Property for sale in Allier

Allier is the northernmost department of the old Auvergne region, its gentler landscape of farmland and river valleys giving way to the more mountainous departments further south. Good rail links keep Moulins and Vichy connected to Paris and Clermont-Ferrand. Marked by spa and royal history, Allier is home to Vichy, recognised by UNESCO among the great spa towns of Europe, and to Moulins, whose architecture has a distinctly Loire Valley feel, a legacy of its history as capital of the Bourbonnais. Away from the best-known sites, buyers will find Montluçon, which developed around coal mining in the nineteenth century, and the extensive woodland walks of the Tronçais forest. Allier is also known for remaining notably affordable compared with much of France. A temperate climate brings warm summers and mild winters. Property ranges from a townhouse in Moulins or Vichy, a farmhouse in the Bourbonnais countryside or a rural property near the Tronçais forest, Allier offers good value. With spa heritage, royal history and affordability, it is a department well worth considering. On the local market, houses in Allier average €1,093/m².