A bike ride on the Voie Verte from Saint-Yorre to Billy
Published 25 August 2021
A 27 km themed route suitable for beginners
The Via Allier, a cycle route that links the Bec d’Allier to the Mediterranean coast by following the river, runs for 27 km through the Vichy conurbation, mixing countryside and more urban stretches, between Billy and Saint-Yorre.
Three local loops have been laid out around this greenway so you can enjoy the lush riverside scenery and discover the cultural and natural riches of the village centres. The comfortable, safe paths, 3 metres wide, are open to pedestrians and cyclists.
Pedalling by the water, discovering nature through a patchwork of landscapes, heritage and attractions: that is the promise of the Via Allier, which restores the natural bond woven between the river and the people who live along it. This "via" is a wonderful promise: linking the Loire to the Mediterranean coast with a cycle route from Nevers to Palavas-les-Flots.
Its route mostly follows the Allier valley and will pass through Moulins and the Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule vineyards. Around Vichy, 27 kilometres of paths, from Billy to Saint-Yorre, reserved exclusively for pedestrians and bikes, are open to locals and visitors alike.
The route will soon continue into the Puy-de-Dôme department along more than 110 km of waymarked trail.
The one and only, ever-present star of this ride is the Allier river, which reveals itself in all its moods... Following it from the fortified town of Billy, via Saint-Germain-des-Fossés and its leisure park, you reach Vichy from the north, crossing the future Les Ailes eco-district before taking the promenade laid out along the banks of the Lac d’Allier.
Here the river, wild, natural and sometimes tormented, is regulated by the bridge-dam and forms a vast 100-hectare body of water bordering the parks and the heart of the "Queen of Spa Towns".
The rest of the journey, between countryside and town, will take you to Saint-Yorre on the edge of the Puy-de-Dôme department. This water flowing from south to north and these paths along the river are all invitations to discover the riches of the villages on its banks, which open up their heritage, shops, riverside cafés (guinguettes) and many activities.
Alone, in a group or with the family, on foot or by bike, enjoy the atmosphere, the landscapes and the sounds of the Allier, the last wild river in France, thanks to the three discovery loops that complement this green ride.
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