What you need to know about Allier
Part of the Auvergne region, the Allier department is the 3rd French department. This department covers an area of 7,340 km2 and its inhabitants number around 343,309, which corresponds to a population density of 46.77 inhabitants per km2.
What are the borders of the Allier department?
The Allier department is a department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and is bordered by Cher, Nièvre, Saône-et-Loire, Loire, Puy-De-Dôme, and Creuse.
What are the most beautiful places to visit in the Allier department?
Charroux
Located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, the commune of Charroux is in the Allier department in central France. It has been ranked among the most beautiful towns in the country. In Charroux, you will see a lot of architecture, decorated streets, and stone benches. Other places to visit in Charroux include
Regarding historical monuments, there is the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church which is both a Gothic and Romanesque church. The architecture of the town
The “center” of Charroux, in the citadel, could almost be missed. Accessible by a few small paths, you reach a circular lawn sheltered and “hidden” in the middle of the village, surrounded by old stone buildings.
In the town center, there are also many stone infrastructures and several small alleys leading to the grassy area in the center. And finally, there is a museum of historical clockmaking.
Hérisson
Located on the banks of a river called the Aumance, the commune of Hérisson is also a commune in the western part of the Allier department. It was actually an important town in the Roman Empire. It is where survivors moved after the Gothic invasions. The most important site to visit in the village is the dominant castle, but there are also many religious monuments including the most important, the 12th-century Saint-Pierre church, as well as the 19th-century Notre-Dame church and the Saint-Etienne chapel from the 18th century.
Lapalisse
Located in the southern part of the Allier department and northeast of the city of Vichy.
The main attraction of Lapalisse is the Lapalisse castle, but there are also other religious infrastructures, including the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church which is neo-Romanesque in style. There are also other buildings such as the half-timbered house dating from the 15th century, the town hall, and the original hospital. You will also find a museum called the Musée d’Art Brut which is very popular as it houses many works by artists such as paintings and sculptures.
Around the area, there are also many fishing spots in lakes and rivers, such as the Besbre river and the Moulin Marin lake. You will surely enjoy it and find the walks there pleasant.
What are the communes of the Allier department?
The main towns of the Allier department are:
- Abrest
- Avermes
- Beaulon
- Bellerive-sur-Allier
- Bourbon-l’Archambault
- Brugheas
- Commentry
- Cosne-d’Allier
- Cusset
- Dompierre-sur-Besbre
- Gannat
- Lapalisse
- Le Mayet-de-Montagne.
- Lurcy-Lévis
- Montluçon
- Néris-les-Bains
- Neuvy
- Quinssaines
- Saint-Germain-des-Fossés
- Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule
- Saint-Rémy-en-Rollat
- Saint-Victor
- Saint-Yorre
- Souvigny
- Trévol
- Vallon-en-Sully
- Varennes-sur-Allier
- Vendat
- Vichy
- Yzeure
