Clermont-Ferrand > Ambert

07/31/2025 - Stage 6 - 123,7 km - Mountain

Find here soon all the cultural points around today's stage.

In the meantime,you can return to the stage page to discover all the tourism information about the start and arrival cities of the stage!

Region: Auvergne-Rhône Alpes

Departments: Ain, Allier, Ardèche, Cantal, Drôme, Isère, Loire, Haute-Loire, Puy-de-Dôme, Rhône, Métropole de Lyon, Savoie, Haute-Savoie.

Population: 8 million

Prefecture: Lyon

Surface area: 69,711 km2

Specialities: Beaujolais, Côtes du Rhône and Savoie wines, Lyon specialities (quenelles, cervelles de canut, saucisson?), potée auvergnate (stew), Savoy specialities (raclette, fondue, tartiflettes, diots, crozets), cheeses (beaufort, reblochon, cantal, bleu d'Auvergne, Salers, saint-Nectaire...), green lentil of Le Puy, waters (Evian, Thonon, Volvic) verbena, chartreuse.

Sports clubs: Olympique Lyonnais, AS Saint-Etienne, Clermont Foot 63, Grenoble Foot 38 (football). ASM Clermont, Lyon OU, FC Grenoble, Stade Aurillacois, US Oyonnax (rugby), ASVEL Villeurbanne (basketball), Chambéry (handball), Brûleurs de loup Grenoble, Pionniers de Chamonix (ice hockey).

Competitions: women's football world cup, ski competitions (Première neige criterium in Val d'Isère), Tour de France mountain passes, Criterium du Dauphiné.

Economy: (8thEuropean region) high-tech industries, automotive (Berliet), metallurgy, rubber, plastics, chemicals, electronics, agri-food, textiles, digital, banks, universities, administration, viticulture. tyres (Michelin). Design. New technologies (Inovallée) Winter and summer tourism.

Festivals: Fête des Lumières in Lyon, Nuits de Fourvière in Lyon, quais du polar in Lyon, Design biennale in Saint-Etienne, classical music festival in La Chaise-Dieu, etc.

Tourist attractions: Old Lyon and Croix-Rousse, Le Puy-en-Velay cathedral, Lake Annecy, Chambéry castle, winter sports in Isère, Savoie and Haute-Savoie, Cantal, spa resorts, Auvergne volcanoes. Caverne du Pont d'Arc. Château de Grignan. Grenoble Bastille. Vulcania. Parc des Oiseaux.

Websites and social networks: www.auvergnerhonealpes.fr

PUY-DE-DÔME (63)

Population: 656,643

Prefecture: Clermont-Ferrand

Sub-prefectures: Ambert, Issoire, Riom, Thiers

Surface area: 7,970 km2

Specialities: cheeses (Bleu d'Auvergne, Cantal, Fourme d'Ambert, Salers and Saint-nectaire), Salers beef,

Major sports clubs : ASM Clermont Auvergne (rugby), Clermont Université Club (basketball),

Major competitions: Mont-Dore hill-climb (car), Volvic cross-country race.

Festivals: international short film festival in Clermont-Ferrand, Europavox, Jazz en tête, Jazz aux sources in Châtel-Guyon, International World Music and Dance Festival in Issoire, Coutellia in Thiers.

Tourist attractions: Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Park, spas (La Bourboule, Châteauneuf-les-Bains, Châtel-Guyon, Mont-Dore, Royat-Chamalières and Saint-Nectaire), Notre-Dame-du-Port in Clermont-Ferrand, cutlery museum in Thiers, winter sports (Super-Besse, Le Mont-Dore).

Economy: tyres (Michelin), food industry (Limagrain, mineral water), metallurgy, spa treatments, tourism.

Websites and social networks: www.puy-de-dome.fr

Km 5

Pont-du-Château (Pop: 12,420)

The former river port of Clermont-Ferrand has preserved a remarkable heritage, including the 17th-century château of the Montboissier Beaufort Canillac family, now the town hall, its 16th-century half-timbered houses, the church of Sainte-Martine and a museum dedicated to inland waterway transport. This is the town of linguist Alain Rey, after whom the municipal library is named.

Km 10.3

Vertaizon (Pop: 3,440)

The old church of Notre-Dame was built at the end of the 12th and 13th centuries on the foundations of the old castral chapel. At the end of the 19th century, a new church was built in the centre of the village. The old building became disused and demolition was authorised. However, strong reactions to the approaching destruction of the choir led to the demolition being halted. Its abandonment and invasive vegetation further exacerbated its deterioration. An association, ASEV-SIT, was set up in 1974 to protect and maintain the monument, which was listed as a Historic Monument in 1926 and classified in 1981. All that remains today are two large arches in the nave, a vaulted room and the north porch. The choir, its two chapels and the bell tower are still intact. The decoration consists mainly of bases and capitals forming friezes decorated with masks, escutcheons and fleurs-de-lys or foliage. Traces of mural painting can be seen on both sides of the walls, and a Saint Christopher can still be seen in the small oratory.

Km 16.4

Moissat (Pop: 1,220)

Worth a visit for the church of Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens, one of the oldest in Lower-Auvergne, listed as a historic monument since 1983. It is thought to have been built in 912 by the monks of Saint-Lomer de Blois, who were fleeing the Norman invasions and protecting the relics of their founder, Saint Lomer. In the early 12th century, a copper shrine was commissioned from the Limoges workshops to contain his bones. This reliquary is now part of the treasury of Clermont Cathedral.

Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens church

Construction: 11th century.

Style: Romanesque.

History: it was built in 912 by the monks of Saint-Lomer in Blois, who were fleeing the Norman invasions and protecting the relics of their founder, Saint Lomer. At the beginning of the 12th century, a shrine made of embossed copper was commissioned from the Limoges workshops to contain his bones. This reliquary is now part of the treasury of Clermont Cathedral. The western facade of the church features murals dating from the 15th century. Above the porch is a tomb scene. On one of the door pillars, vignettes probably evoke Louis XI's visit to Basse-Auvergne.

Special feature: it is considered to be the oldest church in Basse-Auvergne.

Listed as: Historic Monument in 1983.

Km 19.5

Ravel (Pop: 730)

Ravel Castle

Construction: 12th century.

Style: fortified castle.

History: Ravel castle dates back to 1147 and was first occupied by Pierre de Ravel. It became royal property under Philip III the Bold and Philip IV the Fair. Following succession, it belonged to the de Chauvigny, d'Amboise, de la Rochefoucault, Combourcier du Terrail and d'Estaing families. In 1806, it was bought by Charles de Riberolles de Beaucène, and the same family still owns it today.

Characteristics: this powerful medieval fortress with its 13th-century keep and five towers, one of which is octagonal, was embellished at the end of the 18th century by Admiral d'Estaing, whose naval memorabilia can still be admired today. The finest part of its decoration and the best-preserved dates from the 18th century. From the terrace, designed by Le Nôtre, there is a magnificent panoramic view of Limagne and the Chaîne des Puys. The walls and towers of the east facade of this vast building date back to feudal times, while the Honour Courtyard dates from the 17th century and the west wing from the 18th century. The most illustrious occupant of the château, before Admiral d'Estaing, was certainly the red-headed Pierre Flote, appointed Chancellor of France by Philip the Fair in1300.

Trivia: the Château de Ravel was the setting for the 2003 film The Chorus. A major fire in 2016 had no dramatic consequences.

Listed as: Historic Monument in 1958.

Km 30.1

Sermentizon (Pop: 720)

Château d'Aulteribe

Built in the 13th century.

Style: fortified castle. History: the oldest mention of the site of Aulteribe dates back to the 13th century. The Cholet family were the first lords. In the second half of the 15th century, the castle passed to the de La Fayette lords through marriage. Charles Motier de La Fayette fortified the Aulteribe square with arrows and gunboats in 1467. The château subsequently belonged to the Monboissier family, before being acquired by the de Pierre family in 1775. In the 19th century, Joseph de Pierre and his wife Henriette Onslow set about restoring and converting the old residence, which had retained its medieval appearance, in the Romantic style. A new façade embellished with machicolations and a brace opens onto a Gothic doorway. A corner tower to the south and a square tower to the east were added.

Current purpose: in 1954, Marquis Henri de Pierre bequeathed the château and its collections to the State, and the presentation was renewed in 2006. The furniture is used to illustrate and apply the history of art and techniques taught as part of the preparation for the BTM, a vocational technical diploma.

Listed as: Historic Monument in 1949.

Km 33.2

Courpiere (Pop: 4,000)

At the heart of the Livradois-Forez nature park, Courpière has many attractions for heritage lovers, including the listed Château de La Barge, the 12th-century church of Saint-Martin, the Bellime manor house at the entrance to the town, Château des Rioux and the remains of fortifications and half-timbered houses. Coco Chanel's mother came from Courpière, where the future queen of haute couture spent part of her childhood.

Château de la Barge

Construction: 12th, 13th and 16th centuries.

Style: medieval and Renaissance.

History: it stands in the heart of a rural setting close to a Roman road and a ford on the River Dore. It has preserved part of its original moat and its Renaissance terraces cover three sides up to the first floor. They lead to a chapel lit by a series of remarkable stained-glass windows. It was here that travellers on the Via Agrippa crossed the River Dore. The original fortress was built in the 12th and 13th centuries, then transformed into a fine residence in the 16th century, to which were added terraced gardens with four hundred balusters, designed by Le Nôtre, and a chapel in the 18th century, whose stained-glass windows have recently been restored. Originally owned by the de La Barge family, the château passed to the de Montmorin family in 1711. The de Montmorin family hesitated to demolish the château as it was considered too small but finally decided to renovate it. The four towers have kept their original roofs. The colonnade supporting the balcony adorned with balusters dates from the Renaissance. The gardens are as remarkable as the château itself, which is still carefully tended by the Montmorins.

Listed as: Historic Monument in 1975.

Km 56.4

Olliergues (Pop: 740)

The town's massive castle houses the Museum of Art and Traditions of the Olliergues Country, which can be visited from July to August. The town also boasts Château de la Montmarie, built in the late 19th century for Baron Robert de Nervo in the neo-Renaissance style and now converted into a hotel. A 19th-century captain of industry, Baron de Nervo is buried in the local cemetery.

LOIRE (42)

Population: 772,000

Prefecture: Saint-Etienne

Sub-prefectures: Montbrison, Roanne

Surface area: 4,773 km2

Specialities: râpée, barboton (meat), sarasson, fourme de Montbrison (cheese)

Major sports clubs: AS Saint-Etienne (football), Chorale Roanne Basket.

Major competitions: SaintéLyon (night-time running raid), Grand Prix de la ville de Saint-Etienne (cycling)

Festivals: Saint-Etienne Book Festival, International Design Biennial, Gourd Festival in Andrézieux, BD'Art Festival in Rive-de-Gier, Rhino Jazz in Saint-Chamond.

Tourist attractions: Saint-Martin-la-Plaine zoo, Chalmazel ski resort, Saint-Étienne museums, Château de Bouthéon.

Economy: steel, mechanical engineering, medical textiles, optics, design, retail (Casino).

Websites / social networks: www.loire.fr / loiretourisme.com / loireforez.com

Km 79.2

Col du Béal (1,390 m)

Classified as a second category, the Col du Béal made its debut in the men's Tour de France in 2020 with Stefan Küng in the lead, but it was already well known to the peloton. During the 2014 Criterium du Dauphiné, Chris Froome and Alberto Contador fought a fierce battle there. In 2016, the Dauphiné returned to these slopes for a victory by Jesus Herrada in Chalmazel-Jeansagnière.

Km 79.3

Chalmazel-Jeansagnière (Pop: 450)

Chalmazel-Jeansagnière is famous for its 13th-century castle, its pastoral charm and its authentic inhabitants, but also for its mid-mountain winter sports resort. Its alpine ski area stretches from an altitude of 1,109 to 1,600 metres on the slopes of Pierre-sur-Haute, the highest point in the Forez mountains (1,634 metres), between the forest and the wild moors at altitude (the Hautes Chaumes). The first pistes were laid out in the 1930s and the first ski lift built in 1953 on the initiative of the local ski club. Today, the site has twelve kilometres of downhill ski runs served by a chairlift, seven ski lifts and 90 snow guns. In 2016, Chalmazel hosted a stage of the Criterium du Dauphiné, won by Spaniard Jesus Herrada.

Château de Chalmazel

Built in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Style: medieval.

History and characteristics: Chalmazel castle stands in the middle of the village. Construction began in 1231 at the instigation of the Marcilly family and was continued by the Talaru family from 1372. This feudal castle is part of the Forez estate and was used to control the road to Auvergne via the Béal pass. Medieval in appearance, it has retained elements of the fortified house dating back to 1231, but with all the successive modifications and additions made by the Talaru family over the centuries: loopholes, base of the walls, keep, machicolated sentry walk. It also features Renaissance elements: façade, inner courtyard, galleries, chapel. Now restored, it is open to visitors and has guest rooms and function rooms.

Listed as: Historic Monument in 1949