A 14th-century devotional statue in Saint-Pierre, a Romanesque church and a modern church with coloured glass blocks represent different periods in Beaumont’s sacred history. Nearby, the Châtaigneraie de Beaumont offers free walking trails through the undergrowth all year round. The annual Bee and Environment Festival, held in November, adds another seasonal highlight.
Sacred architecture from several periods
The important Benedictine abbey of Beaumont was founded in the 7th century; Beaumont remained the seat of the abbey until the French Revolution. Notre-Dame de la Rivière is an 11th-century Romanesque church and served as Beaumont’s parish church until 1934.
The church of Saint-Pierre houses a 14th-century statue known as “Notre-Dame-de-la-Rivière”; it is classified as movable cultural heritage. A gate and part of the walls are all that remain of Beaumont’s fortified complex.
A more recent building is the church of Saint-Jean-Marie-Vianney, considered an important example of 20th-century sacred architecture. It was built between 1961 and 1962 to serve the new parish in the expanding Vallières district. The design is attributed to Albéric Aubert (1895–1971) and Joseph Massota (1925–1989); the church has 1,860 coloured glass blocks. It is open daily all year round; check visiting arrangements before your trip.
Châtaigneraie: natural area and walking trails
The Châtaigneraie de Beaumont is designated an “Espace Naturel Sensible” (Sensitive Natural Area) and is protected by the municipality of Beaumont and the département. Free walking trails through the undergrowth are accessible there all year round. The “De la Tiretaine à la Châtaigneraie de Beaumont” route climbs uphill to the Châtaigneraie.
A total of 195 plant species, 55 species of daytime butterflies, 38 bird species and 101 beetle species have been recorded there. The Châtaigneraie can be reached via the T2C network on line 8, getting off at the Châtaigneraie stop; check the timetable before travelling.
November festival and visitor information
The Bee and Environment Festival takes place every year in November and has been running for around 30 years. The programme includes a honey fair and competitions for honey and gingerbread. As the exact dates vary from year to year, it is worth checking the latest event details before your trip.
For anyone wishing to learn more about the local heritage, the town of Beaumont makes seven books available free of charge at the town hall and Maison des Beaumontois; the books can also be downloaded. If you would like to consult the books at either location, check in advance that they are available there. There are also six themed maps that let you explore Beaumont through six different themes. The books offer an in-depth introduction to the heritage, while the maps organise the discovery by theme.
Discover more destinations: Saurier, Saint-Georges-de-Mons, Saint-Georges-sur-Allier, Vodable, Dallet, Saulzet-le-Froid, Egliseneuve-D'entraigues, Naves.
For the broader travel overview: Puy-De-Dôme.
