The
high
valley of the Allier. between
Brioude and Langeac
– for relaxing holidays in a wonderful natural
environment with a rich cultural heritage.
One of just 41 rural areas in France officially classed as an art and
heritage area (Pays
d'Art et
d'Histoire)
For music in
rural France, welcome
to the High Allier valley, from Brioude to
Langeac, in the department of Haute Loire, France. The valley lies at
an average altitude
of
500 metres (1600 ft), with surrounding hills rising to 1300 metres.
Summers are usually warm and dry.
The high Allier valley is officially classed as one of just 41 "Pays d'art et d'histoire"
(rural
areas of outstanding artistic and heritage interest) in France. It is
an area with so much to offer, including,
in
the summer months and for music-lovers, a season
of concerts held in some of the valley's
beautiful medieval churches. Currently running from July to mid
August, the season of musical events will start earlier in 2010, with
"Prelude weeks", from late June onwards.
But the concert programme is
just one of the many attractions that this valley has to offer those in
search of a relaxing but interesting holiday in the calm and beauty of
rural France; ancient churches
with fine
mediaeval murals, castles,
a
paleontological museum, rambling
and hiking
trails, excellent bird-watching,
fishing, canoeing and plenty more, the Haut Allier has it all....
