After visiting La Chaise-Dieu and its thousand-year-old abbey, the "Casa Dei" with its many outbuildings and which shone throughout Europe for several centuries, this stay invites you to the heart of the Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park.
You will discover the wooded landscapes to the rhythm of the train of yesteryear and the secrets of making Fourme d'Ambert or artisanal paper with the inclusion of dried flowers and plants, centuries-old and ancestral traditions of this region.
First day: La Chaise-Dieu
10 a.m.: welcome and guided tour of the Gothic abbey church of St Robert and its treasures: the marble tomb of Pope Clement VI surrounded by 144 carved oak stalls adorning the monks' choir, a flamboyant Gothic rood screen, a magnificent 17th century organ case and the famous 15th century mural “the dance of death”... Then continue the tour to discover the cloister, the 16th century Flemish tapestries stamped National Treasure or the famous echo room with its astonishing acoustics...
12 p.m.: lunch in a Casadean restaurant
15 p.m.: guided tour of the Garden for the Earth in Arlanc located 15 km north of La Chaise-Dieu: this garden extends over more than 6 hectares. Designed in the shape of a planisphere, it allows you to take a real world tour where the lawns symbolize the seas and oceans and the planted areas have the shape of the continents. 2000 varieties and 700 species of plants are returned to their continent of origin. Departing from the belvedere, you will be guided by an animator who will tell you the history of plants and famous explorers. You will then just have to finish your world tour using the map.
17 p.m.: end of the visit and return to La Chaise-Dieu. Installation in gîtes at the Village de la Tour for dinner and the night.
Second day: Livradois and its secrets
10 a.m.: meet at La Chaise-Dieu station to board the Picasso tourist train heading to Ambert via the Dore valley…
12 p.m.: lunch in an Amber restaurant
15 p.m.: guided tour of the Maison de la Fourme followed by a small tasting: exciting discovery of an AOC cheese, an element of heritage, culture and the local economy. Explanations on traditional and contemporary manufacturing with a visit to the maturing cellar. The visit will end with a taste workshop with the tasting of different fourmes.
Or your choice: guided tour of the Moulin Richard de Bas, a historic paper museum, some of whose buildings date back to the 15th century and which was the cradle of French papermaking. Paper made in an artisanal and traditional way from rags with the inclusion of dried flowers and plants.
18 p.m.: end of your day and stay.
Example of proposed menu: Bleu d'Auvergne tart and mixed greens / Auvergne sausage and truffade / Auvergne cheese platter / blueberry tart
First day: La Chaise-Dieu
10 a.m.: welcome and guided tour of the Gothic abbey church of St Robert and its treasures: the marble tomb of Pope Clement VI surrounded by 144 carved oak stalls adorning the monks' choir, a flamboyant Gothic rood screen, a magnificent 17th century organ case and the famous 15th century mural “the dance of death”... Then continue the tour to discover the cloister, the 16th century Flemish tapestries stamped National Treasure or the famous echo room with its astonishing acoustics...
12 p.m.: lunch in a Casadean restaurant
15 p.m.: guided tour of the Garden for the Earth in Arlanc located 15 km north of La Chaise-Dieu: this garden extends over more than 6 hectares. Designed in the shape of a planisphere, it allows you to take a real world tour where the lawns symbolize the seas and oceans and the planted areas have the shape of the continents. 2000 varieties and 700 species of plants are returned to their continent of origin. Departing from the belvedere, you will be guided by an animator who will tell you the history of plants and famous explorers. You will then just have to finish your world tour using the map.
17 p.m.: end of the visit and return to La Chaise-Dieu. Installation in gîtes at the Village de la Tour for dinner and the night.
Second day: Livradois and its secrets
10 a.m.: meet at La Chaise-Dieu station to board the Picasso tourist train heading to Ambert via the Dore valley…
12 p.m.: lunch in an Amber restaurant
15 p.m.: guided tour of the Maison de la Fourme followed by a small tasting: exciting discovery of an AOC cheese, an element of heritage, culture and the local economy. Explanations on traditional and contemporary manufacturing with a visit to the maturing cellar. The visit will end with a taste workshop with the tasting of different fourmes.
Or your choice: guided tour of the Moulin Richard de Bas, a historic paper museum, some of whose buildings date back to the 15th century and which was the cradle of French papermaking. Paper made in an artisanal and traditional way from rags with the inclusion of dried flowers and plants.
18 p.m.: end of your day and stay.
Example of proposed menu: Bleu d'Auvergne tart and mixed greens / Auvergne sausage and truffade / Auvergne cheese platter / blueberry tart
Admission fees
Adult: from €250 (based on 30 people).
What is included
The price includes
one night with half board at the Village de gîtes La Tour in La Chaise-Dieu
2 lunches taken in a restaurant including 1/4 of wine and coffee or herbal tea per person
tourist tax
entrances to monuments and sites according to the established program
a one-way trip on the Picasso tourist train from La Chaise-Dieu to Ambert
booking tours and service providers
2 lunches taken in a restaurant including 1/4 of wine and coffee or herbal tea per person
tourist tax
entrances to monuments and sites according to the established program
a one-way trip on the Picasso tourist train from La Chaise-Dieu to Ambert
booking tours and service providers
The price does not include
single room supplement
transportation and personal expenses
transportation and personal expenses
Pratical information
dinner, night and breakfast in gîte village based on double room
- Booking
- Guided tours
- Groups welcome
Opening period
From 02 / 05 to 31 / 10.
Exceptional closures on Ascension Thursday, Pentecost Monday, May 8, July 14 and August 15.
Except Sundays and public holidays.
Exceptional closures on Ascension Thursday, Pentecost Monday, May 8, July 14 and August 15.
Except Sundays and public holidays.
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