Discovering Montluçon and the Old Town
Visit Montluçon and the surrounding area
Montluçon, in the heart of France, welcomes you to its medieval setting. Visit Montluçon and discover its medieval city, its secrets and nooks and crannies.
To discover and visit Montluçon, we can provide you with a city map and our recommendations.
Discover the medieval city of Montluçon
Immerse yourself in the heart of the historic city of Montluçon and step back in time to the days of the Dukes of Bourbon. Stroll along the narrow streets, pass through the ancient gates and discover the architecture of timber-framed houses and townhouses, as well as the Romanesque and Gothic churches of the old town.
- Old castle
Rue Grande takes you to the castle esplanade, with views over Montluçon and the surrounding area. Louis II de Bourbon developed the château into a major stronghold during the Hundred Years’ War, as the English were unable to seize it.
- Church Notre Dame
This largely Gothic church is built on a former Romanesque section. You’ll discover that it has two parallel naves, and a Vierge de Pitié (Virgin of Pity) listed as a Historic Monument.
- Jardin Wilson – Wilson garden
Located in the medieval city, it is also known as the Jardin des Remparts (Ramparts Garden), due to the presence of the city’s fortifications. Designed in the classical French style, this garden features a wide variety of species. It features a large central avenue adorned with a statue of André Messager.
- St Peter’s Church
Saint-Pierre church was the seat of the parish of the lower town of Montluçon, created in the 12th century, which also extended into the surrounding countryside. Restored over the centuries, you’ll appreciate its exposed 16th-century framework and 15th-century chapels.
Practical information :
Office de tourisme de Montluçon – 67 ter Boulevard de Courtais – 03100 MONTLUÇON
https://www.valleecoeurdefrance.fr/ – 04 70 05 11 44
To see in Montluçon
- Château de la Louvière – La Louvière Castle
Inspired by the Petit Trianon at Versailles, the park and château (ISMH) at La Louvière were commissioned by Montluçonnais industrialist Monsieur Troubat in 1926. He himself drew up the plans for the park, a compromise between a French and an English garden. The park is home to numerous aromatic species. Sculptures and an aviary adorn the site. The adjoining gallery (l’orangerie) hosts temporary exhibitions.
- Église St Paul – St Paul Church
On a self-guided tour, discover Saint-Paul church (Monument Historique), one of only three in France to be supported by metal architecture. The arabesques of cast iron and steel that support the building were cast in the blast furnaces of the “Commentry – Fourchambault” company, just a few kilometers from Montluçon, during the first industrial revolution that marked the town’s golden age in the 19th century. This superb building was designed by the great architect Louis-Auguste Boileau and dates from 1867.
- Chapelle du Sacré Cœur de Jésus, dite de la Croix-Verte – Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, known as the Green Cross Chapel
Don’t be fooled by its sober façade: the interior of the chapel known as the Croix Verte is a real gem, with richly coloured paintings… Its oak and wrought iron door lets visitors into a warm and special atmosphere, full of history and anecdotes and inspired by the Sainte Chapelle in Paris. It boasts magnificent stained glass windows and a wealth of decorations and symbols. The church was built at the behest of Louise-Thérèse de Montaignac and completed in 1864, before being enlarged in 1920.
Practical informations :
Office de tourisme de Montluçon – 67 ter Boulevard de Courtais – 03100 MONTLUÇON
https://www.valleecoeurdefrance.fr/ – 04 70 05 11 44
MuPoP, Museum of Popular Music
The MuPop Music Museum, which has been awarded the Musée de France label, invites you to discover France’s largest collection of musical instruments and artefacts, dating from 1750 to the present day. Located in the heart of the medieval city of Montluçon, MuPop welcomes you to a building with innovative architecture, combining renovated town houses and contemporary buildings. A spectacular scenography and interactive installations have been designed to pay tribute to the popular music of yesterday and today. Visitors are taken on a journey back in time, through a number of different routes, to discover the astonishing history of popular music. Finally, with a view to raising awareness among young and old alike, MuPop also offers visitors a documentation centre and an area reserved for young audiences with educational workshops.
Practical informations :
3 rue Notre-Dame – 03100 MONTLUÇON
http://www.mupop.fr/ – 04 70 02 19 62
High season (May 1st to August 31) Monday to Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM
Low Season (February 1st to April 30th & September 1st to December 31th) Tuesday to Saturday From 10AM to 5PM
Closed from January 3rd to January 31th – Closed on January 1st; May 1st and December 25th
Domérat & Huriel
Two small villages with a long history of winegrowing just 10 minutes away from Montluçon.
Domérat
In Domérat’s Place Bacchus, you can admire a statue of the Greek god and a church with a pediment featuring the French Republic.The second-period Romanesque church contains essential parts dating back to the 12th century. The plan of the church is in the shape of a Latin cross. Guided tours and group visits on request. The chevet and part of the transept have been listed as Historic Monuments since 1910. The building comprises three naves sheltered by a single roof. Crypt beneath the choir is the largest in Bourbonnais: it comprises three naves of five bays each, extended by two higher bays to the east beneath the apse. It contains the 15th-century stone statue of Notre-Dame de la Râche, which was damaged during the Revolution and definitively restored in 1971.
Huriel
On the heights, Huriel and its Donjon de la Toque watch over the surrounding area. The Donjon de la Toque (MH) is one of the rare military remains in the Bourbonnais region and is one of a series of keeps built mainly south of the Loire.It is the best preserved of all. Originally dating from the 12th century, this square tower underwent various restorations and alterations from the 15th century to the present day. It is a symbol of the seigniorial power in place on the border between Berry and Bourbonnais.
On the ground floor, a winegrower’s cellar has been reconstructed as a tribute to the village’s winegrowing past, while the upper floors take visitors back to the Middle Ages in Huriélois. The site traces the history of the Lords of Huriel. A turret houses a splendid removable wooden model of the castle in days gone by. Finally, the enigma of the great restoration of 1900 is also raised in this room. A panoramic terrace, 25 metres high, leads our eyes into the Cher valley, with the skyline level with the Combrailles.
Practical information:
Mairie de Domérat – http://www.domerat.fr/ – 04 70 64 20 01
Point d’Information Touristique Huriel – http://www.mairie-huriel.fr/ – 04 70 02 04 10
Vous recherchez d’autres activités?
A la découverte de la ville de Montluçon? Suivez ce lien!
Vous venez visiter Montluçon en famille? Découvrez nos recommandations de visites familiales via ce lien!
Profitez de nos événements et salons sur Montluçon
Vous êtes plutôt concerts pour vos sorties? N’hésitez pas à jeter un coup d’oeil à cette page!
Vous êtes plutôt théâtre? Suivez le guide!
Vous cherchez des activités à réaliser en famille ou en team building? Visitez notre page de recommandations!
Vous recherchez une salle séminaire? C’est ici!
