Camping le clos auroy in the Auvergne and Puy de Dôme
Information about Orcet

Orcet is a wine-village of 600 ha., more than 2500 inhabitants and at an altitude of 363 meters. The village is situated at a geographically unique spot: On the Limagne plain, crossed by the Auzon river, close to Clermont Ferrand and the ancient North-South axes.

Its situation explains why the village has been here for such a long time dating from the bronze-age, about 2500 to 2000 years B.C. At the end of the 6th century the name Orcet (in Latin Orticidum) appeared in the testament of Théodechilde, daughter of king Clovis.

The 11th-13th century church has been built on the remains of an 11th century abbey of Mauriac. The tower and the colorful top are built in the Bourguignon-style, from the 19th century.

The village was fortificated in the 12th century by Guillaume VII, count of Clermont. When you walk to the walls you will discover many old houses, towers, an ancient gate, as well as "La Maison des Comtes", which is now a library.

This mediaeval village has got some very old houses and narrow alleys. In former days there used to be a lot of wine-culture in this area and this wine was stocked beneath the houses in wine-cellars. For that reason there are still a lot of houses which possess a peculiar frontage. There are still some wine-growers left who sell their wine to tourists.

Orcet is situated in the middle of a tourist region (Plateau de Gergovie, Park, des Vulcan's, several lakes etc.).

In Orcet within walking distance from the camp-site there are several shops, amongst them two bakeries, two hairdressers, a few bars, a restaurant, a grocery-shop, some wine-growers, a post-office and a pharmacy.