Travel Guide Montbrison

Sub-prefecture of the department of the Loire, on the border of the plain and the Forez mountains, Montbrison has about 16,500 inhabitants. Mentioned as early as the 9th century, Montbrison was born around the castle of the Counts of Forez, of which it became the capital in 870. Of its prestigious past, the city preserves a rich heritage of which the collegiate church Notre-Dame-d'Espérance, founded in 1223 is the most impressive illustration. If you decide to make a stop here, other places are nevertheless worth seeing, such as the heraldic hall of the Diana (XIIIth), which has more than 1,7000 coats of arms. This place is also home to the Forez Archaeological Museum; the complex of buildings of the current town hall (13th-18th centuries), and the former Cordeliers convent; the Oratorians' college (18th century), which became a sub-prefecture; the Ursulines' convent (18th century) and the Visitation convent (18th century), which became the Victor de Laprade college and the Pierre Boulez music centre respectively; the Chapelle des Pénitents (18th century), which became the Théâtre des Pénitents; as well as many facades of former private mansions, which date back to the 16th and 17th centuries, such as the Henrys and Robertet mansions and the Parable House. As far as gastronomy is concerned, it is undoubtedly the fourme de Montbrison which makes the success of the town.