ENJOY YOURSELVES IN CANOEING

    Sometimes large and cool, sometimes narrow and lively, the Sioule, which spans the Combrailles auvergnate and Limagne bourbonnaise on 150km before to flow into the Allier, is navigable on 50km between Châteauneuf les Bains (63) and Jenzat (03).

    Wild river muzzled upstream by 2 EDF dams (which releases, during the rainy period, increase very strongly it level), the Sioule becomes again playful and joyful from Châteauneuf and, after a wink at the ruins of the church of Lisseuil, intensifies itself very strongly  coming into Bourbonnais.There, just after a little “Hi” to the old abbey and the very nice Gallo-Roman bridge of  Menat, the Sioule narrows, jumps from roc to roc and seethes on a few kilometre coming into a wonderful canyon : the Gorges of  Chouvigny.    After this quite competitive moment, but without danger, between impressive granitic cliff, under favourable auspices of a stately medieval castle which overhangs it, the Sioule increases itself and quickly gets down towards the Val of Allier.    That lets all the time to observe the numerous kingfishers, the classical bridge and the roman abbey of Ebreuil. Then, on the way to Jenzat, village of hurdy-gurdy instrument makers, a last wild gorge overhung by the castle of Rochefort, the river is straddled by the high viaducts of Ronzat and Neuvial.

Canoe nature Sioule and Bouble suggests rentings on their lake and raids on the Sioule : 6km (2 hours), 10km (half-day), 18km (a day) and 50km (3 days) with discount and possibilities of supervision for the groups. Information :

CNSB:  04 70 90 77 64

Canoyak : Pont de Saint-Gal (Bridge of Saint-Gal) – 03450  Chouvigny  Tél. 04 70 90 99 90