Your taxi in Orcival

Taxi in Orcival

Orcival is a tiny village of barely 250 souls, tucked away in a green valley of the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Nature Park, whose renown extends far beyond the region's borders thanks to an exceptional architectural gem: the Notre-Dame d'Orcival basilica. Built in the 12th century in the purest Auvergnat Romanesque style, this church is considered by art historians as one of the five major masterpieces of Romanesque art in Auvergne, alongside Notre-Dame-du-Port in Clermont-Ferrand, Saint-Austremoine in Issoire, Notre-Dame in Saint-Nectaire, and Saint-Saturnin. Its Virgin in Majesty, a reliquary statue in wood covered with silver dating from the 12th century, has attracted pilgrims from across France and Europe for eight centuries. On Ascension Thursday, a torchlight procession gathers thousands of faithful in the village lanes — a striking display of popular devotion. One kilometre from the village centre, the Chateau de Cordes reveals its formal French gardens designed by Andre Le Notre, the landscaper of Versailles, in an unexpected mountain setting. Higher still, Lac de Servieres, a crater lake nestled at 1,200 metres altitude, offers an end-of-the-world landscape with its dark, deep waters ringed by fir forests. Swimming is forbidden to preserve its fragile ecosystem, making it a paradise for contemplative walkers and photographers. TaxiNeo opens the doors to this remarkable heritage with transfers from Clermont-Ferrand and personalised heritage circuits.

Orcival lies 30 km from Clermont-Ferrand, a 30-minute drive via the D941, a road that rises gradually through the beech and fir forests of the Volcanoes Park. This village is a detour few tourists regret, but many struggle to reach due to the complete absence of public transport — no bus serves Orcival. A taxi is therefore the only practical means of transport for visitors without a car, a reality our TaxiNeo drivers know well. We provide daily transfers from Clermont-Ferrand, the airport, and the railway station, with particularly high demand during pilgrimages (Ascension, 15 August) and Heritage Days in September. Our drivers are more than mere chauffeurs: they know the history of the basilica, the schedules of services and guided tours, the opening days of the Chateau de Cordes (limited to spring and summer), and the best times to photograph Lac de Servieres without backlighting. For Romanesque art enthusiasts, we offer a full-day heritage circuit linking the five major Romanesque churches of Auvergne: departing from Orcival, then Saint-Nectaire, Issoire, Saint-Saturnin, and returning via Clermont-Ferrand — a unique immersion in eight centuries of sacred architecture. Lac de Servieres, accessible via a winding mountain road, is worth the effort: our drivers take you there safely and wait in the car park during your walk around the lake (approximately 1 hour). Booking recommended in May and June for pilgrimages.

Orcival — 250 inhabitants