The Voie Verte du Val de Sioule runs through Saint-Germain-De-Salles and connects Gannat with Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule over 27 kilometres. There is also a hiking route rated difficult, an equestrian centre and buildings dating back several centuries. This gives you different starting points for planning: you can focus on a route, learn about the Sioule natural area or explore the town’s architectural history.
Routes and practical information
The 27-kilometre route connects Gannat with Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule and passes through Saint-Germain-De-Salles. Another option is the “Les écluses” hiking route: it is 16.5 kilometres long, rated difficult and passes through Salles via Place de la Chaume-Billard. The routes therefore differ not only in length but also in how they are described: the difficulty of “Les écluses” is stated explicitly, while the Voie Verte is defined by its endpoints and route.
Conditions and trail markings on the hiking route may change, so check them before setting off. Place de la Chaume-Billard has toilets and drinking water points. If you plan to use these facilities, check that they are available before your trip. The hamlet of Salles lies 300 metres southeast of the Sioule, providing another precise reference point within the local area.
The Sioule and its floodplain
The INPN information sheet dated 12 June 2025 lists Saint-Germain-De-Salles within the continental ZNIEFF Type 1 area “Basse Sioule”. This area encompasses the Sioule and the adjacent wetlands along an approximately 30-kilometre stretch of the river’s lower course in the Allier department. Its floodplain habitats are rich in biodiversity, including bats, land mammals, birds and fish. The river, wetlands and floodplain thus form a shared natural setting here; the approximate length refers to the stretch covered by the area, not to a single route.
Church, châteaux and history
Saint-Germain Church retains two vaulted bays from the 12th-century building. Its choir forms the former chapel of a now-vanished 15th-century priory. The stained-glass windows are another distinctive feature: they are of rare value and originality. The church brings together different layers of history—the older building, the former priory chapel and the windows as a distinct feature of the church interior.
Château de Salles has a seven-hectare park with mature trees. The privately owned Château des Joyeux is a 19th-century building in the Neo-Gothic style. By contrast, the privately owned Château de Ceron is a former 15th-century fief overlooking the Sioule. Together, these three sites represent different aspects of local heritage: the park at Château de Salles, the Neo-Gothic architecture of Château des Joyeux and Ceron’s historical connection with the Sioule.
The Moulin de Salles is also part of the town’s history: it was built by the Knights Templar in the 13th century. Together with the church and châteaux, it means the area’s architectural history spans from a medieval mill to a Neo-Gothic building of the 19th century.
Horse riding as another focus
Les Ecuries du Gâ is an equestrian centre with stabling for horses kept there by their owners. It organises events and offers rides for children aged three and over. Programmes and availability may change; if a ride or event is important to your trip, check the current offer in advance. This gives you a way to include horse riding in your plans separately from the Voie Verte and the difficult hiking route.
Discover more destinations: La Ferté-Hauterive, Neure, Mariol, Monétay-sur-Allier, Sainte-Thérence, Chavenon, Villeneuve-Sur-Allier, Nades.
For the wider travel overview: Allier.
