History of St Alyre

Around 1900, as these picture postcards show, the village of St Alyre d'Arlanc was more densely populated than it is today. The thriving industries of timber production and that of preserving trees for use as telephone poles through a unique method of copper sulphate injection were the mainstay of the vibrant community.

Along with the tourism generated by the clear mountain air, the village then boasted some twenty hotels of which the Hotel des Voyagers Gaillard, (now the LCO), was the most centrally located. The population also supported a market, several cafes and a complement of shops.