Issoire, Medieval commune in Puy-de-Dôme, France
Issoire is a French commune in Puy-de-Dôme that spreads along the Couze River at the point where it joins the Allier, sitting at about 386 meters in elevation. The town features traditional French buildings and green spaces typical of central French communities.
Arvern tribes founded the original settlement, which later became known as Iciodurum under Roman rule and grew into a center of learning. During the Middle Ages, the town maintained its importance as a religious and administrative hub for the region.
The Saint-Austremoine church shapes the town's character with its Romanesque facade, where visitors notice carved details and rounded arches that define the local skyline. The site remains tied to Saint Austremoine's memory, a connection that has influenced how locals understand their community's roots.
The railway station sits roughly 40 kilometers southeast of Clermont-Ferrand and connects the town to other cities via the Paris-Lyon-Méditerranée line. When visiting, you'll find that spring and autumn offer comfortable weather for walking around, while summer can be warm and winter quite cool.
The Saint-Austremoine church was built directly over an older chapel that held the tomb of Saint Austremoine, making the site an important pilgrimage destination. This layering of religiously significant buildings shows how sacred meaning remained attached to the same ground for centuries.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
