Souvigny walks

A circular route through the Souvigny countryside, with the first part passing through large cultivated fields and the second part through more rural and wooded areas. Beautiful opulent farms and manor houses line the route, not to mention, of course, the beautiful village of Souvigny.

On the agenda for a busy day: a visit to the unmissable National Centre for Stage Costumes, which alone is worth a detour to Moulins; you'll still have time to cross the Allier to stroll through the shopping streets and the historic district, perhaps visiting one or two other museums.The time indicated for this trip does not, of course, take into account visits to the various museums.

A round trip on the Sentier aménagé des Castors (Beaver Trail) from Moulins, along the banks of the Allier.

Circular walk to enjoy the countryside. Starts and finishes at the Étangs des Baillys. The route follows mainly rural paths through the hedgerow countryside of the Sologne Bourbonnaise, with sunken lanes that are damp or even wet in places, old oak trees, and wild flora and fauna – keep quiet and observe...This route becomes technical in winter or after wet weather, which adds to the charm of the old paths...

Circular walks, in the shape of a figure of eight, along sunken paths, through pastures and hedgerows with lovely views of the countryside.

An easy hike in the hills overlooking Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, west of the Allier valley, partly following the GR®300 trail with a few short stretches on minor roads. Easy, well-marked and signposted paths. Beautiful views of Saint Pourçain-sur-Sioule. Unshaded route, best avoided during heatwaves.

A family hike that passes through the vineyards of Saint-Pourçain.

A flat walk along unpaved forest tracks (known as ‘roads’), winding through hedgerows and state-owned woodland (oak forest).

Walk around Fleuriel. A bit of tarmac but on a quiet road, a bit of woodland, a bit of meadow. A varied landscape for a walk during which you can bring a picnic.

A walk through the bocage landscape of the Nivernais region. Here, the hedges that border the meadows have been preserved, giving the surrounding countryside a certain charm. Throughout this circular route, you may see horses, donkeys and cattle grazing, the latter mainly of the Charolais breed.

A walk through the Giverzat Forest suitable for families and even mountain bikers, except around the point (8), where it is advisable to walk alongside your bike.

A short 8-shaped walk at the foot of Saint-Vincent de Chantelle Abbey.

A route along wide paths that are shaded in summer and wonderfully colourful in autumn. Best avoided in wet weather (slippery).

A circular route in the commune of Montaigu-le-Blin, voted the most beautiful village in the Allier in 2012. This route allows you to take a leisurely afternoon stroll to discover some of Montaigu’s heritage, including the large wash house, the fortified castle, Presles Castle, the Roman road, the Celtic cross and St Anne’s Church. It has been created by combining several ‘heritage routes’ offered by this small village, where time seems to stand still out of season. On this easy-to-moderate route, which takes just under 3 hours, the effort is sustained and mostly on tarmac, but the breaks to admire the local heritage treasures and the panoramic views allow you to recover. Only the grassy slope between the wash house and the fortified castle is more demanding, but it can be bypassed by climbing up to the fortified castle from the village centre rather than directly from the wash house.

Route along the Loire, via Île de Caqueret and the old town.