Bourbon Lancy
A very provincial but pretty little town with a tiny but exquisite old town.
The old Romanesque church (8th century), unfortunately abandoned, is very old and very beautiful, on the current outskirts of the town. A sunset walk along the ramparts or a hike through the Vigneau forest in BL is well worth it.
The small Romanesque churches that are part of the parish, Vitry sur Loire, Lesme, St.Aubin and Gilly, are worth seeing and are in any case beautifully situated.
The previous day's mass is always celebrated in one of the subsidiary churches, and Sunday mass is always celebrated at 10.30 a.m. in the large neo-Romanesque parish church of BL, whose two tall towers can be seen from a distance.
St. Aubin:
Magnificent castle in the immediate vicinity. Built by the same architect (Verniquet) as Vigneau. Next door, Vigneau looks like a hot washed-up counterpart. The owner, who unfortunately passed away recently, restored it to its original state with incredible commitment. Unfortunately, due to the owner's death this year, the interior was not shown in 2020. But it is definitely worth seeing!
Moulins
is a charming, somewhat sleepy, but typically French little town half an hour away.
A lovely place to shop, mainly for women and young mothers...
When you're there, you absolutely have to go to the Grand Café, simply brilliant, on the main square. The best of the Belle Epoque.
In the cathedral, the polyptych of the mysterious Master of Moulins, which can be seen in a side chapel, is magnificent and absolutely worth seeing. Discovered not so long ago, it dates from the early Renaissance and its colours still shine in their original state, although it has never been restored. That is why it is kept behind a locked door, in the dark and at special temperatures.
It is considered one of the most important works of art in France.
For culture lovers, the Visitation Museum, right next to the cathedral, is fantastic.
In the dining room, the top drawer of the chest of drawers under the mirror contains leaflets, guidebooks, maps, etc. We have done a major clean up so that the drawer can be refilled with more recent material.
For those who want to visit, there is also a good map hanging in Vigneau in the small room behind the two ground floor lounges. It was made by a visitor who has really explored the whole area.