The department of Allier is situated in Central France to the north of the Massif Central. It is one of a quartet of departments that belong to the Auvergne region - the others being Puy de Dome, Cantal and Haute Loire. Allier is the least mountainous of all these departments and it is also the most sought-after department in the region for foreigners wishing to invest in inexpensive French property.
The Allier River, from which the department takes its name, cuts a path right through the centre of the department. It begins high up in the Massif Central to the south of Allier, and takes in the city of Clermont Ferrand in Puy de Dome before flowing past Vichy and Moulins in Allier. Montlucon in the extreme west is the other significant city in this department, and stands on the River Cher.
Vichy is a town overflowing with architecture. There is a great mix of architectural styles to be found here covering almost every period in the city's history. Moulins too bulges with magnificent architecture - its twin-spire cathedral being one of the most spectacular monuments in the city.
Along the Allier between Vichy and Moulins are several villages and hamlets where French property buyers may find idyllic Allier property overlooking the river. Further to the east and west of the river is some stunning countryside. Meadows, fields of sunflowers, wooded hills and forests dominate here, with plenty of villages and hamlets dotted in-between. Allier property in the countryside offers good value for money. A 3-bed villa in France in Commentry just outside Montlucon can be acquired for less than 120,000 euros.
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