In the heart of the Gorges de l'Allier, Lavoûte-Chilhac has the particularity of presenting two very distinct districts, separated by the loop of the Allier river. The first is occupied by the Clunisian Priory which took the place of the old castle, the remains of which can still be seen. And the second, is characterized by its aligned houses built on the side of the rock.
You cannot come to Lavoûte-Chilhac without making a historic stopover at priory and the XNUMXth century parish church. An imposing Gothic monument housing treasures of local history: an 1,5th century chapel door, a Romanesque Christ in a petticoat from the XNUMXth century, and a XNUMX cm statuette of Our Lady Found!
The two quarters of the village are united by the Lavoute-Chilhac Bridge on the Allier, one of whose arches dates from the XNUMXth century (the rest is from the end of the Middle Ages). It is the only building to have withstood the last terrible floods.
The low altitude of this village in Haute-Loire and its almost southern climate were conducive to vine cultivation including its terraces, cabins and vineyard houses remain the only legacy. It is the ideal village for heritage and nature lovers.
