The Château de La Palice offers guided tours daily from 1 April to 1 November, except Tuesdays; the park can be visited freely.
The Château de La Palice is a furnished feudal residence dating from the 12th to the 16th century, with coffered ceilings. It was the residence of the French Marshal Jacques II de Chabannes La Palice and has been inhabited by the same family since 1430.
The château also houses a unique collection of flags from the nations of the world. It represents the peoples of all continents and religions and is visited together with the château.
Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Lapalisse will find information in this article about the château, history, nature and cuisine of the town.
History
The historical tour through Lapalisse leads through the old streets and to several historic sights. These include the old half-timbered house at the corner of Rue du Commerce and Rue Notre-Dame, the former Hostellerie du Puits de l'Image with its landscaped square, the former hospital of Lapalisse, the Salle de la Grenette, the Place du Champ de Foire and the Esplanade Maréchal de La Palice on the site of the former mill.
The audio-guided tour “Laissez-vous conter Lapalisse” offers an opportunity to explore Lapalisse with a focus on history.
The history of transport is also present: the Grand Embouteillage de Lapalisse brings back to life Lapalisse’s historic traffic jam, which was associated with holiday departures in the 1950s and 1960s.
At the Grand Embouteillage, participants and visitors are expected to wear period clothing and bring luggage and holiday accessories. The programme also includes historical scenes, a swing and rock 'n' roll atmosphere, and a vintage market.
In the Pays de Lapalisse, you can follow the 30-kilometre historic N7 route section Route Royale-Impériale-RN7 by bicycle or in a vintage car and discover 30 historic and tourist attractions along the way.
The former N7 is regarded as part of the cultural heritage in the Pays de Lapalisse and has been signposted there since 2011 with signs reading “Nationale 7 Historique”.
Nature
The Besbre runs through the town centre of Lapalisse and invites visitors to go for a walk and linger; fishing is also possible there.
The Parc floral contains more than 95 different plant species, a peony collection and a discovery trail featuring remarkable trees.
The three-hectare park contains a French garden and an English garden.
Activities
Horse-drawn carriage rides are available as a leisure activity in Lapalisse.
Fishing is possible in ponds and in the river in Lapalisse.
For walks and hikes, Lapalisse has signposted hiking trails and marked circular hiking routes.
Cuisine
L'Échoppe des saveurs in Lapalisse offers visitors a place to discover the oils produced by the Huilerie de Lapalisse. These include fine, virgin, organic and speciality oils, as well as walnut, hazelnut, pistachio and sesame oil.
