St. Alban Les Eaux: Springs, spa history and trails

St. Alban Les Eaux brings together the history of its spa, mineral springs, sweeping views across the Roannais and the landscape of the Gorges du Désert. This gives you several starting points for planning your stay: the Parc des Eaux Minérales, the gorges and a mountain bike circuit.

Views and landscape

There is an orientation board at the Belvédère de Saint-Alban-les-Eaux, from where you can see far across the Roannais. The Gorges du Désert are home to a distinctive ecosystem shaped by water and Mediterranean influences on the south-facing slope. The Les gorges du Désert circular hike follows the Montouse and leads to a waterfall. The route also takes you to Châtelus: in the Iron Age, it was a natural defensive position, and it also offers a viewpoint.

Mineral springs and spa history

At the heart of Saint-Alban-les-Eaux lies the Parc des Eaux Minérales. It offers a glimpse into the spa town’s past at the beginning of the 20th century. The park has four natural, carbonated mineral springs and also includes an enclosed spring area. The former bottling plant was renovated in 2002 and now houses artists’ studios. The park thus brings together the springs, the former bottling operation and its present-day artistic use.

Hikes and walks

The PR Les gorges du Désert is a 6 km hiking trail that meets FFRandonnée quality standards. The circular hike of the same name is described as moderate: it is 6 km long, takes two hours, has 270 metres of elevation gain and starts at the Église, Place de l’Église, in Saint-Alban-les-Eaux. Its route leads to the Parc des Eaux Minérales and past the springs; it also follows the Montouse and leads to a waterfall. The details on distance, duration and elevation gain can help you fit this hike into your day’s plans. Check the route details again before setting out; trail conditions and water levels can change.

The short La Clef des champs walks offer another way to get to know the area. They lead to agricultural points of interest, and information boards share insights into local farming. This brings a topic from everyday life in the region into the mix alongside spa history and the landscape of the gorges.

By mountain bike

Boucle 6 / La Thermale is a moderate 9.9 km mountain bike circuit. It runs from Saint-André-d’Apchon towards Saint-Alban-les-Eaux, then leaves Saint-Alban-les-Eaux in the direction of Villemontais. The route also reflects the village’s spa history along the wine route. It offers a different focus from the hiking loop: here, the mountain bike route and its direction are the starting point for planning your outing, while the hiking loop is described with a stated duration and elevation gain. You should also check the route details again before setting out on this ride.

Whether you are interested in spa history, views, a hike or a bike ride, the options described differ in theme and route profile. You can plan your stay around the activities that appeal to you most.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Saint-Priest-La-Prugne, Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand, Veranne, Ouches, Saint-Pierre-De-Bœuf, Dancé, Saint-Étienne, La Ricamarie.

Back to the main travel overview: Loire.