Orval: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

Orval lies on the border between Berry and the former Bourbonnais. Wooded hills surround the town, which is bordered by the Cher, closes off the Boischaut and opens onto the Germigny Valley.

Nature

The landscape includes the Loubière, a tributary of the Cher. It rises in the municipality of Vesdun, winds its way for around 20 kilometres through the Bocage berrichon and flows towards Saint-Amand-Montrond.

At Lac des Vignes, there is a walking park, a fitness trail, as well as municipal vineyards and orchards. Fishing is permitted there for children under 14. In the centre of Orval, the Parc de la Loge des Vignes offers a green recreational area with a water basin; picnic tables are also available there.

History

At the site of Orval, there is evidence of initially sporadic settlement since the end of the last Ice Age, from around 12,000 BC. During the Gallo-Roman period, a small craft centre with pottery and metalworking developed in an agricultural setting.

The Church of Saint-Hilaire in Orval is of Romanesque origin and initially served as a castle chapel; its entrance and choir have survived from this period. It also preserves the remains of a powerful fortress which, together with the fortress of Montrond on the opposite bank, monitored the crossing of the Cher.

Culture

La Croix reliquaire was classified as a historic monument by the French heritage protection authority in 1891. La Croix d’Orval, a reliquary, is said to have been given by Saint Louis to the Sully family, the lords of Orval; it is currently stored for security reasons.

The Abbaye de Noirlac, a historic site, is located in the vicinity of Orval. The Abbaye Bois-d'Habert, also a historic site, is located in the area around Orval. The Musée Charles-Louis-Philippe is located in the wider region surrounding Orval. The Abbaye des Pierres, a historic site, is also located in the wider region.

More destination pages

Saint-Doulchard, Saint-Amand-Montrond, Clémont, Culan, Fussy, Saint-Georges-Sur-Moulon, Aubigny-Sur-Nère, Bannay

For the higher-level travel overview: Cher.