Loire: Discover Nature, Cycling Routes and Culture

The Loire brings together a remarkable variety of landscapes: the bocage farmland of the Roannais, the Forez plain, the Madeleine and Forez mountains, the hills of Beaujolais and Lyonnais, the Pilat Massif and the Rhône Valley. Nature watching, cycling routes and architectural heritage offer different ways to explore this destination.

Natural Areas and Landscapes

The Gorges de la Loire cover 4,000 hectares, combining history, biodiversity and contrasting natural environments. The Loire area has 626 Espaces naturels sensibles (sensitive natural areas); this number may change over time. Most of the featured natural sites offer parking, secure access and regularly maintained, signposted paths. As conditions at individual sites may change, check access and trail conditions before visiting.

Some natural areas are open to visitors wishing to explore wetlands and heathland. They also offer opportunities to observe bird migrations, including red kites and storks. The Grangent section of the Gorges de la Loire has designated and registered landscape status and is protected as part of the Natura 2000 network. A regional nature reserve covers part of the right bank. If you plan to visit a protected area in particular, check its current boundaries beforehand.

The Gorges de la Loire offer a range of ways to enjoy a stay: activities include outings on the water, varied hikes, visits to traditional villages and medieval hilltop sites, and time at the beach in Saint-Victor. Nature programmes at the Maison de la Réserve are another option. Specific activities and programme details may change; check them before making firm plans.

Cycling Routes and Tours

The Via Fluvia runs along the route described from Saint-Sauveur-en-Rue (Les Chavannes) to the Bénévis car park above Bourg-Argental. The route is 11.1 kilometres long: 6.9 kilometres are on roads shared with other traffic, and 4.2 kilometres are on a voie verte, a dedicated greenway. The route therefore includes two types of path: roads shared with other traffic and a dedicated voie verte.

The Véloire crosses the Loire from Iguerande to Montrond-les-Bains. Along the route, 25 kilometres are on a dedicated path and 78 kilometres are on roads shared with other traffic. The two route sections thus differ not only in length, but also in the type of path specified.

The Train Touristique du Haut-Forez also connects several places: it travels from Estivareilles in the Loire to La Chaise-Dieu in Haute-Loire, via Craponne-sur-Arzon, with a stop at the Viaduc de Pontempeyrat. The route passes through forests along the borders of the Loire, Haute-Loire and Puy-de-Dôme, and provides access to hiking and mountain biking trails. If you plan to take the train, check the timetable in advance. A vélorail trip also follows a former railway line used by the Loire tourist train to Lac de Villerest; bookings and operating dates may change.

Architecture and Craftsmanship

The Site Le Corbusier in Firminy comprises a Maison de la Culture, a Unité d’habitation, a stadium, a swimming pool and a church. From Firminy station, pedestrian signs and ground markings point the way to the starting point for visits to the complex; temporary changes to the signs are possible. The on-site wayfinding can therefore be helpful when finding your way.

The Maison des Tresses et des Lacets is housed in a former textile factory. Guided visits introduce the hydraulic system and the operating braiding machines. As opening times and access conditions may change, check the details before making firm plans for your visit. At the Benedictine Abbey of Charlieu, you can distinguish architectural features from different centuries: the Romanesque main portal dates from the 12th century, the cloister from the late 15th century and the chapter house from the 15th century.

Local Cuisine and Wine

Loire specialities include the AOP cheeses Fourme de Montbrison and Rigotte de Condrieu, Praluline and râpée forézienne, the Côtes du Forez and Côtes du Roannais wines, and Badoit mineral water. Fourme de Montbrison AOP is made from the milk of Montbéliarde, Abondance and Aubrac cows that graze on the Hautes-Chaumes; these upland areas reach an altitude of 1,634 metres.

The Route des Vins Forez-Roannais en Loire Volcanique covers just under 400 hectares of vineyards, mostly planted with Gamay, and carries the Vignobles & Découvertes label. The vineyard area and partner network may change. Côtes du Forez and Côte Roannaise are considered the first appellations upstream along the Loire. Restaurants, markets, farm visits and culinary workshops offer different ways to discover local cuisine; individual offerings may change.

Discover more destinations: Lorette, Sauvain, St. Alban Les Eaux, Veranne, Arthun, Aveizieux, Chuyer, Doizieux, Le Crozet, Marcoux, Maringes, Le Coteau, Saint-Cyprien, Usson-En-Forez, Les Noës, Neulise, Saint-Rirand, La Pacaudière, Dancé, Veauche, Andrézieux-Bouthéon, Saint-Nizier-Sous-Charlieu, Villars, Saint-Priest-En-Jarez, Fontanès, Amions, Savigneux, La Terrasse-Sur-Dorlay, La Tuilière, La Ricamarie, Violay, Pélussin, Ouches, Chalmazel, Saint-Jean-La-Vêtre, Saint-Priest-La-Vêtre, Saint-Étienne, Saint-Chamond, Roanne, Perreux, Montbrison, Saint-Haon-Le-Châtel, Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert, Saint-Romain-le-Puy, La Valla-sur-Rochefort, Chambles, Régny, Le Cergne, Fourneaux, Burdignes, Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice-sur-Loire, Saint-Martin-la-Sauveté, La Tourette, Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand, Palogneux, Saint-Georges-de-Baroille, Cleppé, L'Hôpital-le-Grand, Chevrières, Pouilly-sous-Charlieu, Bussières, Vendranges, Roisey, Bellegarde-en-Forez, Saint-Médard-en-Forez, Mably, Thélis-La-Combe, Ambierle, Villemontais, Noailly, L'hôpital-Sous-Rochefort, Firminy, L'etrat, Saint-Laurent-Rochefort, Grézieux-Le-Fromental, Feurs, Rozier-Côtes-D'aurec, Saint-Priest-La-Prugne, Saint-Just-En-Chevalet, La Valla-En-Gier, Saint-Marcel-De-Félines, Mars, Belmont-De-La-Loire, Malleval, Saint-Bonnet-Le-Courreau, Saint-Didier-Sur-Rochefort, Bourg-Argental, Saint-Régis-Du-Coin, Estivareilles, Notre-Dame-De-Boisset, Saint-Galmier, Villerest, Saint-Bonnet-Le-Château, Le Bessat, Montrond-Les-Bains, Cherier, Planfoy, Saint-Paul-en-Jarez, L'horme, Saint-Cyr-Les-Vignes, Saint-Germain-Laval, Saint-Marcel D'urfé, Chambœuf, Briennon, Champoly, Sail-Sous-Couzan, Commelle-Vernay, Saint-Sauveur-En-Rue, Marcenod, Les Salles, Bonson, Rive-De-Gier, Montverdun, Cordelle, Saint-Nizier-De-Fornas, La Fouillouse, Coutouvre, Unieux, Balbigny, Pralong, Riorges, Champdieu, Saint-Michel-Sur-Rhône, Neaux, Le Chambon-Feugerolles, Bessey, Marlhes, Pommiers, Chavanay, Chandon, Saint-Pierre-De-Bœuf, Sury-Le-Comtal, Cuinzier, Cellieu, Jas, Saint-Haon-Le-Vieux, Juré, Saint-Bonnet-Des-Quarts, Saint-Marcellin-En-Forez, Saint-Romain-La-Motte, La Talaudière, La Grand-Croix, Épercieux-Saint-Paul, Saint-Symphorien-de-Lay, Bussy-Albieux, Merle-Leignec, Nervieux, Saint-Julien-Molin-Molette, Changy, Saint-Julien-D'oddes, Verrières-En-Forez, Aboën, Luré, Saint-Germain-Lespinasse, Mizérieux, Renaison, Saint-Polgues, Saint-Romain-D'urfé, Noirétable, Charlieu

For an overview of the wider region: Rhône-Alpes.