Outdoors ~ nature, wildlife
Hiking biking and other outdoor activities in Haut Allier
► Music in the valleys concerts 2023
The unspoilt
natural heritage of Haut
Allier
~ the great outdoors around Brioude and Langeac
A
heritage area in every sense -
music, history, culture and
environment
Before
there was
music, there was the Haut Allier. And if artists and
musicians have
settled in this part of deepest rural France, it is not because the
area had any inherent musical tradition; it didn't. Before the artists
and musician arrived, there was just a rich historic and natural
heritage. Artists and musicians have come here for the environment
– a magnificent natural environment that to this day is prized by those
who love the great outdoors. This is an area with remarkable wildlife,
a profusion of wild flowers in Spring, birds, butterflies, reptiles and
other
creatures great and small throughout the year. In this part of the
Haute Loire department, there is always something to do outside; miles
of old tracks for rambling, rivers for sport or for relaxation, a
natural environment to be enjoyed, photographed, painted, and taken
away in memories.
Hills and dales
River sports
Kayaking, rafting, swimming, angling.
A number of organisations hire out kayaks and canoes for the afternoon, the day, or longer. Kayaks can be hired in Brioude, Lavoûte Chilhac, Chilhac and Langeac, and the kayak hire companies provide a minibus service to take their customers back to their departure point at the end of the journey.
The river Allier between Langeac and Brioude is ideal for beginners and all ages. However, the stretches of calmly flowing water are interspersed with gentle rapids, so beginners ned to be accompanied.
White-water kayaking is possible upstream from Prades, just south of Langeac.
There are beaches all along this part of the river, and river swimming is a popular activity in the warm months of summer.
Angling:
Short term fishing permits can be obtained. Once France's major salmon river, the Allier is in the process of being restocked. Salmon fishing is not yet permitted (and will be very expensive when it is), but the river offers opportunities for fly fishing and normal angling.Geology
Volcanic heritage
The Auvergne is one of the largest volcanic areas in Europe. The volcanoes are dormant, but the landscape and topography of the Haut Allier were formed by volcanic activity that occurred many thousands of years ago. Up and down the valley, amazing natural basalt "organ rocks" (as in the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland) are a feature of the landscape. The perched village of Chilhac sits on a volcanic bluff, with some magnificent organ rocks at its base. The chateau of Saint-Ilpize sits on a volcanic spur, and at Blot, near Chilhac, and Prades south of Langeac, whole cliffs of organ rocks offer incomparable landscapes that are hard to match.Other outdoor pursuits
Hiking, walking
The Santiago de Compostela WayThe Via Podiensis, the most popular part of Europe's great international hiking trail, the "Camino" or the Compostela Pilgrimage trail, crosses the south of the Haut Allier, shortly after its start from the iconic medieval cathedral in Le Puy en Velay. Another historic variant of the Compostela trail, the Via Arverna, starts in Clermont Ferrand and runs through Brioude and the Alagnon valley before heading into the Cantal mountains.
The Via Arverna
and the Via
Podiensis are connected by a hiking trail, GR 470, that
follows the
river Allier from Brioude, via Lavoûte Chilhac, Chilhac, Langeac and
the Allier gorge, to the junction with the Via Podiensis at Alleyras.
For those who want to travel light, check out baggage portage
services available from LaMallePostale.com.
In addition to these major hiking routes, the area offers
magnificent opportunities for hiking and
rambling.
There are kilometres of old paths and tracks, many of them marked,
others needing the help of a detailed map or gps. For the less
energetic,
there are short walks without much climbing; but for the energetic,
there are trails climbing from the valley floor , to the summits of the
hills all around, some of which are over 1000 metres.Mountain biking, cycling
Generally speaking, the Haute Loire department has one of the most extensive networks of marked cycling trails of any department in France. The area round Brioude is particularly well equipped in cycling trails for all types of cycling, including road routes (Brioude has twice been a staging point on the Tour de France in recent years), cycle tourism trails, mountainbiking circuits and e-bike trails. In 2019, there are 14 graded and waymarked cycle circuits in the area of Brioude, (see cycle circuits map ) and eight more around Langeac to the south. The V70 cycleway linking the EV5 Loire Valley Euro cycle route to the Mediterranean follows the Allier valley throughout the Haut Allier area, from Auzon in the north s far as Prades in the south. The detailed route can be seen on this map.Bird watching, ornithology, etc.
The
High Allier valley is extremely rich in bird life;
it
includes Europe's largest concentration of short-toed eagles,
as well as eagle owls, harriers, shrikes, golden orioles, and plenty
more to whet
the appetite of bird-watchers. The Upper Auvergne. bird centre
in Lavoute Chilhac organises birdwatching field trips. During the warm
months, the area also abounds in butterfly life, with a rich variety of
different species.Flora, botany.
The area is remarkable for its distinctive plant
life. Near the
villages of Chazieux and Chilhac, small prickly-pear cacti grow in the
wild; and in spring time, orchids grow profusely on the dry hillsides.
There are also rare Pasque flowers, and a wealth of other wild flowers.Horse riding
Le Pied à l'Etrier,
riding centre at Ribeyre, Saint Ilpize.
Brioude-Bonnefont stables and riding centre. Attached to the local agricultural college.
Combeneyre Riding centre at Aubazat, near Chilhac.
Brioude-Bonnefont stables and riding centre. Attached to the local agricultural college.
Combeneyre Riding centre at Aubazat, near Chilhac.
Guêpier, photo de William Kreijkes - licence GNU. Autres photos Music-valley.org
Association Musique en la
Vallée - Cultural association - Mairie de
Saint Ilpize - 43380 -
Get in touch - admin at music-valley.org
Get in touch - admin at music-valley.org
Photo top of page -
the Haut Allier valley between Brioude and Lavoûte Chilhac
Music in the Auvergne -
The music
season
in the valley is a relaxed affair, and unique in rural France by its
extent and its duration. Apart from thge Basilica in Brioude, the
venues are mostly small, the
performers good - often top quality, but the prices
reasonable. Unlike any other summer
music programme in rural France (and there are plenty of them), this is
a fringe without a festival, two months of music for
pleasure, organised by musicians themselves, volunteers, villages and
cultural associations.Music in the Auvergne -
Musique
en la Vallée association invites you to discover our
sponsors
La Mirandelle -
Tearoom & café
Beside the Basilica
Brioude
04 71 74 90 01
Couleurs Dentelle
Lace-making studio, gallery and shop
1 rue Notre Dame Brioude.
www.couleurs-dentelle.com
Lace-making studio, gallery and shop
1 rue Notre Dame Brioude.
www.couleurs-dentelle.com
Ets. Oléon
Cycles & D-I-Y store
Rue Croix st Isidore Brioude.
Website
Ets. PIC
Household goods and TV
Hifi - satellite -TV
kitchen equipment
Brioude
Website
Ets Cornaire
6 rue des Ecoles, chappes,43390 Auzon
Central heating systems, plumbing experts, solar panels, heat pumps - systems renovations.
Website
Librairie Vercingetorix
Livres, beaux arts, fournitures de bureau.
Bookshop, fine arts, postcards
14 Bd Vercingetorix - Brioude
On Facebook
Bookshop, fine arts, postcards
14 Bd Vercingetorix - Brioude
On Facebook
Le Saint Julien
Restaurant - Pizzeria.
Beside the Basilica, Brioude.
Website
And more music ....
JAZZ - FOLK - BLUES and more
The music in Haut Allier is not all classical
Discover other musical activities put on by local tourist offices and villages.
The Brioude Tourist Office organises musical pic-nics on Thursday evenings from 11th July to 20th August, beside the campsite at la Bageasse. The music's free - bring your own pic-nic.
Blesle comes to life with its Musical aperitifs, from 11th to 13th August