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St Bonnet is positioned on the western boundary of  the commune of Noyant d’Allier which has a  population of just 708 people and is located in the beautiful and historic Bourbonnais region of the Allier, Auvergne.   We are nestled between the historic towns of Moulins (17 miles) to the north and Vichy (31 miles) to the south and Montlucon (27 miles) to the west.  Those who wish to spend additional time with us after their course will find there is a lot to see and do in the local area. The Allier region is steeped in history and the historic Bourbonnais boundaries are home to many old castles, keeps, medieval fortresses, châteaux, country manors and country seats. Over 500 castles and stately homes adorn the landscapes of the Allier, many of which are open to the public at various times of the year. The history of the Allier region is very closely tied to that of the Lords and Dukes of Bourbon. The strategic situation of the province allowed the family line to enjoy the benevolence of French kings for five centuries, as a guarantor of the territorial security of the Kingdom of France confronted by English-ruled Aquitaine and the duchy of Burgundy. This power ended when François I took the territory in 1531. In a reversal of fate, Henri IV was to put the Bourbons on the throne of France some years later. Seven kings of France were Bourbons: Henri IV, Louis XIII, Louis XIV, Louis XV, Louis XVI, Louis XVIII and Charles X. The whole area around us is dotted with picturesque villages to visit and an abundance of small cafés and restaurants to be enjoyed.  Saint Pourcain-Sur-Sioul (8kms) is a lovely small town which has a market in the square every weekend and is famous for its wines. The river Allier is just 14 miles east of the house and this also forms the Val-de-Allier which is a massive nature park with beaches for swimming, long walks and lovely horse rides. The commune of Noyant d'Allier covers an area of 2105 hectares ( 21.05 km2) with an  minimum altitude of 247 meters and a maximum of 485 meters. In years gone by Noyant was a mining community with the mines being worked mainly by the Vietnamese community which set up here in 1955 after France withdrew from the war in Indochina.  To enable them to continue their religion, in 1983 the locals constructed a Buddhist Pagoda.  Both the mine and the Pagoda can be  visited.  For lovers of authentic Vietnamese food, there is a Vietnamese Resteraunt called “Le Petit d'Asie”. Thank you for visiting our web site, we hope you enjoy and benefit from the information and pictures provided for your pleasure.