At the heart of Auvergne the Vollore castle perched on a spur towers the plains of Dore and Limagne. You will live a mythical moment of France’s History among the souvenirs from the marquis de La Fayette’s descendants. As you leave Vollore, in the natural regional Park of the Auvergne volcanoes, a scenic road will lead you up to Noirétable with its outstanding High Gothic church from the XVth century.
Before entering the fir tree forests of the Forez Mounts you will travel in the vicinity of Notre Dame de l’Hermitage monastery, a very popular pilgrimage place since the XVIIIth century to honour the Holy Virgin.
At the Béal pass discover a superb panorama over the Mounts of Auvergne on the west side and the Lyonnais on the East side.
Before arriving in Ambert you will notice the XVth century church of Job with a view over the region.
Ambert is famous for its cheese. In the old quarter of Chazeaux a XVth century mansion houses the “Maison de la Fourme“.
The vicinity of the forests and the abundance of water have allowed the paper industry growth. Only the Richard-de-Bas mill can give evidence of the masters and journeymen’s past in this industry throughout the Val of Lagat.
You will cross the Mounts of Livradois before reaching Saint-Germain-L’Herm and its fortified church from the XIth century and its corbelled houses. You will find back the valley of Allier in Saint-Germain-Lembron and its XVIIIth century houses which display two-pointed roofs. This first journey will come to an end amid the vineyard.
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