Archaeology handicrafts and science and technology sites to visit Loire

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!

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.

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.

Below the village, the dolmen of Roche Cubertelle crossed the ages. Real mégalithe, dated the third millennium before Jesus Christ, he testifies to the ancient occupation of what will become the territory of the Ségusiaves before the arrival of the Celts.

This former moulinage factory of the th century, located in the middle of nature, surrounded by natural meadows, wood and fir, bogs, ponds and streams, has been set up in a permanent Centre for Environmental Initiatives (CPIE) and serves as a site for the discovery of nature and mountains. The building has 63 beds, divided into three-to six-bed rooms to accommodate school groups. Many activities around nature are proposed.

A natural park in 1974, the Pilat covers a surface area of 700 km ². It reaches 1 432 metres, at the Crêt de la Partridge. The vegetation is very rich because of the many climatic influences, thus constituting an important reserve for the fauna and flora of this mountainous region. This protected site houses rare species such as the circaète Jean-le-blanc or the soulflayer shrike. Haut Pilat is located in the welcoming village of Rochetaillée (only 6 km from Saint-Etienne) and its th century castle overlooking the Furan valley. Winter is perfect for the escapades and continue to the Bessat is an interesting idea because the place is ideal for oxygenate outdoors. There are numerous hiking trails on the Jasserie road. The Nordic area of Haut-Pilat offers a number of activities such as cross-country skiing, as well as children, and they are delighted to be able to enjoy the joy of the'kart'déval.

You are of a nature to have the head in the moon or you followed the adventures of Thomas Pesquet? Then you are ready for an intergalactic journey in 2 or 3D. In the room equipped with a dome and a half-sphere screen, comfortably installed in your armchair, come and live an adventure mixing knowledge and mystery around the universe and the planets. Films and animations in hyperrealistic immersion, there is something for all ages, whether you are a connoisseur or not.

Let yourself be told the commune of Briennon by a Martin-fisherman, who will guide you into panel panels on the discovery trail «Between slipway and shore». At the start of the port, this 4,8 kilometre walk is ready for family walks, including the small games and quizzes that feed the trail. The circuit invites you to discover the omniprésence of water in Briennon by crossing the shores of the Loire and the Canal canal in Digoin. The main points of interest are the Teyssonne Canal bridge, the Cul Ass and the Briennon lock.

Tariff: free.

Duration: 1 p. m.

Difficulty: .

The village of Aris consists of houses hugging each other and built around two circular lanes. At the time of the stroll, you can see a th century fortified farmhouse, a house house, characteristic porches, bouteroues, a well. The hamlet of Aris (Aris from the cadastre, Arris according to the current mapping) is located approximately 1,5 km from the roundabout of La Poste on the right of the D 8 towards Saint-Germain-Laval.

Departure: entrance to the village parking village. Distance: 3,6 km, duration: 2 h. The trail offers many varieties of deciduous, shrubs, conifers, species typical of wetlands and bois such as heather, blueberry, mosses… Beautiful panorama on the mountains of Lyonnais, Forez and Du, visible from the orientation table. If you have time, visit the Cravate Museum and the Zoonat De or the flour Mill of Master Marcel or the llamas from Lafayette to Chambost-Longessaigne.

Guided tour possible by appointment. Proposed brochure for 2 €. This 7 km circuit, in a green setting, makes you discover the small valley of the Carrat, where a charming stream of the same name flows and the water once held four flour mills. One of these mills still has all the facilities and each of their locations, the information panels have been installed. The circuit joins the Botanique botanical trail. Marked in yellow and white with the mill logo.

At the centre of the commune, Place de la Liberté, the amazing replica of the Monorail locomotive, a line of railway that tried to connect Feurs to Panissières in the th century at the request of local assemblers, with explanatory panels in its history. It is also possible to request the intervention of a moderator of the tourism office for the groups. The old railway track is now transformed into a signposted hiking trail where walkers can still admire the old monorail bridges and bridge bridges.

Take advantage of a beautiful sunny day to borrow the monastic Mystery circuit in order to take your steps in those of the monks who have shaped the Country of Charlieu: Benedictine and Franciscan at Charlieu Abbey, Cistercian church at La Bénisson-Dieu abbey church and the convent of the Cordeliers. Then complete your walk through the guided tour of the historic centre of Charlieu, the afternoons discover rural architecture and botanical promenades, organised by the tourist office in season, will inform you!