Domaine Nicoleau opens its olive mill and family distillery to visitors in Bénivay-Ollon by appointment. Olive groves and the extraction of oil form part of the visit. Tastings feature organic olives, olive oil and spirits rooted in the Baronnies. Inside the distillery, a traditional still introduces the inherited skills behind fruit eaux-de-vie, liqueurs and local aperitifs.
Region: auvergne-rhone-alpes
Marvellous Middle Ages: Île-Barbe Abbey
Gadagne’s exhibition follows Île-Barbe Abbey through Lyon’s medieval history. Sculptures from the museum’s collection sit alongside archaeological finds, manuscripts and church treasures. The display separates historical discoveries from legends that shaped the island’s reputation. Models and films reconstruct the abbey and its pilgrimage setting, while later reinterpretations connect medieval imagery with contemporary popular culture.
The Celtic Social Club + Nótt
The Celtic Social Club mixes traditional Celtic sounds with rock, folk and touches of electronic music. Violin, bagpipes and guitar combine with a modern groove in the headline performance. Chambéry duo Nótt opens the concert with indie folk-rock that moves between gentle passages and a more intense sound.
Châtillon-Saint-Jean: A Medieval Village Walk
Châtillon-Saint-Jean takes its name from a ‘small castle’, a reminder of the village’s medieval past. A guided walk examines architectural traces that survive between the Isère plain and the Drôme hills. The commentary is in French, and visitors under eighteen can join the village heritage tour free of charge.
La Chaise-Dieu Abbey, Cloister and Tapestries
A guided visit explores the history and restored heritage of La Chaise-Dieu Abbey. Saint-Robert’s abbey church and the cloister are among the spaces visited. Fourteen Flemish tapestries form a highlight, displayed in a renovated former chapel. Specialist guides lead the essential tour, while religious services and the music festival can affect access to parts of the building.
Discover Historic Beaumont-lès-Valence
The history of Beaumont-lès-Valence reaches back to Roman antiquity. A guided walk follows the lanes of the old village from the clock tower to the church-temple, one of its distinctive religious buildings. Commentary is in French, with advance booking required for the visit. Visitors under eighteen are admitted free of charge.
Forty Years of Bobbin Lace in Brioude
The Hôtel de la Dentelle retraces four decades of bobbin-lace creation in Brioude. Forty reference pieces chart the institution’s artistic development, including Cluny Polychrome lace. Displays include a three-dimensional salmon, golden spider silk and work linked to Mona Cara’s Lyon collaboration. Visitors can also see the atelier, where this inherited craft continues to be practised.
Mischievous Ghosts in Medieval Montluçon
Mischievous fictional ghosts have left misleading clues in the medieval lanes of Montluçon. Children follow a guide through the old town, listening for help as they work through the trail. Costumes are encouraged for this playful walk, which requires advance booking and is intended for children aged three to ten accompanied by an adult.
Saint-Flour’s Historic City: Guided Group Visit
Saint-Flour’s history as the capital of Haute Auvergne is the subject of a guided group visit led by a lecturer. The route includes Saint-Pierre Cathedral, the Georges Pompidou monument, the Maison Consulaire and the main de Saint-Flour. The visit lasts around ninety minutes and is arranged through the tourist office’s group service.
Le mystère de la crypte at Musée Mandet
Le mystère de la crypte transforms Musée Mandet into a fictional time-travel adventure. A visitor ignores a warning and a passage opens through time. Players examine the medieval collections to uncover the secrets of sculptors and find a way back. Designed for families and friends, the game uses the museum’s artworks as clues and requires advance booking.