Stretching along the river of the same name, the Loire is a green and charming department that houses villages of character, castles and museums. The Loire also offers us typical flavours, both salty and sweet, which can be served with a wide range of local wines and excellent mineral waters. The winning quartet of the tourist jewels of this territory is, in order, the zoological area of Saint-Martin-la-Plaine, the castle of Bouthéon, followed by the Saint-Étienne Mine Museum and the Chalmazel winter sports resort. This territory stretches from north to south in four distinct regions: Roannais with its rich heritage, Forez with its mountain and ponds, Saint-Étienne, capital of design and its region which shelters the Badoit springs, and the Pilat regional natural park with its greenery, its panoramas and its vineyards. We can add the hills of Lyonnais to the south-east, with a 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 banks of the Rhône, with an already slightly Provençal climate, passing through the mountains or along the Loire. So many landscapes and ecosystems for one department! And to enjoy it, depending on the season, come with your hiking boots, your downhill or cross-country skis, or even by bike to pedal on the viaRhôna