les-circuits-rando-7532-1.html

• The Sioule by canoe

About forty minutes west of Vichy, you can canoe down the Sioule from Ébreuil, with hire companies providing a shuttle to the starting point. Trips range from half a day, suitable for families, to a full day in the gorges. All the practical details, seasons and tips are in our article canoeing the Sioule and the Allier from Vichy.

• The Allier by canoe

Much like its sister the Loire, of which it is the main tributary, the Allier is often described as "one of the last wild rivers in Europe". Little altered by human hands, the Allier has a very active river dynamic, causing its bed to wander constantly and creating great ecological richness. Because of their distinctive character and ecological richness, these habitats are often of great heritage value.

For a day or for several days, it is up to you. More information from Vichy Aventure in Vichy, Centre omnisport, Pont de L'Europe (03200). http://www.vichyaventure.com/

• The Allier by bike

Get away from the hustle and bustle with a "slow" ride along the Allier's greenways, escape and be surprised by the beauty of the Bourbonnais landscapes, or live your first mountain-bike adventure on the Grande Traversée du Massif Central. In the Allier, there is something for everyone... freewheeling!

All the Allier cycling routes:

https://www.allier-auvergne-tourisme.com/activites/activites-nature/allier-a-velo/tous-les-circuits-velo-7543-1.html

• The Allier by motorbike

Try the Allier by motorbike for a gentle, refined getaway. Head off on an adventure in the Montagne bourbonnaise, with its network of delightfully winding little roads, discover the Val de Sioule and the famous, twisting Gorges de la Sioule, or the Bocage bourbonnais with its constellation of châteaux, fortified houses and small villages. Finally, the Forêt de Tronçais, covering more than 10,000 hectares, is one of the finest forests in France, with some oaks more than 350 years old, such as the Chêne Carré, which took root around 1630, or the Sentinelle in 1580! 19 remarkable trees are signposted. Just follow the signs...

https://www.allier-auvergne-tourisme.com/activites/a-moto/l-allier-a-moto-679-1.html