CENTRAL FRANCE HOME PAGE

ALLIER (03)

CHER (18)

CREUSE (23)

 INDRE (36)

 

 

CENTRAL FRANCE: Centre, Auvergne and Limousin

Information for tourists and residents alike, for the Allier, Cher, Creuse and Indre departments

Bienvennue / Welcome to Central France ~ the very heart of France

Central France is one of the last areas of France to be discovered by tourists and as a result, it still remains tranquil, unspoilt and retains all the rural charm of a few decades past. Come here to enjoy delightful scenery (glorious vistas, chateaux, lakes, medieval towns and villages), superb cuisine (a wide variety of regional dishes, many of which are explored in our recipe pages) and a grand palette of regional wines many of which are world renowned.

Around 80 million people visit France each year, making it one of the top countries in the world four tourism.  It is also one of the most popular places for the British to buy second homes and relocate permanently to.

Visiting France is very easy, with a wide variety of travel links to all regions in France. The rail system, once you have arrived, is very good. And with today's online booking systems, travelling to France couldn't be easier.

France does not have any seriously dangerous insects or animals, and does not require any inoculations before you travel. You can also travel here with your pet, quite easily - just be aware that if you are coming from a rabies-free zone, returning with your pet to your homeland will require a visit to the vet and a small amount of paper work.

There are literally thousands of choices for holiday accommodation in France. One of the hardest things to do is choose which region to visit, after that which department. There are 22 regions with nearly 100 departments on the mainland. Each region has its own characters, from mountainous, to coastal, to gently rolling countryside to wetlands.

The regions covered on this site include the south of Région Centre and the north of both Auvergne and Limousin over the four departments of Allier, Cher, Creuse and Indre. These four departments are quite different from each other and so it is important to look closely into the areas that appeal to you. For example, the Indre is quite flat in the north, and becomes more wooded and "rolling" in the south. However, just across the border to the south, in La Creuse, the landscape changes quickly into rocky and more rugged.

What all four departments do offer is a rural charm that has been maintained by the country folk that make up the majority of the population. There are very few large towns in any of these department, and what there is is divided by miles and miles of rural landscape with scatterings of pretty villages, many of which have medieval or older origins.

Although these four departments are about as far from the coast as you can get, there are plenty of beaches! How? Well we are lucky to have an abundance of superb swimming lakes. Mny of these lakes have other facilities like cafés, water sports and fishing. It is very rare to find these beaches crowded even in high summer - so in fact, choosing an inland destination can actually be more attractive than the crowded beaches of the south.

This site is all about central France and aims to provide ideas for new places to visit and information to make you want to return again and again (to this site and for your holidays in Central France!). If you live here, then this site may be a useful resource to you and your guests. 

I get many requests for leaflets and brochures, please note this is an information website and not linked to a tourism office - please contact a Tourist Information Office or Syndicat d'Initiative in the area you are interested in. (Soon there will be a directory of Tourist information Offices on this site).

This site covers the Indre (36), Cher (18), Allier (03) and Creuse (23) departments in the Centre Region, Limousin and Auvergne. I am building this site in my spare time, but trying my best to make it a comprehensive and very useful resource to tourists and residents alike.

This part of Central France is relatively un-marketed to tourists and as a result, visitors to the area will find it a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of other holiday destinations. It is laid back, friendly and full of charm. If you like the idea of peace and quiet, friendly people and the feeling of stepping back in time by a few decades then you will love Central France. It has all that and hot weather in the spring, summer and autumn! (well usually anyway, though this year was rubbish! - click here for weather averages for last few years.).

The aim of this site is to make it THE most informative site about Central France. You could help make that happen! For more information go to the Contact Us page.  You may like to write an article or a review. You may like to send in photos of your favourite places. Share your knowledge here.

As time goes by, new information will be added and links to attractions and other informative sites that focus on the region.

This site is compiled as a free resource to the public. However it does take time and therefore, if you have a business and wish to be promoted, we do make a small annual advertising charge. This just helps to cover the costs of running this site.

 

Some new pages being developed for this site which are or will be available soon include -

To Buy or Not to Buy: Consider renting before giving up your UK home

Driving in France - read the signs

Recipes from Central France - traditional and contemporary (we welcome submissions from readers for this section)

Gardening and Small-holding - tips, advice and general information

Nature Pages - photos and some information on Central France Nature (we welcome submissions to add to these pages)

More pages will be added soon on tourist attractions in the area and more town pages.

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Central-France.com is a free information resource. All information on this site is provided to benefit the public. If there are any errors in the information provided www.central-france.com does not accept any liability. Check opening times and other details before making a special journey.

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