Audio tour of the beautiful and long town of Aigueperse

Depart from the town of Aigueperse, latitude 46.0234700 (N 46° 1’ 24”), longitude 3.2036300 (E 3° 12’ 13”)

• Instructions for use

• Discover the old city center thanks to this QR code circuit!
• Follow the indications of the audio tracks at each step, they will lead you to each point of interest.
• Reach the first point: the interior courtyard of the Maison du Nord Limagne at 158 Grande Rue at the end of the small cul-de-sac "Cour Nord Limagne".
• Enjoy your visit!

• The former convent of the Poor Clares

• The Poor Clares convent, founded in 1422 at the initiative of Marie de Berry, was installed here. The premises have been restored and reinvested by the Communauté de Communes Nord Limagne and house many inter-municipal services.
• Take advantage of the serenity of the place for a few moments for a historical presentation of the city…

• The History of Aigueperse and its surroundings

• Aigueperse, formerly Aguae Sparsae, “water which springs from all sides ”, sat in the middle of the marshes. The city has developed since Antiquity as a place of halt and exchanges.
• Join the Grande Rue, turn right for about 200m, pass the town hall and its belfry and now go to the Sainte Chapelle, Place Saint Louis. »

• La Sainte-Chapelle

• In the middle of the 15th century. Louis 1er de Bourbon, count of Montpensier, had a palace built on this site, the chapel of which still standing today is the place of worship and burial of the counts.
• Now join the Grande Rue and retrace your steps for about fifty meters.
• On your right, the belfry of Jacquemarts stands proudly at the entrance to the town hall.
• Go under the porch to reach the interior courtyard.

• The Town Hall: the convent

• This former convent where the Ursuline sisters held a college for young girls was built by the Duchess of Montpensier in 1650.
• Stay in the courtyard and listen to the audio track to learn about Michel de l'Hospital's life...

• The Town Hall: Michel de l'Hospital

• Michel de l'Hospital was born in Aigueperse at the very beginning of the XVIth century. Chancellor of France under the regency of Catherine de Medici, he was also an emeritus jurist and a man of letters.
• Leave the courtyard and cross the street to better admire the belfry which surmounts the entrance porch into the courtyard...

• The Town Hall: the Belfry

• These wooden automatons date from the 14th century and have been striking these bells faithfully for over 200 years.
• Continue to the left on the Grande Rue towards the church. Along the way, notice the rich facades and stop at N ° 139.

• Private mansions

• This imposing 18th century facade with pretty Louis XV windows, with its beautiful porte-cochère framed in stone, is that of the Hôtel Salneuve, emblematic of the large town-center properties of the city.
• Now go to the church square.
• Before entering the building, take the time to observe the wheat market which borders the Grande Rue below.

• La Halle au Blé

• Aigueperse, place of exchange, hosted many markets which took place in halls built for this purpose. In the 19th century, we note the existence of three halls located in various places of the city.
• Now let's take a look at the collegiate church...

• Notre-Dame church and its architecture

• This building is one of the first in the Gothic style in the region and was built in the 13th century.
• Meet in the southern part of the choir, at the foot of the large painting representing the martyr of Saint-Sébastien, riddled with arrows.

• Notre-Dame church and its paintings

• Admire two paintings from the Italian Renaissance: “Saint Sebastian” by Andrea MANTEGNA (1480) and “The Nativity” by Benedetto GUIRLANDAJO (1490) located in the chapel next door.
• Join the Grande Rue. On the church square, turn right until you reach the entrance to the Vernet confectionery at n ° 154 where our visit ends.

• L'Hôtel Marillac

• The confectionery is located in a former 16th century Renaissance mansion with an interior courtyard with a sculpted spiral staircase.
• It is on this sweet note that our visit ends, enhanced by the testimonies of Olivier Paradis, honorary president of the cultural association of Aigueperse and its surroundings, and Jacques Vernet, confectioner, owner of the Vernet pastry shop, which we thank.