Our guide
Would you like to discover an area where you can switch from trains to hiking in the blink of an eye, hurtle down panoramic roads on your bike and enjoy a creamy blue against the meandering Loire? Then you'll love this Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes department (linked to Paris or Lyon by the TGV/TER stations of Saint-Étienne-Châteaucreux, Roanne, Montbrison & Cie, and where bikes travel free on all the region's TER trains)!
Nature and hiking: from wild gorges to high mountain ridges, the scenery is constantly changing. On the program: Gorges de la Loire (spectacular cliffs, forests and belvederes for 50 signposted circuits or a refreshing canoe descent), Parc naturel régional du Pilat (700 km² of mid-range mountains, from 140 m to 1,432 m altitude, perfect for hiking, mountain biking or via Rhôna on the vineyards side)... You can also opt for a train + bike trip, from any station: véloire along the river (2 days - 44 km), traversée cyclo du Pilat (4 days - 160 km), escapade Via Rhôna (2 days - up to 50 km), cyclosportif weekend (192 km in Pilat)... and many other “station-to-station” itineraries listed by Loire Tourisme.
When it comes to heritage and culture, you're spoilt for choice, with Saint-Étienne (designated UNESCO City of Design in 2010) and its Design Biennial, the Château de la Roche and the Monts du Forez and Roannais.
As for your taste buds, it's impossible to leave without biting into Fourme de Montbrison AOP, a creamy blue cheese with an orange rind bred on the meadows of Haut-Forez, and tasting a glass of red Côtes du Forez AOP and Côte Roannaise AOP.
In short, whether you're traveling solo, as a duo or with your family, the Loire offers you a “train + nature” interlude between panoramic peaks, urban design and volcanic flavors!
