The best fashion and gift stores La Chaise-Dieu

It is within a stone's throw of the abbey that Jean-Yves Sicre, a graduate of Yzeure's glassware, has installed his workshop and glass engraving shop. His creations are fine and original, on any type of support: verre glass, whisky, water jug or wine, vase, etc. It is possible to suggest to Jean-Yves a special pattern for engraving, to personalize the object. It also works in stained glass, from opening doors to the bibelot to suspend near a source of light. Do not hesitate to browse the catalogue of its achievements, this can put you on the track of a gift to offer.

The Blue Goose is first the idea of a city of Saint-Etienne who had the desire to live a rural bookstore. She is called Fabienne Lhopital and she is a graduate in bookstores. The library opened in 2005. It favours daily life works (gardening, well-being, kitchen…) but also works of regional history and works of youth literature. In all, there are almost two thousand available titles, which is quite exceptional for a village of this size. The companion of Fabienne is an author-illustrator for youth. He works on the first floor of the shop and his books are sold in the bookstore, as well as postcards specially designed for the shop. In addition to its bookshop, the hotel also organizes a lounge where you can find products from organic agriculture and fair trade, and the shop contains a gift corner where you can find a whole bunch of nice items to offer. Meetings and demonstrations around book and reading are also organised regularly in October with the Association Read in Celebration.

This small boutique, a few steps from the abbey, honours objects made by craftsmen from the region. Open only in July and August, this is the ideal place to make an original and authentic gift. Among them are Mad's pottery and Gérard Migliori, who have their workshop in a restored farm just a few kilometres away (Berbezit). They experiment with techniques, including cendre ash on porcelain. The shop also offers wooden, leather, glazed and stained glass objects, plus jewellery.