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 Past and present traditions of the region of Thiers ("le pays thiernois").
Built on the gully where the Durolle flows and staring at the Limagne and the Dôme Mounts on the western side, the town of Thiers has been the biggest knife-making centre in France for over 5 centuries. Showcase of the past and present with its workshops of young craftsmen who have always been making high quality knives. The House of Knife Makers (la Maison des Couteliers) invites you to break into the mystery of a still lively guild and think of the knife in its many ways.
A town on a slope -
Imagine a town hanging on the first foothills of the Massif Central and built like the tiers of an amphitheatre. Situated between 990ft (300m) and 2300ft (700m), Thiers is a town on its own and nearly surrealistic where houses have negative floors starting from the ground floor. Here, you have to walk up and down tortuous lanes in the medieval district to appreciate the charm of the old shops, topped by half-timbered facades and sculptures of colourful characters. On the banks of the Durolle, you can explore the ancient imposing "Benedictine Abbey du Moutier" (monastery) with its wonderfully restored abbey lodgings.
Following the steps of the knife-grinders of Thiers -
On the banks of the Durolle, inexhaustible source of energy generations of grinders came here to practice the craft of knife sharpening which gave Thiers its fame and nobility for cutlery.  At the gates of the city starts the sign-posted footpath which will lead you to the heart of the valley of the "Rouets", everything strongly reminds you of the harsh life of the "Lords" of cutlery. Set along the deeply embanked river, closed-down factories tell their history and sometimes step into the present in a surprising way, like the walls of the "creux de l'Enfer", a former factory rehabilitated into a contemporary art centre where industry, local tradition and contemporary creations mingle with magic.
First class sports - Located on the Livradois-Forez Park, the region of Thiers is a land of contrast, swinging from the region of the Bois-Noirs (Black Woods) to the East and to the Limagne plains to the West. To travel through this region with its exceptionally rich fauna and flora, it is recommended to contact one of the many riding centres which will propose several horse riding excursions. The tourists  who are just passing through can stop at the Lezoux go-cart track for an initiation to mechanics with real competition cars.
Flavours of the region of Thiers - You cannot stop at Thiers without tasting the local cheese called "Gaperon", which is even exported to Japan, or the "Foie Gras" from Maringues or even the chitterling sausage. This is probably why the nearby town of Pont-de-Dore bears the title of "gastronomic place". The amateur cooks will not forget to bring back home the recipe of the local "Rapouté" which is a wonderful mix of cabbages, white beans of Soissons, potatoes and pork heel.
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