Saint-Forgeux-Lespinasse walks

Enjoy a lovely walk above Ambierle through fields and forests. Discover its magnificent church with its polychrome tiles.

Route through the Lespinasse Forest, a peaceful spot with several ponds and picnic areas, facilities for children.

Morning: crossing the northern part of the Roanne coast vineyards, with little elevation gain, and two beautiful historic villages: Saint-Haon-le-Châtel and Ambierle, with a rich heritage open to visitors. The afternoon is more challenging with the climb to leat (altitude 765 m) through meadows and forest. Most of the route is on dirt tracks with no traffic.

An easy walk from Noailly to Abbaye de la Bénisson-Dieu, passing Château de la Motte on the way back.

The walk takes you through Saint-Haon-le-Vieux along the Chemin Rouge, then on to the site of Saint-Haon-le-Châtel, a veritable open-air museum where you can relive ten centuries of civilisation with its remains of high walls, 17 towers and 4 gates. These fortifications were built in the mid-14th century to protect the town from bands of looters. A magnificent village where every street is worth exploring.

This stage crosses the highest villages in the Monts de la Madeleine, at an altitude of around 1,000 metres, and allows you to visit two major tourist attractions in St-Nicolas-des-Leat (03): the Allée des Géants and the Pierre Châtel. Most of the route is through deciduous forest, home to mushrooms. The stage ends at the Loge des Gardes sports resort, where accommodation is available (hotel-restaurant).

This hike will allow you to discover the Cascade de la Pisserote waterfall on the Barbenan.

This hike takes us on a journey between modernity (the wind turbines) and the past (the old glassmakers' village, the Château des Hormières) and offers beautiful views of the surrounding valleys.

This short hike takes you past two remarkable sites: the Pierre Châtel with a beautiful view from its summit and the mysterious "Allée des Sorcières" (Witches' Alley) with its twisted beech trees.

This walk takes us through woods to the Verrerie plateau and its peat bog.

This hike takes us through the woods of Pierre Châtel (Saint-Nicolas-des-leat) to the Druidic Stone (Loge des Gardes). The return journey takes us through isolated hamlets and farms.

Walk in the Monts de la Madeleine between Villemontais and Chérier. 15/05/2024: Route modified to avoid passing through private property at Ripouroux.

Departure from the Loge des Gardes sports centre. Start the day in the beautiful beech undergrowth of the Assise State Forest, above 1,000 metres altitude, before descending to the more open plateaus of La Tuilière and Cherier, with beautiful views. End at the Refuge du Point du Jour lodge (overnight stay and meals made with farm produce) (altitude 870 metres).

A 4-day hiking tour from lodge to lodge in the Monts de la Madeleine (low mountain range) west of the town of Roanne. Immerse yourself in nature, often still wild, by taking as many small paths as possible.

Departure from a high point in the Monts de la Madeleine, in Cherier, at a place called Le Point du Jour (870 m, 14-bed stopover lodge with meals) to descend to the Côte Roannaise, cross its vine-covered hillsides and arrive at the medieval village of Saint-Haon-le-Châtel (14-bed stopover lodge with meals). This route gives priority to small paths with no motor vehicle traffic and beautiful views of the Roanne plain.

Route around a village listed among the most beautiful villages in France. After enjoying the rolling countryside through meadows, a visit to the historic village square is a must:10th-century castle (the oldest in Burgundy), Saint-Hilaire Collegiate Church. To preserve the authentic character of the village, it is recommended that you park in one of the car parks (see Practical Information).

Hike around a village listed among the most beautiful villages in France. This route, which follows hiking trails and slightly stony paths, offers beautiful panoramic views and allows you to enjoy the Brionnais countryside. Before or after your walk, a visit to the historic village square is a must (10th-century castle, St Hilaire Collegiate Church, etc.).