Discover Saint-Bonnet-le-Château

Saint-Bonnet-le-Château offers a range of highlights for a trip: the Gothic Collégiale Saint-Bonnet, the medieval town centre, pétanque at L’Aventure OBUT, and the countryside around the Circuit d’Augel. If you’re looking for a hotel for your stay, these interests can help you plan your time in the area.

Gothic Church and Historic Library

The Collégiale Saint-Bonnet is a Gothic church dating from the 15th century. It includes an 18th-century library containing 2,000 historic works. The collection includes manuscripts, incunabula and antiphonaries. A visit therefore focuses both on the church’s architecture and its historic book collections. The church and library date from different centuries.

Guided tours cover the history of the collegiate church, the historic library and the murals in the lower chapel. The library, lower chapel and bell tower are accessible only as part of a guided tour; reservations are required for guided visits. If these areas are important to your plans, book your visit and check the current visiting arrangements in advance.

Town Centre, Weekly Market and Pétanque

A one-hour guided tour of the medieval town centre is offered occasionally. Dates are listed in the events calendar. A weekly market is also held in the town centre every Friday morning. Check the market date before you arrive if you’d like to include it in your stay. The weekly market takes place every Friday morning, while the walking tour is offered only occasionally.

At L’Aventure OBUT, visitors can learn about the manufacture of pétanque boules. The venue also presents the history of the Obut brand from 1955 to the present day. If you’d like to play, you can reserve a pétanque court there for €5 per person per hour. Check the current terms before booking.

Walk, Views and Audio Tour

The Circuit d’Augel descends from the town’s heights to the Plan d’eau, then heads back towards the ramparts.

Another way to discover Saint-Bonnet-le-Château is a free narrated audio tour, accessible via smartphone on the tourist office website. Check availability before your visit. An orientation table offers an exceptional panoramic view of the Monts du Forez and the plain.

Getting There and Walking Routes to the Collegiate Church

Bus route 32 connects Saint-Bonnet-le-Château with Montbrison. Check the timetable before travelling. From either of the Esplanade de la Boule or Route d’Augel car parks, it takes 10 to 15 minutes to walk to the collegiate church. This walking time refers to the route to the church.

Discover more destinations: Savigneux, Merle-Leignec, Champoly, Verrières-En-Forez, Renaison, Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert, Coutouvre, Chambles

For the main travel overview: Loire.