Middle Ground: the Often Overlooked Towns in Central France

Where in France can you find a majestic wild river, the nation’s largest collections of musical instruments and stage costumes, medieval and Belle Époque towns, orchards and vineyards, rolling green countryside criss-crossed by hedges and punctuated by majestic oak-trees, lovingly restored villages unspoilt by modern housing developments, a UNESCO World Heritage site and, despite all this, no crowds?  The answer is: the Allier department (named for the river) bang in the country’s geographical centre.

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