Cycling route n°7 : From Sauxillanges to Nonette

From Cluniac monks to Queen Margot, from Saint-Austremoine to the Duc de Berry : these emblematic figures left their mark on the Issoire region in their time. This cycle tour takes you on a journey of discovery through part of the region’s history. A history that has sometimes been written on(…)

From Cluniac monks to Queen Margot, from Saint-Austremoine to the Duc de Berry : these emblematic figures left their mark on the Issoire region in their time. This cycle tour takes you on a journey of discovery through part of the region’s history. A history that has sometimes been written on a national level. This is particularly true of the Order of Cluny, with its strong local roots, and Queen Margot, Queen of France, who spent 19 years under house arrest in the impregnable royal fortress of Usson. It’s also the story of the local lords and nobles. Think, for example, of the Duc de Berry, lord of Nonette and Usson, whose fame he made. Not forgetting the De Lastic family and their sublime château at Parentignat. Issoire’s central position symbolizes the town in this turbulent countryside.

Many vestiges of this rich period are still visible, despite the destruction. Don’t miss the ruins of the castles of Nonette and Usson. These two villages, built on volcanic knolls, offer sublime panoramic views. And don’t miss the Cluniac sites of Sauxillanges and Mailhat, testimony to the region’s religious history.