Vallée des Rouets

Thiers made knives for centuries, and it was here, in the Durolle gorges, that it all happened. The Vallée des Rouets is this river that plunges beneath the town and used to turn the rouets, those little mills where blades were sharpened by the force of the water.

Two waymarked trails run along the Durolle for about 3 km. Allow 45 minutes of walking, a good hour if you read the signs: remains of workshops clinging to the slope, waterwheels, and the sound of water everywhere. Open access all year round.

The highlight is the Lyonnet mill, the last rouet in working order, stopped in 1976 and then preserved. In July and August, a guided visit lets you see it turn, wheel and belts clattering (14:00 to 19:00, last departure 18:00; around €4.50 per adult, €2.50 for ages 10 to 16, free below that, 2026 price). You hear about the trade of the émouleurs (grinders), lying on a board above the grindstone, just above the icy water.

Our take, frankly: it's the hidden side of Thiers, more telling than a shop window for understanding where the knife comes from. Follow it up with the Musée de la Coutellerie (the cutlery museum) in town.