Travel Guide Saint-Amand-Montrond

In the heart of France, Saint-Amand-Montrond is the capital of the Boischaut region. Qualified as an exceptional garden by the "4 Fleurs" label, on the banks of the Cher, Marmande and Berry canals, it reveals an authentic terroir that blossoms on the banks of a lake open to water sports. Its history is cradled at the foot of a fortress and extends into the heart of the town center, which boasts a remarkably well-preserved heritage. The fortress, managed by the town of Saint-Amand-Montrond, had its heyday in the 17th century when it was bought by Sully, and can now be visited. Built in the 12th century on the site of a convent founded in 620, the parish church of Saint-Amand features a superb sculpted portal and interesting capitals in traditional Romanesque style. Its location on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela gives it a strong medieval charm, enhanced by Arab-Andalusian decorations. A number of pretty streets in the old town are well worth a stroll. Rue Philibert Audebrand, with its Carmelite convent (built in 1494), now houses the town hall and served as a stopover for pilgrims on their way from Vézelay to Limoges. Discover the town's heritage as you stroll its streets. Like many other towns in France, a "Parcours Lumières" is organized to showcase certain buildings at dusk. For the curious, the itinerary can be found at the Coeur de France Tourist Office.