Nervieux: Hiking along the Loire and historical heritage

Nervieux can be explored through several specific themes: trails along the Loire, the river landscape and the Forez plain, historic monuments and an educational farm. If you are planning an overnight stay, these highlights can help you choose where to stay and plan your days. Information about the trails is particularly clear: a circular hike starting in Nervieux has a specified distance, difficulty level and duration; another trail connects Nervieux and Balbigny.

Hiking along the Loire

The Sentier La fontaine de Grénieux is an easy circular hike starting in Nervieux: the route is 5 km long and the stated duration is 1 hour and 40 minutes. This specifies the length, difficulty rating and time required for the hike. Along the way, you can see how the Loire leaves the Forez plain and spreads out into Lac de Villerest. The landscape also includes the fertile “chambons” along the banks of the Loire. When floods occur, they receive alluvial deposits. The course of the river, the plain and the floodplains together shape the landscape around this hike. A possible detour leads to the Chapelle Saint-Austrégésile and takes ten minutes there and back.

More trails and wildlife

The approximately 2 km-long Les chambons des bords de Loire trail connects Nervieux and Balbigny. Unlike the circular hike starting in Nervieux, it is a route between two municipalities. The two routes therefore offer different ways to explore the area on foot: an easy loop with a specified duration, or an approximately 2 km-long trail between Nervieux and Balbigny.

Typical wildlife in the Chambons des bords de Loire includes the Eurasian beaver, the Northern lapwing and the grey heron.

Historic traces in Nervieux

The Domaine du château de la Salle in Nervieux has been partially listed as a historic monument since February 16, 1988. It is recorded with this status in the Ministry of Culture’s register of protected monuments dated January 2025. The Croix du 17e siècle is located at the intersection of C.D n°1 and C.V.O n°7 in Nervieux. It has been classified as a historic monument since February 27, 1958, and is also recorded in the Ministry of Culture’s January 2025 register. The estate and the cross thus represent two different forms of heritage protection, each with its own date.

The architectural features of the Lavoirs de Nervieux are also easy to see: a spring flows into two stone basins there. The municipal council decided to restore the washhouses to return them to their former appearance. The basins and the restoration decision add another specific local heritage feature to the historic monuments.

Visit the educational farm

Ferme - Au Bonheur des Animaux is an educational farm in Nervieux that is open to visitors. There, you can meet small farm animals and learn more about the owners’ work. Guided visits are available; reservations are required. Confirm your reservation before you arrive. The visit is accessible to wheelchair users with assistance.

Discover more destinations: Belmont-De-La-Loire, Savigneux, Pommiers, Les Salles, Montverdun, Neulise, Doizieux, Mizérieux.

For the overview of the wider region: Loire.