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 The
Musical south of Auvergne -
Located on the territory of the Livradois-Forez Natural
Park, the region of La Chaise-Dieu is in the heart of
the woodlands with a luminous austerity, a place full
of historical and cultural background. A special meeting
for music lovers : the Festival of holy and classical
music, whose reputation is internationally known, enlightens
the magnificent gothic abbey where it takes place every
year with awe-inspiring works which have been rehabilitated
for the occasion. However, for country music lovers,
there is another music festival in Craponne (Festival
de musique de Craponne).The festival has been said to be one of the best in Europe by the specialist press. Not to be missed by sensation seekers!
From the Middle Ages to the French Revolution  - On the plateau of La Chaise-Dieu, every period is represented
by stories and ancient stones. Magnificent cultural and religious
heritage, the Benedictine Abbey of La Chaise-Dieu (l'abbaye
bénédictine de la Chaise-Dieu) is surprising because of the
military rigour of its church, the Baroque majesty of its « grandes
orgues » (great organs) and the weirdness of the  « salle
de l'écho » (echo room). In a non-religious context, it is
in the heart of the Domeyrat Castle (château de Domeyrat) that
you will be able to experience the daily life of medieval soldiers
by taking part in an entertaining tour, unless you prefer to
follow the famous General Lafayette 's footsteps by visiting,
in a pleasant musical atmosphere, the house where he was born,
in Chavaniac-Lafayette.
A land of trees and basalt -
If you are fond of shaded hikes in the underwoods, this region
will please you a lot. Huge conifer forests and 112.5 miles
(180 kms) of sign-posted footpaths will enable you to enjoy
a wide choice of walks. Close to the Chaise-Dieu,  take
the path of the «Serpent d'or » (the golden snake) to fathom
the secrets and the legends of the forest of Breuil (forêt
du Breuil) and feel free to climb on the «Signal de Saint-Claude » to
enjoy the calming stillness of the panoramic view of the
Monts du Forez. Nearby, close to Craponne, the strange
Bourrianne flow (la coulée de Bourrianne) puts an end to
the vegetation. This real mineral glacier is a special
universe in the heart of this green region. This is something
you cannot miss !
Going downstream - When a fisherman discovers
the Loire river and its tumultuous waters, he cannot help
falling in love with it, and its tributaries will not spoil
its reputation as the realm of the
Fario trout. In the region of La Chaise-Dieu, it is on the
river Ance du Nord, which is closed by the Passouira's dam (barrage de Passouira),
that fishing lovers will try to catch some fish. Even if
it is not easily accessible,
catches will be worth the effort. If you are looking for
some quiet places, the region also counts numerous ponds
such as the ponds of La Tour du Breuil
(Plans d'eau de la Tour du Breuil), which are located close to La Chaise-Dieu.
You will therefore be able to enjoy swimming and serene fishing. 
A gastronomic tour - Here, you will not only find dead leaves on the ground : red berries and currants, crêpes, chanterelles and «charbonniers » (just to quote the most famous mushrooms) will delight all the hikers. Lazier people will have the possibility to go to the dry mushrooms' fair, which takes place every year on the last Thursday of October. This will be the heartiest way to enjoy the tasty local omelette, prepared at the end of the day in the public gardens. In Craponne, you can smell the countryside, when in November, the streets are crowded with "trifòla" lovers, the local potato, which is a true cultural heritage and an authentic product to enjoy without moderation.
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