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Exploring the Allier from Gannat: where to go and how to plan

Published 4 March 2021

Gannat lies at the south-western tip of the Allier, where the Limagne plain meets the first hills of the Combrailles. From the town, most sights in the Val de Sioule are less than twenty minutes away, Saint-Pourçain and Vichy about half an hour, and Montluçon an hour. Here is how to plan your days to suit your interests.

Why set off from Gannat

The town is a crossroads: the A71 passes nearby, the A719 runs to Vichy, and the station has regional TER trains to Clermont-Ferrand, Riom and Montluçon. So you can head off in several directions without changing accommodation. Another advantage is that the town itself can be explored on foot in half a day, leaving the rest of your stay free for outings. All the access details are gathered in our article Getting to Gannat by train or car.

The Val de Sioule, less than twenty minutes away

This is the easiest outing and often the most popular. The Sioule flows west of Gannat and has shaped a valley dotted with old villages, Romanesque churches and hillsides.

• Charroux (about a quarter of an hour): the only village in the Allier listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, best explored on foot. Our dedicated article: Charroux in the Bourbonnais.
• Chantelle (about twenty minutes): a village perched above the Bouble, with its Benedictine abbey and Romanesque church. See Chantelle Abbey.
• Ebreuil (about a quarter of an hour): gateway to the Sioule gorges, with its abbey church of Saint-Léger.
• The Sioule gorges, heading up towards the Puy-de-Dôme: winding roads, viewpoints and footpaths. For going downriver by boat, everything is explained in our canoe article.

The Val de Sioule tourist office publishes visiting times and the events calendar.

Heading north: Saint-Pourçain and the Allier valley

Allow half an hour's drive to reach Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, capital of a small vineyard area with AOC (protected designation of origin) status. The town lends itself to a morning's sightseeing followed by a tasting at a winegrower's or at the cooperative winery. Continuing north, Moulins, the département's prefecture, is just under an hour away: its cathedral, medieval quarter and Centre national du costume de scène (National Centre for Stage Costume) are worth a full day.

Heading west: Montluçon and the bocage

Montluçon can be reached in about an hour, by car or by direct TER train from Gannat station, making a car-free outing possible. The old town is built around the castle of the Dukes of Bourbon, home to the museum of popular music. On the way, the Bourbonnais bocage unfolds with its hedgerows, ponds and quiet lanes, popular with cyclists and motorcyclists alike. Lovers of great forests can push on to Tronçais, north of Montluçon, allowing for a long day.

Heading east: Vichy, twenty minutes away

Via the A719, Vichy is very close. An afternoon is enough for the parks along Lac d'Allier, the spa quarter and the springs. It is also a good option on rainy days, with its covered galleries and museums. Getting back to the calm of Gannat in the evening is quick.

Planning your stay

To make the most of these directions without rushing, plan one main outing a day and keep the ends of your days for Gannat and its immediate surroundings. Depending on your plans, you can stay in the town centre, close to the station and shops, or in the countryside, in our Val de Sioule gîtes, opposite Charroux or among the vineyards of Saulcet. Properties can be booked from one night, cleaning and linen included. For more ideas for walks and cycling routes, the Allier Auvergne Tourisme website lists the waymarked trails in the département.