Pouring down from the Monts Dore, the river Sioule, which runs wild and unfettered through the Chouvigny gorges, is an altogether different waterway when it reaches Ebreuil, before continuing on its way to Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule and the Allier.
As it passes through the neighbouring villages, it reveals to us a peaceful and happy tourist region with colourful markets and something to see and do all year round.

In this timeless land you can admire the well-preserved architectural and historical heritage. Brighten up your stay with visits to Romanesque churches, castles and traditional villages. With their varied terrain, the area's plains and forests are home to a remarkable range of fauna and flora. We will show you the best trails and fishing areas.

Ebreuil, a green holiday resort and a charming little village in which the ancient architecture is currently being restored, owes its expansion to the construction of its abbey back in the Middle Ages. Don't forget to pay a family visit to the castle of Chouvigny, the numerous Romanesque buildings, the “Wolframines” geology museum at La Bosse, and the Bellenaves Motor Museum.
Listed as one of the “Plus Beaux Villages de France” (France's finest villages), the charming mediaeval village of Charroux will enchant you with the superb gates in its surrounding walls, its impressive private residences (including the house of the Prince of Condé) and its Rue de l’Horloge (clock street) or Rue  de la Poulaillerie (chicken sale street). From atop its panoramic viewpoint, the view across the Limagne Plain and the Auvergne Hills will amaze you. Don't leave without having sampled the delicious mustard for which Charroux is so famous.
Along with the wines from Saint-Pourçain, the nearby wine producing area, we also recommend that you try the bourbonnais chicken, potato pâté, piquenchâgne (pear bread) or the cheese brioche: tuck into a high-quality cuisine made with local products.

When it comes to activities, the area includes two open-air leisure centres alongside the water's edge, enabling you to travel down the river Sioule by canoe/kayak. Alternatively there's the Colettes Forest for tree climbing, hiking, horse riding or mountain biking.

In June, children can experience all the fun of the Ecolette discovery and adventure site in the Val de Sioule, giving them a chance to discover the forest with a range of open-air activities including orienteering and horse riding.

Your stay would not be complete without taking part in the World Cultures Festival at Gannat, in July, where music and dance from the world over symbolise the friendly atmosphere to be found at Le Val de Sioule.

www.val-de-sioule.com