Vollore Concert Festival - Andalucia Mistica
Opening night featuring 16th-century Spanish a cappella songs performed by the Jeune Chœur d’Auvergne.
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Thiers
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ℹ️Practical info — Thiers
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes; the medieval center is built on a steep hill with uneven cobblestone streets.
- Don't miss the Vallée des Usines (Valley of the Factories) to see the dramatic abandoned knife-making mills along the roaring river.
- Buy knives from official artisans to ensure authenticity, and look for the 'Esprit de Thiers' label on the blade.
- Parking in the upper town can be very tricky; use the municipal lots at the edge of the historic center and walk in.
- The Musée de la Coutellerie often includes live forging demonstrations, which are fascinating and well worth the entry fee.
🍽 Food
🍽
Soupe aux Choux
A hearty Auvergnat cabbage and pork soup; find it in traditional rustic inns in the upper town.
🍽
Truffade
A rich mountain dish made of sliced potatoes and melted Cantal cheese, excellent after a steep walk.
🍽
Auvergne Cheeses
Stop by a local fromagerie to pick up famous regional cheeses like Saint-Nectaire or Fourme d'Ambert.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
🛍
Artisan Cutlery Shops
Wander the historic center to buy a handmade 'Le Thiers' knife directly from the artisan's workshop.
🛍
Cité des Couteliers Boutiques
A collection of local shops showcasing both modern and traditional Auvergnat knife designs.
🧘
Vallée des Usines Walk
Stroll down into the gorge of the Durolle river; the roaring water and stone ruins feel incredibly peaceful.
🧘
Parc de l'Orangerie
Provides an impressive panoramic view of the lower town and the Limagne plain, especially beautiful at sunset.
Water temperature…
Highlights of 2026
10
Andalucia Mistica - Early Music
Renaissance Spanish a cappella songs at the opening of the 49th Vollore Concert Festival.
Loco Cello - Classical & Jazz
A jazz evening on the borders of classical music featuring international musicians like François Salque.
Vollore Concert Festival: Ensemble Théodora
As part of the 49th festival, Ensemble Théodora presents a Baroque evening featuring a delightful mix of classical music and popular dance tunes.
Vollore Concert Festival: Slavarmenia
Embark on a journey to Eastern Europe with enchanting Slav and Armenian sounds at the 49th Vollore Concert Festival.
Vollore Concert Festival: Duo Con Fuoco
Join Duo Con Fuoco and friends (piano, violin, viola, cello) for an intense evening of Mozart and Brahms at the Castle.
Vollore Concert Festival: Village Music Feast
Celebrate the 14th of July with music in Vollore-Ville, the birthplace of the festival founded in 1978.
Vollore Music Festival: Tribute to Astor Piazzolla
Virtuoso Emmanuel Rossfelder and the Acento Quintet celebrate the world of Argentine Tango master Astor Piazzolla.
Vollore Concert Festival: Elegiac Passions
Three of France's greatest artists perform a masterful Brahms program for an exceptional concert at the summit.
Vollore Concert Festival: Final Concert
The final concert "Paz, Salam & Shalom" is a musical journey through the Spain of three cultures, serving as a call for peace.
Thiers is a city defined by its extraordinary topography and a cutlery-making tradition spanning over 800 years. The town literally clings to the steep cliffs overlooking the Durolle valley, whose water power drove the smiths' grinding stones for centuries. This industrial past is ubiquitous in the architecture, from the medieval half-timbered houses of the historic center to the old industrial buildings in the Valley of the Factories (Vallée des Usines). Economically, Thiers remains the undisputed heart of the French cutlery industry, where cutting-edge technology now lives alongside traditional craftsmanship. Culturally, this legacy is preserved in the Cutlery Museum (Musée de la Coutellerie) and through the annual Coutellia festival. The town's geography has wide-open views of the Chaîne des Puys volcanoes, making it a prime spot for hikers and nature enthusiasts.
- Location: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
- Top sights: Cutlery Museum · Saint-Genès Church · Creux de l'Enfer
- Nearby: Lezoux (13 km)
- Population: ~12.086
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 2 |
| Rain mm | 44 | 35 | 44 | 59 | 78 | 66 | 67 | 67 | 52 | 64 | 64 | 52 |
Geography
Facts
- The historic center features the famous 'House of the Seven Deadly Sins'.
- Hosts Coutellia, the largest knife exhibition and fair in Europe.
- The town spans an altitude range of nearly 400 meters.
- The Saint-Genès church has one of the largest domes in the Auvergne.
- More than 300 companies are still active in the cutlery sector today.
- The Valley of the Factories has been repurposed into a contemporary art hub.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
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Sights in the town Thiers (6)
Frequently asked questions
What is the city of Thiers world-famous for?
Thiers is the capital of cutlery in France; 70% of French cutting tools are manufactured here.
What is the 'Vallée des Usines'?
The Valley of Factories houses impressive industrial ruins and former cutlery workshops along the banks of the Durolle river.
Is there a cutlery museum?
Yes, the 'Musée de la Coutellerie' showcases the history and manufacturing techniques of the famous Thiers knives.
Is the old town steep?
Yes, Thiers is a mountain town with narrow, steep streets and many stairs, requiring sturdy footwear.
When does the 'Coutellia' festival take place?
The international cutlery fair takes place every year in May, attracting blacksmiths from all over the world.
Thiers: where is it located?
Thiers is located in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.
Thiers: what is there to see?
Highlights include Cutlery Museum, Saint-Genès Church, Creux de l'Enfer.
Thiers: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Thiers: why is it worth visiting?
Thiers is a city defined by its extraordinary topography and a cutlery-making tradition spanning over 800 years.
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