The erstwhile capital of Comté d’Auvergne
Vic-le-Comte, with its houses clothed in white stone and ochre-coloured roofs, has something of the little villages of Tuscany about it. In its sun-drenched valleys, the harmonious succession of grassland and swathes of forest provide a bucolic picture of Comté d’Auvergne. It has a real southern feel to it.
A tip for you: when you get to Vic-le-Comte, go for a wander through its streets and alleyways. You’ll find lovely timber-framed houses dating from the Middle Ages, as well as really pleasant winemakers’ houses from the 19th century. When you get to La Sainte-Chapelle, you’ll just have to push open its door. The soothing silence of this vessel of stone will beckon you in, and you’ll be enchanted by the sparkling colours of the stained-glass windows and the stories they have to tell. You’re right back in the Renaissance era!
Before setting off once more along the roads of Mond’Arverne, don’t forget to come and see the decidedly unusual exhibitions at the Trampoline, a space dedicated to contemporary art. A leap from the culture of the past to the culture of today.
Having left the erstwhile capital of Comté d’Auvergne, continue your travels through its forest. This vast and mysterious area of woodland is home to one of Auvergne’s largest population of oak trees. It is also home to delicate plant life and protected animal species. Respect and discretion are therefore required! When you choose one of the three hiking trails here, take a little time to see what’s around you and feel the dense nature enshrouding you. Can you smell the pleasing scent of the undergrowth?
And when you return from your time in the forest, while the sun starts to set and the sky takes on orange hues, have a look around Manglieu, Pignols and Yronde-et-Buron and get a feel for them. A little break in the south among the dormant volcanoes.
Vic-le-Comte, with its houses clothed in white stone and ochre-coloured roofs, has something of the little villages of Tuscany about it
