The heritage of the surrounding area

VILLAGES OF CHARACTER

St. John St. Maurice on the Loire

The village overlooks the Loire and offers exceptional viewpoints. It invites you through its alleys to discover its cultural and heritage riches in the heart of its history and its monuments: old medieval keep and castle walls, house of the sundial, church housing a painting of Saint-Jacques le Majeur dating from the 13th century. The village also has several craftsmen in the nursery of the Cure. Location and photos . Village map  

Saint-Haon-le-Châtel (20 minutes by car)

The village can be discovered like an open-air museum, perched on its rocky peak. It offers an exceptional view of the Madeleine mountains. Between 14th century ramparts, round towers, half-timbered houses, Renaissance manors and 17th and 18th century mansions, the walls whisper the stories that have marked the life of the village. Location and photos

Ambierle (25 minutes by car)

With its Michelin-starred restaurant, its vineyard, its shortbread and its pottery. Ambierle owes its fame to a Benedictine abbey. Integrated into the Cluny order in 938, its origins are lost in the mists of time. The village and its monastery will follow its destiny until the Revolution of 1789. Location and photos

Le Crozet (30 minutes by car)

This medieval town, which became a "Village of Character in the Loire" and "Village of Glass" in 2011, offers houses from the 13th, 15th and 16th centuries, testifying to a rich past. Its history delights visitors charmed by the layout of this calm and flowery village. The medieval village of Crozet offers you a journey through the history of the County of Forez. Location and photos

HISTORICAL SITES AND MONUMENTS

Chateau de la Roche (25 minutes by car)

In its postcard setting, the Château de la Roche perfectly symbolises the best that Roannais has to offer. This fortress takes its visitors on a journey through time, thanks to dramatised tours and 2 escape-game rooms. Location, opening hours and photos

Castle of the horns of Urfé (35 minutes by car)

In the heart of the Urfé region, in the commune of Champoly, the Urfé castle is a medieval building that will offer you a magnificent panorama of the surrounding mountains. Built between the 12th and 16th centuries, it was born from the desire to observe the region from an exceptional belvedere. Location and photos

Pommiers Priory (20 minutes by car)

The imposing Priory of Pommiers has stood the test of time. An open door to the arts, it invites you on a journey through a thousand years of history. The guided tour takes you into the basements, the cloister and the roof frames of the building. Location, opening hours and photos

Ambierle Priory (20 minutes by car)

Nestled in the heart of Ambierle, the priory will arouse your curiosity. Built mainly in the 14th and 15th centuries, it is visible from afar thanks to its magnificent glazed tile roof. Located on the foothills of the Madeleine mountains, it fits perfectly into a bucolic landscape and is a real jewel for the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Location and photos