Thiers will amaze you with its rich architectural heritage and beautiful setting in the Durolle Valley. The town cascades down a rocky hillside and is filled with medieval houses, centuries-old churches and grand industrial factories built in the 19th century. Learn about the city’s knifemaking legacy and invest in a set of your own fine French cutlery.
Things to do in Thiers
Many of the town’s historic buildings are reimagined as cafes, restaurants and cultural centres. Creux de l'Enfer occupies a former cutlery factory and is now a contemporary art gallery. The beautiful L'Usine de May cutlery factory houses a local history museum, where you can learn about the town’s industrial heyday.
Thiers has been manufacturing high-quality French cutlery for centuries. From compact pocketknives to razor-sharp chef's knives, you’ll see artisan cutlery sold across the town. A full set of classic “Laguiole” cutlery is the ultimate souvenir.
Find out more about the town’s cutlery-making legacy at Musée de la Coutellerie. Watch sparks fly in a recreated medieval workshop and learn about how knifemakers used leather to polish the blades. Live demonstrations offer a first-hand look at how traditional French cutlery is made.
Stroll through the narrow streets of the Old Town and admire beautiful timber-framed houses and carved stone doorways. Château du Pirou is one of the most photographed buildings and houses the tourist information office.
Thiers is set in Regional Natural Park of Livradois-Forez. Discover a patchwork of lush conifer forests, rolling green meadows and windswept moors. Trails meander through the park and take you past postcard-perfect towns like Ambert. Walk around the medieval centre and try Fourme d'Ambert, the town’s famous blue-vein cheese.
Getting around Thiers
Thiers is pedestrian-friendly and easy to get around on foot. The town is in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne region, a 1.5-hour drive from Lyon and 30 minutes from Clermont-Ferrand. Trains run between Thiers and Paris in around five hours.