Issoire City – Most Beautiful City Of France®

Labelled one of France’s most beautiful detours, Issoire lies on the Limagne plain, at the confluence of the green corridors of 2 rivers : the Allier and the Couze Pavin, which flows down from the Sancy massif.
The town grew up around the abbey church of Saint Austremoine, a masterpiece of(…)

Labelled one of France’s most beautiful detours, Issoire lies on the Limagne plain, at the confluence of the green corridors of 2 rivers : the Allier and the Couze Pavin, which flows down from the Sancy massif.
The town grew up around the abbey church of Saint Austremoine, a masterpiece of Romanesque art from the 12th century. With its colorful houses, red-tiled roofs and fountains, Issoire already has something of the South about it.
The town also boasts a series of private mansions dating from the 15th to 18th centuries around the Place de la République. All this is topped by the Tour de l’Horloge (Clock Tower), formerly known as the belfry, which was successively watchtower, town hall and municipal theater. Today, the Tour de l’Horloge is a must-see venue for exhibitions, with a belvedere offering panoramic views over the town and the landscapes of the Val d’Allier, Livradois and Massif du Sancy.
The town was built on an important irrigation network, the “biefs”, which can be seen here and there.
On Saturday mornings, don’t miss the Issoire market, the second largest in the Puy-de-Dôme.
Click on the links opposite to find out more about the town and download the town tour, the biefs circuit and the abbey church discovery booklet for 6-12 year-olds.