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Hérisson

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Allier

Hérisson - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Allier
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A former stronghold of the Bourbons, the small medieval town of Hérisson, nestling on the banks of a meander of the River Aumance, forms a particularly harmonious group of buildings, with its feudal castle standing on a rocky spur, old residences and verdant banks. With fortified doors, 15th, 16th and 17th-century houses, the bell tower of St. Saviour, the remains of the castle from the 13th and 14th centuries, and the peaceful banks of the Aumance, there is plenty to delight walkers and lovers of picturesque sites!

In the month of July, the village of Hérisson welcomes the Mixed Arts Festival, an eclectic programme combining theatre, music, photography, circus, puppets and painting.

Additional information
Hérisson

In a romantic site in the heart of Val d'Aumance, Hérisson is a medieval village located in the Allier department, 3 hours from Paris, 1 hour from Clermont-Ferrand and 20 minutes from Montluçon.

Hérisson offers real historical and archaeological interest. The city, surrounded by a wall flanked by 22 towers, developed at the foot of the castle, in a loop of the Aumance. Three fortified gates gave access to the three main streets which converged towards the Place du Chapitre (of the Collegiate Church of St Sauveur whose only bell tower remains today).

The Bourbonnais music festival, created in 1966, takes place every year from mid-July to mid-August in the church of Châteloy. This festival was created to bring musical entertainment to the region and to restore the Romanesque church and its 13th and 16th century murals

Medieval city in the Aumance valley, Hérisson is of real historical interest and archaeological. The city was founded around the 5th century, after the inhabitants of the old oppidum of Cordes (Châteloy) had been driven out by the barbarians in the 4th century. Benefiting from an excellent location, in the shade of a small fort (Castellum), the city quickly developed into a watchtower until the 11th century and was erected in the 12th century as a chatellenie by the Bourbons.

Having become a fortified town and one of the main strongholds of the Duchy, over the years it has experienced many sieges and vicissitudes which have marked its history: assaults by the English twice (12th and 14th centuries), attacks by brigands who were driven out by Charles VII in the 15th century, in rebellion during the "Public Welfare" war, it was taken by Louis XI in 1465. Having almost been taken in 1650, by treachery, during the Fronde, the insurgents finally seized it in 1651 but, shortly after, it was taken over by the Count of Saint-Gérand who returned it to royal power.

In 1698, the castle was dismantled, by order of Mazarin, and served as a quarry for the construction of several residences.

Prosperous before the Revolution, Hérisson, which had become an administrative center, experienced, despite some vicissitudes, a certain boom until the appearance of new means of communication in the 19th century which took it away from trade routes and markets, while remaining attractive by its rich heritage and its environment.

The town developed at the foot of the castle, in a loop of the Aumance, surrounded by a wall flanked by 22 towers. Three fortified gates gave access to the three main streets converging towards the Place du Chapitre, at the foot of the bell tower of the Saint-Sauveur collegiate church.

Replacing a dungeon from the 10th and 11th centuries, the current castle was built between the 11th and 15th centuries to become one of the main fortresses of the Bourbons, facing the area of English influence during the Hundred Years War.

Like the city, this citadel suffered numerous sieges and attacks until the 17th century, when it was dismantled. Composed of three parts (the farmyard, the high court and an enormous square keep), flanked by a smaller one and two towers, with more than thirty meters high, it dominated all the surroundings.

The Farmyard, which included a chapel, accommodation and stables, was protected by three towers and high walls on the south and east sides. A drawbridge, over a wide ditch, gave access to the high court which included, in addition to the two dungeons, five towers connected by curtain walls and a house with its outbuildings. The whole formed a pentagon of 70 meters by 33 approximately.

A panel, placed near the entrance (in the public garden) represents a plausible reconstruction of the castle. From the upper court, it is now possible to appreciate the impressive remains of this fortress and to admire the old village of Hérisson, the Aumance valley and the surrounding heights.

Very close to Hérisson, is Châteloy, an ancient Gallo-Roman city, overlooking the valley of Aumance. This very important oppidum, of which we find the vestiges around the current hamlet (walls, ditches, embankments...) controlled the way connecting Bourges-Clermont-Ferrand.

After its destruction by the barbarians, the peasants took refuge further south, under the protection of a small fort overlooking the Aumance and founded Hérisson. A first chapel, replacing a pagan temple and a priory, already existed in the 11th century before the construction of the current Romanesque church dating from the 12th century. This restored building contains beautiful murals.

Hérisson, nestled in the peaceful meanders of the Aumance, was a town steeped in history. Today, Hérisson hosts many cultural events: theatrical days, music festival, various exhibitions, folkloric meetings. Hérisson is a place of relaxation and discovery, offering, in the surrounding valley of Aumance, many sports and leisure activities.

Things to see and do

Places of interest

Information points
Monuments
Transport

Events and festivities

Photos

The feudal castle
The feudal castle
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The church of Saint-Pierre de Châteloy
The church of Saint-Pierre de Châteloy
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The edges of the Aumance
The edges of the Aumance
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Overview
Overview
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L'Aumance
L'Aumance
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Venelle
Venelle
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Village
Village
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View of the Saint-Sauveur bell tower
View of the Saint-Sauveur bell tower
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Site of the chapel of Calvaire
Site of the chapel of Calvaire
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The Romanesque church of Châteloy
The Romanesque church of Châteloy
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The Romanesque church of Châteloy on its rock
The Romanesque church of Châteloy on its rock
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Walk in the heart of the city of Hérisson
Walk in the heart of the city of Hérisson
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Hérisson : general view
Hérisson : general view
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Bell tower of Saint-Sauveur church
Bell tower of Saint-Sauveur church
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Fortress of the Sires of Bourbon
Fortress of the Sires of Bourbon
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Notre-Dame Church
Notre-Dame Church
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Fortress of the Sires of Bourbon
Fortress of the Sires of Bourbon
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Fortress of the Sires of Bourbon
Fortress of the Sires of Bourbon
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Fortress of Sires de Bourbon
Fortress of Sires de Bourbon
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Chapelle du Calvaire
Chapelle du Calvaire
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Fortress of the Sires de Bourbon
Fortress of the Sires de Bourbon
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General view on the banks of the Aumance
General view on the banks of the Aumance
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Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Walking into one of the finest oak, the forest of.

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

Your holidays
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