Covering the highlands of the Forez, the foothills of the Massif Central to the banks of the Rhône with their almost Mediterranean atmosphere, the hills of the Roannais, the gate to Burgundy and the hills of the Lyonnais, the “départementî of the Loire stretches out along its eponymous river.
Up there, in the northern part of the “départementî, a number of small wonders await the visitor. Its many sites will satisfy your desires to get back to nature and discover the local heritage.. This is the land of knitwear and textiles, but also of good food where there are countless excellent restaurants.
The Roannais offers many assets and willingly shows off its charms to visitors willing to breathe in its deepest and most delicate aromas. As you roam along roads and paths, or waterways, enriching encounters reveal its rich and protected past.
At dawn, when the sun rises, their generous forms stand out behind the plain: they are the Monts du Forez. An untouched and still wild range of exceptional beauty. Here you enter the kingdom of the forest, the high plateaux and moor land. A rough country, where humankind is often absent. This is a privileged place for lovers of protected nature. Further down, the landscape changes with occasional villages nestling on the hillsides, the guardians of the many riches of their past, leading to the vast plain and its lakes, a special feature of this region.. Hiking trails wind through moss and heather to take you to the hilltops. There the view brushes over valleys and hills from the Ice Age, covered with pines and spruces, between waterfalls and springs. Here luxury is accessible to all.
THE LYONNAIS
From the Forez plain, to the banks of the Loire, via the Pays de Coise, before rising with the Montagnes du Matin, or the foothills of the Lyonnais, this region continues to surprise visitors with the wealth and diversity of its landscape and heritage.. Between the plain and the valleys, the pays de Coise offers several curiosities well worth a diversion. More to the North, the Montagnes du Matin, offer a harmonious transition. Open to family tourism, this region also provides an opportunity to meet local farmers and enjoy their produce. Here the authenticity of local products is intact.
Bordering the plains of Astrée to the north, crowned by the Pilat and Haut-Forez to the south, Saint-Etienne, the city of seven hills, grows increasingly beautiful. Traditionally known as a “black townî, on the “blueî route between Paris and the Mediterranean Just a few minutes from the city centre, the country is all around. The favourite outing for the population of Saint Etienne has as its destination Saint-Victor-sur-Loire, with a port and a beach where they can practise a wide range of watersports.
For people preferring wooded mountains, the small village of Rochetaillée nestling around its old château is the ideal setting for an invigorating trek that takes you to the dams of the Gouffre d'Enfer and of the Pas du Riot.
Here you have access to very diverse landscapes. Imagine that you move from 580 to 1,432 metres in altitude in just a few kilometres before descending into the valley at 140 metres! The 1,500 km of trails, in protected and sometimes wild nature, make this a hikers' paradise. Hikers and athletes will find everything they need to fulfil their dreams or thirst for nature and open spaces. With its many sites to visit, take the time to stroll around the streets of Malleval or Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez, then, further west, the higher plateaux highlight the stark contrasts that announce the foothills of the Haute-Loire.
Like the 36 regional natural parks of France, the Parc du Pilat adopts the same logic, i.e. harmoniously protecting and managing its natural and cultural heritage, contributing to local economic and social development, welcoming, educating and informing the public and contributing to territorial development.
For more information : visit the website www.loire.fr
Marne
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Discovery of Epernay in the Champagne Region
A charming journey in epernay. This pretty town is located between the Marne river and the hills, at the junction of the 'Tourist Routes of Champagne' which traverse these famous vineyards. Epernay is surrounded by these sloping vineyards and is the heart of the 30, 000 hectares...
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Destination:
Loire
