Travel Guide Loire

Stretched along the river of the same name, the Loire is a green and charming department which shelters villages of character, castles and museums. The Loire also offers us typical flavors, both salty and sweet, which can be washed down with a fine range of local wines and excellent mineral waters. The winning quartet of the tourist jewels of this territory is, in order, thezoological space of Saint-Martin-la-Plaine, the castle of Bouthéon, followed by the museum of the Mine of Saint-Étienne and the winter sports resort of Chalmazel. This territory spreads out from north to south in four distinct regions: the Roannais with its rich heritage, the Forez with its mountains and ponds, Saint-Etienne, capital of design and its region which is home to the Badoit springs, and the Pilat regional natural park rich in greenery, panoramas and vineyards. We can add the mounts of Lyonnais in the south-east, with its mild climate. It is thus a great diversity of landscapes, from the north of Roannais which evokes Burgundy, to the south-east of the department, on the edge of the Rhone, with a climate that is already a little bit Provencal, passing through the mountains or along the Loire. So many landscapes and ecosystems in one department! And to take advantage of it, depending on the season, come with your hiking boots, with your downhill or cross-country skis, or even by bike to pedal on the viaRhôna.