The village of Chateldon is south of Vichy, in the Puy de Dôme department of the Auvergne,
The village is known in France for two things: its very fine spring water, allegedly the favourite of Louis XIV and served in many smart restaurants; and the fact that Pierre Laval, the Vichy Government Prime Minister, was born here and bought the Chateau in the 1930’s.
Explore Chateldon
As you drive into Chateldon on the road from Puy Guillaume you see the 13th Century chateau rising up above the village.
Walking through the village centre you realize that much of the original 13th and 14th century town fortifications still exist and now form part of the walls of buildings and houses still in use.
In the centre of Chateldon you will see the 15th century Church of Saint-Sulpice, parts of the medieval ramparts, the 12th century castle and the chateau stables as well as the 16th century village centre with some lovely half-timbered houses, the 17th century ‘maisons de vignerons’ and the belfry.
You will also see the more recent 19th century buildings and bath house.
For the archaeologically minded Chateldon is an interesting place to visit and for those who just love old places the village it is well worth an afternoon’s wander.
Pick up the leaflet at the mairie, ‘Chateldon, petite ville au grand renom’ and it will guide you round the highlights of this interesting destination.
History of Chateldon
Chateldon has had a very interesting history, which stretches back to the middle ages and before, and there remains much evidence of this. Nowadays it may seem a small and unimportant medieval village with its shop, pharmacy and ‘maison de la presse’ but the buildings tell a different story.
In the 13th century Chateldon flourished. Tanneries were set up beside the river Vauziron that flows down from the Montagne Bourbonnaise behind and, tradition has it, that the world-famous cutlery industry that flourished in Thiers owed its beginnings to 13th century Chateldonians who made farm implements.
Chateldon went into decline as a result of the 100 years war and then the Black Death of 1348 and many of the toolmakers fled to Thiers to escape the plague.
The 15th century saw a revival for the village, trade flourished once again, and magnificent stone and timbered buildings from this date still stand around the square that was once a market square.
The 16th century saw another change in the fortunes of Chateldon as vineyards began to cover the slopes surrounding the village.
Wines of Chateldon
Much of the wine produced here was taken to the nearby Port de Ris on the River Allier, loaded onto small, specially built boats and transported via the Allier and Loire to the coast or Paris.
Recently the Mairie in Chateldon has been responsible for restoring some of the typical 17th century houses of the winemakers, typically with a dark stone built winery in the basement and on the ground floor and living quarters above.
Wood and wine were the materials for Chateldon’s staple industries throughout the second part of the 19th and early 20th centuries: a furniture building industry developed here and in 1885 the Puy de Dôme was the third largest wine producing area in France, with the slopes around Chateldon covered with vineyards.
Phylloxera destroyed many of the vines in the 1890s and pine plantations started to replace them.
Attractions nearby
Most of the activities in the region near Chateldon are based on outdoor activities in the Regional Natural Park of Livradois-Forez. You can also visit small towns and villages such as Thiers and Courpière in the northern part of the park.
Explore elsewhere in the Massif Central. You can find more travel ideas in the Puy-de-Dome guide and the Auvergne guide.
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Hotels in Chateldon
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Map of Chateldon and places nearby
Visit near Chateldon with France This Way reviews
Thiers
Not always considered a tourist destination, Thouars actually has a facscinating historical centre with several interesting highlights
Thiers guide
Vichy
The spa town of Vichy is best known for its bottled water and as centre for the government of unoccupied Fraance during the Second World War
Vichy guide
Courpiere
Once home to Coco Chanel, Courpiere is a village in the Livradois-Forez natural park
Courpiere guide
Lapalisse
The renaissance style Chateau de la Palice, its internal decorations and its gardens are the main highlight when you visit Lapalisse
Lapalisse guide
Billom
It is the half-timbered houses and medieval gateways that provide the charm in the centre of Billom
Billom guide
Riom
The quiet regional town of Riom has several monuments of historical importance to see as you explore
Riom guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Puy-de-Dome
Address: Châteldon, Thiers, Auvergne, 63290, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 45.9775, longitude 3.52111
Plan your visit to Chateldon, Puy-de-Dome
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Thiers: secteur sauvegarde (13 km)
- Parc du domaine royal de Randan: remarkable garden (14 km)
- Vichy: ville fleurie 4* (18 km)
- Aulteribe Chateau: national monument (23 km)
- Collégiale Saint-Victor et Sainte-Couronne d'Ennezat (Ennezat): religious monument (23 km)
- Abbatial church de Saint Pierre de Mozac (Mozac): religious monument (32 km)
- Lapalisse: recommended detour (32 km)
- Riom: town of art and history (33 km)
- Mozac: town of art and history (36 km)
- Marsat: town of art and history (36 km)
- Charroux: most beautiful village (36 km)
- Cathédrale Notre Dame de l'Assomption (Clermont-ferrand): religious monument (37 km)
The French version of this page is at Chateldon (Francais)