Things to see and do Loire

La maison des forges is above all the story of passionate people who never gave up. Indeed, it took 10 years between the initial idea and the opening of this site. But in concrete terms, what can you find inside? Here, you will be able to learn more about the blacksmith's trade. You can discover the tools used by blacksmiths and enter an interactive workshop. Note that temporary exhibitions are also proposed.

Take the big on the Grangent at the port of Saint-Victor! During a discovery of an hour of history, fauna and flora of the Loire Gorges, a lunch cruise to the groups, or even VIP for your cocktails, birthdays or seminars, take on this boat over 20 metres, with electric propulsion, and discover the water plan and its hydraulic dam. For off-season sailing, the Grangent is equipped with heating and double glazing!

It is impossible to miss it: while arriving at Saint-Etienne from the North, the black and white walls of Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain announce it to the travellers. It is one of the most important cultural places of the city. Its collection, with works of 20th and 21st century, is rich in great names like Andy Warhol, Fernand Léger, Picasso, Miro, Wassily Kandisky, Pierre Soulages... More recent personalities of the contemporary art, such Orlan or Gilbert and George are also present at the Museum. The totality of this artistic wealth is not visible in one time: the space available does not allow to expose all of them, and a considerable part of the collections are lent to other museums in the world. The museum also offers many temporary exhibitions, to explore the most forward-thinking facets of the contemporary art. The entrance is free on the first Sunday of each month.

The church was built in the th and th centuries. The three crosses of warheads before the choir date back to the th century. In the th and th centuries, the church expanded by the construction of a span and chapels on the southern side of the apse. In 1827, the last two spans, the north side, the chapels of Canon Planchet street and the current bell were built. The portal is built in conchylien limestone, the shells embedded in the stone are very apparent, and many figures can be noticed. The magnificent stained glass windows of the choir and those of the chapels of the Virgin and Saint John Baptiste are A. Mauvernay, a master verrier in Saint-Galmier.

The house of Accordions and Ancient Instruments preserves in its walls a beautiful collection of five hundred instruments of different eras. For two hours you will be able to admire them under all the seams, they are within your reach, aligned with tables, so it is easy to compare the different models while carefully following the explanations that will allow you to better restore their evolution over time. It will inevitably create some vocations, advice to amateurs!

Count Guy IV of Forez orders the construction of the castle of Chalmazle from 1231 that he finances at his expense. In the Renaissance, this building became the property of the Marquis of Talaru, which returned from the wars of Italy, projecting embellishments in Renaissance style: Skeleton facade, interior courtyard galleries and paintings of the chapel, sculptures… before leaving in 1533 this castle due to the harsh winters. For a few years it is the sisters Saint Joseph who will occupy him and carry out numerous restorations. In 2002, the new owners decided to open it on the visit and create guest rooms. In medieval terms, it presents elements of the strong house of origin and of all the styles that have passed over the centuries: meurtrières, donjon, ronde, galleries, chapel…

Small pedestrian streets serving garden gardens protected by high walls and suitable for a pleasant stroll.

A few minutes from the neighborhoods of La Métare, the castle of Rochetaillée proudly displays the ruins of its ramparts. An iron staircase allows you to visit the interior free of charge and without supervision (some panels are used for guided tours). Built on a quartz peak, this building dates back to the 11th century and has only 3 of its 4 original towers. Accessible day and night, the top of the towers offers a breathtaking view of the village and its surroundings!

Around Chazelles, you can still see the chimneys of the old chapelleries boiler. Indeed, Chazelles counted more than 30 artisan or industrial chapelleries that can be discovered in the city. For example, in Martouret Street, the now disused Fléchet factory will be found. This company, operating from 1859 to 1976, was one of the largest in the city and exported its production worldwide. Towards the Rue de la Liberté, the passage of the White Hat takes its name from an headgear that manufactured only white felt cones… As for St. Galmier's Highway No. 16, former headgear Blanchard today hosts the Workshop-Musée du Chapeau.

The hotel-Dieu de Charlieu was originally housed in the Benedictine abbey of the city where it hosted, in the Middle Ages, poor and pilgrims. In the th century, it is located in the Grand-Rue de Charlieu. Therefore, they were nuns of the Order of St. Marthe who would advice their care to the sick. The hotel-Dieu closed its doors in 1981. Its walls, a magnificent th-century building, created the Hospital Museum. This allows us to discover reconstructions of rooms dating from the end of the th to the s: the large dining room with its beds of beds, but also the rooms of care and operations and lingerie. Apothicairerie: Listed in historic monuments, retains its beautiful th-century woodwork, plant drawers and a beautiful set of th-century blue tiled pots. The religious dimension of the hospitals of the past is referred to in particular by the presence of the chapel, whose magnificent golden altarpiece (classified historic monument) is visible from the museum. " It smells the hospital… ": In the museum it smells the hospital and it is not an illusion! The smells of the different rooms were reconstituted by a specialized laboratory: plants in the apothicairerie, lavender in lingerie… This original olfactory evocation is a unique means of believing income in the time of nuns.

A tour tour allows you to discover about old houses preserved by Charlieu: th-century stone houses and increasing (th-century), or even Renaissance and classic periods. Discover the parish church Saint-Philibert (xiiith) and its polychrome wood stalls (th).

A few kilometers from Chazelles towards the Chevrière, make a stop on the pedagogical farm of Val Fleury. Michel and Isabelle Poncet take you to discover their herd of cows and their fields. Observation of animals (participation in trafficking, playful approach around games…), manufacture of bread, butter and compote and discovery of local flavors with tasting (buffets or tasters). Throughout the year, students in schools and leisure centers come to discover the life of a family on this dairy farm in organic farming. The farm is not home to cows, goat and pig.

Two facilitators to welcome the children of CP to the sixth.

First, the castle of Roche-la-Molière was a 12th century fortress. Modified in the 15th century and then in the 18th century, it is one of the rare medieval remains of the southern Loire. Surrounded by a magnificent garden, the castle opens its doors to you for a visit among its towers, curtains, machicolation... 13th century kitchen with a very rare set of 3 ovens, 17th century vaults decorated with coats of arms, 18th century salons and Kabyle lounge, chapel decorated with paintings... a great historical interest. Temporary exhibitions are regularly organized.

Located in the heart of the medieval village of Villerest, in a forézienne, this museum houses collections of objects telling the story of fire, from prehistory to today, a collection of more than 2 000 lighters and shotguns. Windows are also dedicated to the history of watchmaking. Discover the fire and cooking in Céline's kitchen! Reconstituted in a former house adjoining the ramparts of the village, discover authentic th-century authentic cuisine. Visit of temporary exhibitions to the Philosophy area.

A day between high industrial technology and tradition! St. Alban's mineral water company opens its doors for a trip to the heart of production lines, impressive, which bottles 80 000 plastic bottles and 75 000 boxes (cans) of water, sodas and juice on time. A fully automated storage of over 30 000 pallets and automatic laser-guided vehicles that carry out the handling will surprise you.

It is in the heart of the Forêt forest, on a site of more than 100 ha belonging to the town of Roanne, which you will be welcomed to share moments of fun, sensations and thrills on workshops designed to evolve safely in the top of centuries-old trees. Initiation course to familiarize yourself with your personal protective equipment (concentric, mousquetons and pulley) under the watchful eye of the monitor, which will give you the explanations necessary for the smooth operation of your expedition and will be happy to answer your questions. Seventy entertaining and sports workshops will be offered to you according to your wishes and physical abilities. However, some loopholes will facilitate the passage of the most difficult workshops. This will allow you to continue the journey by while your emotions. Three picnic tables await you in order to restore you in nature! Note: Cimes Adventures and Forez Adventures in Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert (Tel) 06 30 63 56 44) have thought of the two parks package for your pleasure. The two sites offer a rate of € 30 per person for their adult courses and € 20 for the children's courses, which will give you access to two different adventures.

Sail-les-Bains, of its Latin name Satio Aqua Saliens - jaillissantes waters, has always been renowned for its thermal waters. The Romans, unaware of the use of "chemical" medicine, attached great importance to mineral waters. The diversity of the Springs of Sail-les-Bains was a complete "pharmacy". After this exciting period, the thermal waters have remained a long period without history and it is truly the Renaissance that will give them fashion. This place was the favourite stay of the great ladies of the courtyard of Henri III. Two characters really gave their nobility to Sail waters: Diane de Châteaumorand, wife of Honoré d'Urfé, author of the famous novel «L'Astrée» - was known for her dazzling beauty and regularly came to the baths to make the healing of youth safer and to heal her complexion. Pastor, who in 1878, by a handwritten letter, officially acknowledges the qualities of Sail's waters that remain renowned for treating skin, joints and nutrition. They also have the virtues of rejuvenation. Pasteur considered this water to have «a huge value» and placed it in the «first rank of the most active waters». The thirties are those of prosperity; the post-war era makes it an appointment to the fashion of the stars of the time. But in 1985 a fire partially destroyed the hotel and marked the provisional decline of the establishment. 1998 marked the renewal of mineral waters with the restoration of uptake of the Hamel source (13 m 3/h at 28 ° C). Today, with a new state-of-the-art bottling plant - with a production capacity of 2 500 bottles per hour, set in the heart of the magnificent spa park, Sail-les-Bains mineral waters now find themselves in the market for large distribution.