Top 10 things to do in the Allier in 2026
Unpack your bags in the Allier, and take your time. Between the Belle Époque façades of Vichy, the centuries-old oaks of Tronçais and the Bourbonnais fortresses planted in the middle of nowhere, there's enough here to build a proper stay.
We've selected ten specific experiences for you, with concrete tips. Each entry is something we genuinely recommend.
Contents
- Taste the Célestins water at the Hall des Sources in Vichy
- Stroll around Vichy's covered market
- Have lunch facing the Lac d'Allier, below La Rotonde
- An evening at the N3, the restaurant of the Célestins hotel
- Sail on the Lac d'Allier
- Discover the Musée des Arts d'Afrique et d'Asie
- A day at Vichy racecourse
- Climb the Rocher Saint-Vincent
- Go up to the Billy fortress
- Visit the Château des Ducs de Bourbon in Montluçon
1. Taste the Célestins water at the Hall des Sources in Vichy
It's the first thing to do when you set foot in Vichy. Built in 1903, the work of the architects Charles Le Cœur and Lucien Woog, on the spot where the Chomel and Grande Grille springs emerge, the Hall des Sources is a large hall with a metal structure, open, airy and bright.
Access is free, and the Célestins spring water can be tasted there at no cost, on the east side of the building. The other springs in the hall are reserved for curistes (people taking the cure) with the Pass'Curistes.
Handy tip: come in the morning, before 10:00. The atmosphere is calmer, and you'll see the regulars doing their daily “round” with their personal water glass.
2. Stroll around Vichy's covered market
Vichy's covered market is the best place to understand what Auvergne really eats. Regional charcuterie, local cheeses, locally grown vegetables: the producers are there in person.
It's also a good way to put together a picnic before heading off to the Forêt de Tronçais or the châteaux of the Bourbonnais. You leave with a full bag and a clear idea of the terroir.
Handy tip: in 2026, the Grand Marché is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 07:00 to 13:00. On Saturday, look up to the mezzanine: that's where the market of local and organic producers is held.
3. Have lunch facing the Lac d'Allier, below La Rotonde
Just below La Rotonde, on boulevard Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, the Bistrot Bocuse Original Comptoir overlooks the Lac d'Allier. On the menu: tapas, cocktails, grilled meats and reworked bistro dishes, burgers, croques (toasted sandwiches), tatakis.
In the afternoon, it's all cold drinks, crêpes and waffles. The terrace seats 220.
Handy tip: in 2026, the bistro serves every day from 12:00 until 22:00 (22:30 on Friday and Saturday). Convenient for a late lunch after a morning at the market.
4. An evening at the N3, the restaurant of the Célestins hotel
On the ground floor of the Célestins Spa Thermal & Hôtel, a five-star hotel set on the bank of the Allier in a park of centuries-old trees, the N3 serves creative cooking in a modern setting. It's not an everyday address, but if you're looking for an evening that marks the stay, this is the place.
The cooking is refined, the decor does its job without overdoing it. For a birthday or simply to treat yourself once, the experience is consistent from start to finish.
Handy tip: until 31 October 2026, the N3 serves on Friday and Saturday evenings, from 19:00 to 21:30. In 2026, allow from €35 à la carte and €48 for the set menu.
5. Sail on the Lac d'Allier
At the Rotonde port, the Compagnie des Bateliers takes you aboard La Pastille for a one-hour cruise on the Lac d'Allier, from the urban part of the lake to the threshold of the river’s wild stretch. In 2026, allow €15 per person.
New in 2026, the Circuit des Îles goes up the lake to its wildest part: unspoilt banks, lush vegetation, discreet wildlife. Allow €19 for one hour from the Chez Mémère pontoon, in Bellerive-sur-Allier, or €25 for one hour thirty from the Rotonde port.
Handy tip: in 2026, the boats sail from 7 April to 15 October, from 10:00 until sunset, weather permitting. Bring binoculars for the Circuit des Îles.
6. Discover the Musée des Arts d'Afrique et d'Asie
At 16 avenue Thermale, this museum began in 1922 as a showcase for the Maison du Missionnaire, an association created by Henri Watthé to house Catholic missionaries and obtain free spa treatments for them. Its collection was built up from 1922 to 1940: 4,000 items and natural specimens.
Fine arts, ethnography, sacred art, music, photography: the collections cover Africa and Asia, but also the Americas and Oceania. In 2026, the museum is open from 11 April to 1 November, Tuesday to Sunday from 14:00 to 18:00, and adult entry costs €5.
Handy tip: ideal in rainy weather, or to break up a busy day between two outdoor visits.
7. A day at Vichy racecourse
Racing in Vichy began in 1875, but the racecourse, set up in Bellerive-sur-Allier on the left bank of the river, was only laid out in 1895. In 2026, the season had 39 race days, both trotting and gallop racing, from early May to late September. The Grand Prix de Vichy (Gr. III) is the high point of the Festival du Galop, from 20 to 25 July in 2026.
The current grandstand, with 1,500 seats, dates from 1952. In 2026, entry is free for under-18s. Even if you don't bet, the atmosphere of a race day here is worth the trip.
Handy tip: the week of the Festival du Galop draws the crowds. For a quieter atmosphere, choose another day in the season.
8. Climb the Rocher Saint-Vincent
Perched at 925 metres in the Montagne bourbonnaise, 2 km north of Lavoine, the Rocher Saint-Vincent overlooks the Sichon valley. At the top, a viewpoint indicator helps you read the landscape, and a few ruins of the Château de Pyramont, built in the Middle Ages, remain.
The site is private property: stay on the path. The raven, a protected species, nests on the main rock: from January to June, keep a low profile. In autumn, the colours of the surrounding forest completely transform the landscape.
Handy tip: wear shoes suited to the rocky terrain. The sunset from this promontory is an experience in itself, but head back before full darkness: the path isn't lit.
9. Go up to the Billy fortress
At Billy, in the Allier valley, the military fortress dates from the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Bought in August 1232 by the lord of Bourbon, it was extended and reinforced by the lords of Bourbon over the centuries.
You climb up through the lanes of the village. The Chabotin gate protected the first level of fortification; the Barbery tower was part of the second enclosure, which had 7 towers linked together by curtain walls. Once on the ramparts, the view takes in the Val d'Allier.
Handy tip: guided tours are offered by the tourist office. In 2026, the September ones run Wednesday to Sunday, at 14:00 and 16:00, until 27 September. No tours in the event of a storm.
10. Visit the Château des Ducs de Bourbon in Montluçon
Completed in the 15th century by Louis II de Bourbon and his sons, the Château des Ducs de Bourbon overlooks Montluçon. Private residence, law court, performance hall, café, military barracks: it has seen it all before becoming a heritage site.
Since it reopened in November 2025, it has been a modern museum. Its permanent exhibition fills four rooms and tells the story of Montluçon and its area, from geology to the industrial changes of the 20th century.
Handy tip: since the start of the 2026 school year, the château has been open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 17:00. Keep some time for the medieval town and its half-timbered houses, arranged around the château.
Practical info
Best season: May to September, to enjoy the races at the racecourse, the open-air markets and the hikes in the monts de la Madeleine. Autumn is particularly good for the Rocher Saint-Vincent and the Forêt de Tronçais (not on the list but not to be missed).
Ideal length: three days minimum to cover Vichy and its immediate surroundings. Five days if you want to branch out to Montluçon, Billy and the monts de la Madeleine without feeling rushed.
Indicative budget: the Allier remains affordable. Access to the Hall des Sources is free, and the Célestins water can be tasted there at no cost. In 2026, the racecourse is free for under-18s, adult entry to the Musée des Arts d'Afrique et d'Asie costs €5, a one-hour cruise on the Lac d'Allier €15, and the N3’s à la carte menu starts at €35.
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