Discover Saulcet: wine, walking trails and heritage

Saulcet brings together several specific highlights for a stay: the Church of Saint-Julien, a Way of St James route that passes through the village, numerous walking trails and its location in the Saint-Pourçain wine-growing area. There is also a winery, plant-based cooking workshops and activities for families. You can tailor your travel plans to what matters most to you: heritage, trails, wine or a shared game experience.

Church of Saint-Julien and heritage

The Church of Saint-Julien was built in the 12th century and is listed as a historic monument. The date places its construction in context, while the listing denotes its heritage status. The church is also included in the Route des églises peintes du Bourbonnais (Route of the Painted Churches of Bourbonnais). Your visit therefore brings together two distinct points of reference: Saint-Julien as an individual historic monument and its place on a named church route. The church can be visited year-round; check the visiting arrangements before you arrive if you are planning a visit.

Way of St James and walking trails

A Way of St James route to Santiago de Compostela passes through Saulcet. The local legend of the «pendu dépendu» is told in Saulcet in connection with this route. The trail thus links the pilgrimage with a local story. Saulcet also has numerous walking trails. One specifically named route is Les vignes de Saulcet: it offers views of the Saint-Pourçain plain and the old village of Verneuil. The contrast between the plain and an old village makes this route's viewpoints distinctive. If named viewpoints matter to you when choosing a walk, this route description gives you a specific point of reference.

Wine country and local experiences

Saulcet is in the central and southern wine-growing area of Saint-Pourçain. The soils in this area are clay-limestone and originate from the Sioule River. The wine country is therefore characterised by both its regional classification and a named geographical reference. Cave Courtinat is a 14-hectare winery in Saulcet, housed in a former monastery with an old dovecote typical of Bourbonnais. Free wine tastings and direct sales at the winery are available year-round. Check the visiting arrangements before your trip if you plan to taste or buy wine.

At Cave Courtinat, the focus is on tastings and direct sales; the Les vignes de Saulcet trail is described in terms of its views. These offer different ways to explore Saulcet: a visit to a winery or a trail with named viewpoints. Another hands-on experience is the plant-based cooking workshops at Secrets de Plantes. Unlike a wine tasting, the focus here is on cooking and participation. You can choose between the experiences based on the activity you prefer: a tasting or a cooking workshop.

Activities for families

Le secret du volcan is a family-friendly outdoor escape game played on a mobile phone. PÉPIT is a fun and educational treasure hunt for families that can be played in Saulcet; check its availability before your visit. The formats offer different experiences: an outdoor escape game played on a mobile phone or a treasure hunt. Families can use this distinction to choose the type of game that best suits their interests.

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