Top 5 of our character villages in Puy-de-Dôme

Psssttt… Did you know that some of the most beautiful villages in the Puy-de-Dôme and Auvergne are to be found in Terra Volcana?
They may not be the best-known, but they certainly have their own unique characters and identities that will enthral you as you wander from lane to lane, mill to mill and fountain to fountain.

The icing on the cake: our unusual summer tours allow you to explore three of these villages in the company of strange and mischievous hosts… Follow the guide through the corridors of time!

1. Maringues, the town of tanners in Auvergne

To the north-east of Terra Volcana, a very special village lies on the banks of the Morge, just a few kilometres from the great river Allier: Maringues.

This ideal location has enabled the village to develop economically since the Middle Ages. By the 16th century, the village was the 2nd largest trading centre in Auvergne and one of its most important ports.

This was the heyday of the tanneries in Maringues, and remained so until the beginning of the 20th century.
In 1860, around sixty tanneries were still in operation, and today a stroll through the historic centre along the banks of the river Morge is a great way to discover this heritage.

Stage 1 from the Pont des Fainéants, where a volcanic stone sculpture of a tanner stands. It was so called because unemployed workers would gather here to wait for “bosses” looking for labour to come and poach them.

From here, you have an uninterrupted view of the Grande Tannerie, undoubtedly the most emblematic building in Maringues. If you can’t visit it, you can walk along the riverbank for a lovely stroll from tannery to tannery as far as the leather market. Other reasons to enjoy a walk in Maringues are to be found in the audioguide tour: a pure delight for exploring the history of the town in a different way!

Tips

Make the most of your stay in Maringues by trying out the Clos Fleuri restaurant and their guest rooms. Their garden is ideal for a summer in the countryside!
On Monday mornings, one of the most typical markets in the Auvergne takes place in Maringues. One of the highlights is the poultry market, inherited from the village’s flourishing past. It’s also the perfect opportunity to try Maringuois, a cheese made from raw cow’s milk and Auvergne garlic, which you’ll only find here!

2. Sayat, from mill to mill

There’s no doubt about it, the peaceful village of Sayat is one of the Puy-de-Dôme’s little-known nuggets!
Just explore the banks of the Bédat stream in the centre of the village, the “Ondoyer” sculpture by Volvic stonemasonThierry Courtadon and the various mills on display.

Here, 17 mills were still in operation in the 1960s, but have since been gradually replaced by industry. While many of them are looking for a new lease of life, others have been renovated and tell the story of this charming village on the Limagne fault.

The village oil mill, closed in 1961 and left partially abandoned, was restored by the courageous members of the “Le Grand Vert” Association between 1993 and 1999. Since then, the Mill has opened its doors to you. You can even bring your own walnut kernels to make your own oil!

The Flour Mill is now a venue for exhibitions, concerts and other events.

Here’s a little extra tip: there are many ways to discover the village, and you can take one of the two hiking trails that explore the area around this charming town!

Consult the walks

3. Aigueperse, chocolates and the good life

Back to the Limagne plain with a visit to the ancient fortified town ofAigueperse, a city with a rich history.

The town of Aigueperse was built in the 19th century under the name of Aquae Sparsae, literally “water that gushes out on all sides”. An important and busy strategic crossroads, the village grew considerably in the 14th century around its emblematic Grande Rue and the collegiate church of Notre-Dame. The impressive 13th-century collegiate church is one of the first Gothic churches in the region.

Local specialities

These days, Aigueperse has a wealth of producers and a very special gourmet nugget: its praline!

The recipe has remained unchanged since 1850 and was produced by many confectioners until recently. Today, just one die-hard confectioner continues to perpetuate this veritable Madeleine de Proust for any Auvergnat far from his roots! Head to Maison Vernet to enjoy these childhood pleasures to the full. And don’t forget the delicious marzipan that’s been made here for almost as long as you can remember!

Discover the routes

4. Artonne, looking out over the volcanoes and Limagne

One of the oldest villages in the Auvergne can be found to the north-west of Terra Volcana, close to the Combrailles: Artonne, which has been awarded the “Petite cité de caractère” label!

This “balcony village” has a false air of the south, and has the luxury of combining a truly gentle way of life with a rich heritage, including no fewer than 16 fountains (which even have their own circuit), a Romanesque collegiate church and remarkable natural areas!

The walk begins on the outskirts of the village at Moulin Fradet, one of the many mills built on the banks of the Morge. It now houses the art workshops of Nicole Guillien, a talented watercolourist and lava enameller.

Then it’s on to the village centre, with its dry stone walls and winding lanes, and a climb up to the Coteau du Puy Saint-Jean. Here, breathtaking views of the Chaîne des Puys are coupled with a discovery of the town’s natural and vernacular heritage. There’s a pond, fruit trees and hedgerows… The Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels takes care of this exceptional area, which in itself explains how Artonne’s location has attracted people since Gallo-Roman times.

5. Randan, a true royal estate

A change of scenery in Randan, between Riom and Vichy, with a village of discreet charm at the heart of which sits an exceptional monument: the Domaine royal de Randan.

Rehabilitated and considerably enlarged by the Orléans family between 1821 and 1825, on the site of a modest château that had existed since the 12th century, the Domaine Royal de Randan is the heir to a long and tragic history.

A hundred years later, in 1825, a mysterious fire gave the site the shape it has today. Fortunately, a large part of its collections were saved from the flames.

Since summer 2023, you’ll have to stroll through its monumental kitchen wing and tiptoe into its Hunting Museum!

A collection of 450 masterfully naturalised animals awaits you here. These are the fruits of the expeditions of the whimsical Prince Ferdinand d’Orléans in the early 20th century. Staged as they were in the splendour of the site’s heyday, these animals tell the story of a very special era and its customs… And this unique museum also gives you the chance to see species that are on the brink of extinction.