Savigneux between Nature and Culture

Savigneux brings together nature and leisure at the pond, golf, cultural interpretation, and historic buildings. Its different facets offer a range of ways to shape your stay.

Étang de Savigneux: Nature and Leisure

At the heart of the commune lies Étang de Savigneux, a 10-hectare protected natural area. A 1.6-kilometer footpath circles the pond, making it easy to explore on a clearly defined walking route.

Pedal boats can be rented at the pond for trips on the water. The service may be seasonal, so check in advance whether rentals are available during your visit. There are designated fishing spots around the pond, as well as a 14-hole mini-golf course.

The options offer different ways to spend your time: you can walk, take a trip on the water, fish, or play mini golf. When planning your time at the pond, it helps to decide first which of these activities you want to focus on.

Comparing Golf des Étangs and Mini Golf

Golf des Étangs offers an 18-hole golf course on a 42-hectare site with nine ponds. This is a different kind of game from the 14-hole mini-golf course at Étang de Savigneux: you can distinguish between mini golf by the pond and a round on the 18-hole course, rather than treating them as the same offering.

Culture and Architectural History

The Micro-Folie de Savigneux offers an immersive cultural experience combining digital media, live arts, and cultural interpretation. This provides a contemporary form of cultural interpretation to explore during your stay, alongside the historic buildings.

The Priory of Saint-Nizier, later known as Sainte-Croix, is one of the oldest monasteries in Forez, after those of Montverdun and Ambierle. It is said to have been founded in the 10th century by the Counts of Lyon and Forez. Of the partially destroyed priory, only a round-arched portal flanked by two building wings remains on the site. Its early foundation and the limited surviving fabric are two distinct aspects of its history.

The other architectural landmarks also represent different historical contexts. Château de Merlieu replaced a fortified house during the Renaissance. In 1593, Maison forte de Morenol, later Château de Montrouge, was surrounded by moats and a drawbridge. The transition from a fortified residence to a château and the fortifications recorded in 1593 can be considered as separate details.

Landscape and Getting Around

The Vizézy River flows through Savigneux. The commune lies in a hilly landscape characteristic of the Plaine du Forez. Together, the river and the terrain offer two distinct points of reference for understanding the area's geography.

Savigneux has an excellent road network via the D60, D204, and D496 departmental roads; check current road conditions before setting out. At Pont canal, the width of the walls allows pedestrians to pass along the canal banks, with metal railings alongside the walkway. Check conditions there on site.

Discover more destinations: Violay, La Terrasse-Sur-Dorlay, Sury-Le-Comtal, Saint-Sauveur-En-Rue, L'hôpital-Sous-Rochefort, Bussy-Albieux, La Fouillouse, Dancé.

For the wider travel overview: Loire.