Gem of Forez, the small town of Saint-Bonnet-le-Château, perched on its promontory, has a remarkable medieval district in which the walker can discover the Gothic collegiate church, whose crypt is home to murals dating from the 15th century, and the picturesque streets lined with old houses.

As Saint-Bonnet-le-Château is the historic birthplace of the pétanque ball, fans of the game should definitely pay a visit to the international pétanque and boules museum.

Located on the outskirts of Saint-Étienne and Le Puy-en-Velay, on the border between the departments of Loire and Haute-Loire, the territory of the Loire Gorges will cast a spell on you with its peaceful woodland scenery, remarkable fauna and flora, rocky spurs and beautiful Lake Grangent, as well as its medieval castles and typical villages.

All these attractions are a joy for architectural heritage enthusiasts and lovers of nature with a capital N! So put on your hiking boots and set off to discover the wonders of the nature reserve. Roam the interpretation trail starting from the Gournier cross to Monistrol-sur-Loire, a magnificent 3.5-kilometre itinerary dotted with information signs to help you appreciate the gorges' wild beauty. Savour the panoramic views from the promontory of Rochebaron Castle or the remains of Arlempdes' medieval castle. Make the most of your visit to Lake Grangent by taking a boat trip or enjoying activities such as sailing, canoeing, fishing and water skiing.

Are you more of a culture vulture? Head to Chamalières-sur-Loire in the Loire Gorges to see its Romanesque priory church, or to Lavoûte-Polignac Castle for its large collection of artworks and paintings. You can also discover the medieval fortress of Essalois, which affords a superb view of Grangent Island and its 12th-century castle.

In the medieval village of Chambles, a picturesque fortified settlement on a granite promontory, you can admire remarkable views of the Loire Gorges. There are also some lovely views from the charming hilltop village of Saint-Victor-sur-Loire, overlooking the gorges. Its water sports centre is a treat for fans of athletic outdoor activities!

Perched at the top of a volcanic peak towering over the Forez plain, the Saint-Romain-le-Puy priory has preserved a magnificent church of Romanesque style containing ancient mural paintings.

Perched on the top of a rocky spur overlooking the Loire, the fortress of Rochebaron, with its towers, arrowslits, machicolations and ramparts, is characteristic of the defensive buildings of the Middle Ages.

Located in the municipality of Bas-en-Basset in Haute-Loire, this castle fort, a listed Historic Monument, still has three fortified walls, a 25-metre high tower, the remains of a chapel and a main dwelling. It houses two museums and an exhibition trail with explanation signs to immerse you in the history of the place and the lords of Rochebaron.

A steep path will lead you to the castle in about twenty minutes of walking. You will be amply rewarded for this little climb by the stunning view of the Loire Valley and the Meygal massif!

Another unusual attraction: from April to the end of October, an aviary at the castle offers impressive falconry shows, during which majestic birds of prey fly freely.

Located in the heart of the Loire Gorges, Monistrol-sur-Loire is the second largest town in Velay in terms of population.

Its emblematic monument is located in the historic centre, interspersed with narrow medieval streets: the Bishops' Castle (Château des Évêques), which was the summer residence of the Bishops of Le Puy until the Revolution. Built in the 13th century and fortified in the 15th, this imposing building flanked by round towers is open to the public and regularly hosts temporary exhibitions. Also worth discovering are its 12th-century Romanesque church topped by a 17th-century bell tower, and the chapel of the former Ursulines convent, which contains remarkable 17th-century walnut wood carvings attributed to the artist Pierre Vaneau.

Beautiful walks are available in the area around the town of Monistrol, in particular one starting from the Gournier cross, on the Loire Gorges interpretation trail. This magnificent 3.5-kilometre route, dotted with information signs, will take you through green, unspoilt landscapes.

Good to know: every year in November, the castle hosts a gourmet event, the Gastrôleries, a celebration of wine, food and humour that brings together local and regional producers.

In the heart of the Loire gorges, the Grangent lake is a magnificent 28-kilometer long water reservoir created on the Loire River in 1957. In a lovely location on the edge of the lake, the village of Saint-Victor-sur-Loire has a pleasant sandy beach to relax on, a marina and a water sports centre offering numerous activities such as sailing, pedal-boating, canoeing, fishing and water-skiing. Boat trips on the lake are also offered.

In the Middle Ages, the village of Chalencon, located one kilometre north-east of the village of Saint-André-de-Chalencon, in the Ance Valley of Haute-Loire, was an important place of passage between Velay and Forez. So naturally, a mighty fortress was built there in the 10th century in order to ensure control of this crossing point.

Some fine remains of this castle perched on the top of a rocky peak can still be seen today: a quadrangular enclosure, a crenellated keep, two corner turrets and a Romanesque seigneurial chapel. All this overlooks the charming medieval village, forming a picturesque site in a lush, green setting, just the place for a nice, peaceful stroll. A listed Historical Monument owned by the De Polignac family, the feudal castle offers a remarkable panoramic view of the Ance Gorges! Below, you can see the picturesque 12th-century Devil's Bridge (Pont du Diable), which was once a toll bridge across the Ance connecting Chalencon to Retournac.

Former capital of the counts of Forez, the town of Montbrison has preserved numerous architectural examples of its rich past, such as the Notre-Dame d'Espérance collegiate church, a beautiful Gothic building whose bell tower dominates the roofs of the historic centre; the mansions; the chapels and former convents; the Diana room, which is the room of the Former States of Forez, boasting a magnificent wooden vaulted ceiling decorated with coats of arms. Besides these places of interest to discover, it is also possible to walk along the Vizézy quays.

To be visited: the Allard museum, housed in a mansion, which is home to collections of minerals, stuffed birds and dolls coming from all over the world. Behind the museum extends a pleasant garden perfect for a stroll.

Nestling in the heart of Forez, the village of Champdieu offers a magnificent fortified Romanesque church.

It's impossible to admire all the works at the Saint-Étienne Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in one go! You will need several visits to see all of the 19,000 works on display to the public ... This is a real international institution in the field of modern and contemporary art, and is located on Rue Fernand Léger in the municipality of Saint-Priest-en-Jarez, close to Saint-Étienne.

There are 3,000 m² of exhibition rooms spread throughout the contemporary building, one of whose aims is to showcase the production of art and technology in the industrial era.

When it comes to paintings, there are works by Monet, Brauner, Magnelli, Léger, Picasso and more, and the department is completed by sections of older art, design and photography.

Visitors can also receive guidance as they discover the collections, through guided tours, workshops, experiments and "extra-mural" projects.

Good to know: a programme of temporary exhibitions showcases internationally renowned artists alternating with younger artists, with seasons devoted to European creativity and themed exhibitions.

Located between the Lyonnais and Forez mountains, the pleasant health resort of Saint-Galmier is famous for its mineral water springs where the prestigious Badoit comes from. Renowned for its digestive properties and popular for its flavour and tiny bubbles, Badoit mineral water makes an ideal drink to accompany meals.

In addition to the Badoit museum and the old town, visitors should also visit Saint-Galmier's charming rose garden, where over 350 varieties grow.

With a rich mining and industrial past, the City of Art and History of Saint-Étienne has preserved an important heritage, notably from the 19th and 20th centuries.

The famous Jean-Jaurès square, decorated with a charming bandstand and lined with beautiful buildings such as the cathedral, the town hall and the Prefecture, the lively pedestrian shopping streets of the Saint-Jacques district, the picturesque Place du Peuple square, as well as the numerous museums of the city are just some of the places to be discovered.

The remarkable Modern Art museum - with more than 15 000 works! - houses one of the largest modern and contemporary art collections in France.

Dominated by the silhouette of a pit-head frame and surrounded by two slag heaps, the mine museum, on the site of Couriot mine shaft, takes visitors on a tour of a former mine through places such as the miners' changing room, the lamp room, underground galleries, the extraction room and power room.

Not to be missed either, the Museum of Art and Industry, and the Musée du Vieux Saint-Etienne local history museum.

Every other year in November is held the International Design Biennale, an event dedicated to the world of design and related professions.

Walkers will love the peaceful and unspoiled nature surrounding the town, particularly the nearby Loire gorges and Pilat mountain area.

Specialising in the treatment of digestive and rheumatic disorders, the spa town of Montrond-les-Bains offers a variety of wellbeing breaks too.

Surrounding the thermal baths is a lovely park to stroll around.

Also of interest is a medieval castle built in the 12th century by the counts of Forez.

Located at the heart of Livradois-Forez, 30 kilometres east of Lavaudieu in Haute-Loire, the old Benedictine abbey of La Chaise-Dieu, founded in the 11th century by Canon Robert de Turlande, is nowadays a major religious site in Auvergne.

In the Languedoc Gothic style, its imposing and magnificent 14th-century abbey church is remarkable, with its 17th-century pipe organ, Flamboyant Gothic rood screen and 144 carved oak stalls arranged around the tomb of Pope Clement VI. Not to be missed is the superb 15th-century fresco of the Danse Macabre, covering three panels and four pillars. It shows cadavers leading characters from medieval society to their deaths, be they authority figures, bourgeois or members of the lower classes.

Originally located in the monks' choir of the abbey church, the famous Flemish tapestries are now on display in the old Chapel of Our Lady of the College of La Chaise-Dieu. These fourteen superb tapestries from the early 16th century depict scenes from the life of Christ.

Also worth seeing is the beautiful Gothic cloister adjoining the abbey church, of which two galleries remain.

Renowned for its exceptional acoustics, the Abbey Church of St. Robert hosts the famous La Chaise-Dieu music festival at the end of August every year, a major event devoted to sacred and symphonic music.

A gateway to the Livradois-Forez Regional Nature Park and certified Small Town of Character (Petite Cité de Caractère), Allègre will enchant you with its ancient heritage. The remains of the 14th-century feudal castle, the Porte de Monsieur gate or the Chapel of Our Lady of the Oratory located on Place du Marchédial are just some of the places you can discover on a stroll around Allègre.

In the chapel surrounded by fortified houses, you can see a 16th-century Pietà, and from the heights of the village, by the gallows-shaped ruins of the old castle, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Devès and Velay volcanoes!

Located in the municipality of Lavoûte-sur-Loire, 14 kilometres north of Le Puy-en-Velay, in the heart of a wild and preserved environment, Lavoûte-Polignac Castle has stood for nearly 1,000 years on a rocky spur overlooking a bend in the Loire.

This Renaissance-style building is the property of the De Polignac family who restored the south wing, the only remnant of the main building still standing today, in the 19th century.

Open to the public from the beginning of April to the end of October, the elegant castle flanked by round towers offers its visitors a superb view of the Loire Gorges, as well as taking them on a real journey through time, with its extensive collection of artworks and paintings related to the history of this illustrious family. You can also admire its beautiful wood panelling and Aubusson tapestries!

A magnificent Renaissance garden, where box trees and roses reign supreme, completes the visit. In summer, the castle hosts exhibitions and concerts.

Dominating the Forez plain high up on a promontory, the Château de Couzan, built in the 11th century, constitutes a remarkable example of medieval military architecture. Situated on the municipality of Sail-sous-Couzan, this fortress has preserved its keep and its fortified surrounding walls. From this hilltop location, there is also a beautiful view of the Forez mountains.

Dominated by the Testavoyre, its highest peak culminating at an altitude of 1,436 metres, the Meygal massif is located in the heart of Velay, in Haute-Loire. This unspoilt territory is made up of dozens of sucs, the famous small, dormant volcanoes shaped like sugar loaves.

Covered by a vast forest, the Meygal is an ideal place for hiking in summer. A pleasant 13-kilometre trail starting at Queyrières invites you to take a tour. From the top of the Testavoyre, which is easily accessible to walkers, there is a superb view of the surrounding sucs and Mount Mézenc!

For runners, the Espace Trail du Meygal, the first permanent trail running space in Haute-Loire, offers eight marked circuits for different levels of ability, surrounded by splendid scenery.

In winter, a Nordic ski area ranging from 1,200 to 1,400 metres in altitude offers 44 kilometres of marked pistes and is a great place to enjoy snow sports: cross-country skiing trips and snowshoe walks in a magnificent forest setting are sure to enchant you!

Perched on an impressive volcanic hill at the edge of Le Puy-en-Velay in Haute-Loire, Polignac Fortress is reputed to be impregnable and was built between the 11th and 16th centuries.

Open to visitors from mid-February to mid-November, this beautiful site offers a stunning view of the Le Puy basin and the Velay mountains from its vast three-hectare platform!

You can explore the remains of the castle fort on a fascinating circuit featuring 14 points of interest. The 32-metre-tall keep, old chapel, cour d'honneur, wall walk along the ramparts and medieval-inspired garden are among the curiosities to see along the trail. You can also learn about the history of the De Polignac family, who have owned the fortress for around 1,000 years, and an illustrious family in French history whose members included Gabrielle, friend of Queen Marie-Antoinette.

Downhill from the fortress, be sure to visit the Church of St. Martin, a Romanesque gem and listed Historic Monument.

Located in the Forez plain in Saint-Étienne-le-Molard, the Château de la Bastie-d'Urfé was originally a medieval fortified manor house that was turned into a magnificent Renaissance residence during the 16th century. The twelve-column gallery, the guardroom, the ramp protected by a sphinx, the cool room, the chapel and the gardens, including box hedge parterres and a rotunda containing a fountain, are some of the features to be enjoyed by visitors.

In July and August, the Bâtie-d'Urfé Nights festival offers plays, shows and exhibitions for culture fans.

The easternmost suc in Velay, the Lizieux Peak (Pic du Lizieux) in the municipality of Araules, Haute-Loire, overlooks a vast basalt plateau. The Bonas trail leads to the Lizieux Peak: its summit, which rises to an altitude of 1,388 metres, offers a superb 360° panoramic view of the surrounding unspoilt landscapes. An orientation table helps visitors to spot the Lignon Valley, the Vivarais mountains, Mount Mézenc, the Meygal massif, and even the Alps mountain range on a clear day!

The easy loop walk lasting around 1h30 is accessible to walkers of all levels of ability, as well as children, providing they have the proper footwear. Wild food lovers can take advantage of this beautiful hike on the Lizieux massif to pick some of the blueberries, raspberries or mushrooms that line the path!

This remarkable environment, part of which is classified as a Natura 2000 zone, is also appreciated in winter, when many cross-country skiers arrive.

The capital of Haute-Loire, the town of Le Puy-en-Velay is located in the south-east of the Massif Central. As the starting point of the famous Via Podiensis, one of the routes to Santiago de Compostela, since the Middle Ages, the Auvergne town is a major pilgrimage site, with its cathedral and Hôtel-Dieu listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Built at the foot of the Corneille Rock, an imposing volcanic peak towering over the historic centre, the Cathedral of Our Lady (Notre-Dame) is a remarkable example of the Romanesque style with Carolingian, Byzantine and Moorish influences. This magnificent 11th and 12th-century building is reached via picturesque sloping streets starting from the lower part of town and a long flight of 134 steps. When you arrive, be sure to take a look at its majestic polychrome façade decorated with mosaics and the ancient fresco on its western porch, before admiring the superb Romanesque cloister with polychrome arches and sculpted capitals, as well as the beautiful pieces in the treasure collection located in the former Hall of the States of Velay. Above the high altar is the famous 17th-century Black Madonna of Le Puy, which is processioned through the streets of the old town on 15 August every year.

Perched at the top of the Corneille Rock, the statue of Our Lady of France, a cast iron work created by the sculptor Bonnassieux in the 19th century using cast iron from the cannons of the Battle for Sevastopol, offers a splendid view of the city's red roofs from its platform!

Le Puy-en-Velay is also famous for its bobbin lace, which according to the legend was invented there. Visitors can learn about it at the Crozatier Museum, located at the bottom of the pleasant Henri Vinay Garden, which boasts a variety of plants. The museum's galleries also house collections dedicated to archaeology, fine arts, palaeontology, ethnology, natural sciences and mechanics.

To complete your knowledge of the lace-makers' art, do not miss a chance to visit the Bobbin Lace Education Centre (Centre d'Enseignement de la Dentelle au Fuseau), which offers courses and workshops: this ancestral skill will be explained to you in detail, from the equipment used to the different stitches and motifs. Its exhibition rooms reveal magnificent collections of old and contemporary lace from various periods and countries.

Covering an area of over 320,000 hectares to the east of Clermont-Ferrand, the Livradois-Forez Regional Nature Park stretches over the two Auvergne départements of Puy-de-Dôme and Haute-Loire. A network of hiking trails and quiet roads criss-crosses peaceful countryside alternating between conifer forests, green meadows and high-altitude moors (hautes chaumes).

Col du Beal pass, located in the Forez mountains at an altitude of 1,390 metres, is worth the trip for its pretty views of the surrounding high-altitude moors (with viewing table).

A stop in the welcoming town of Ambert, located between the Forez and Livradois mountains, is a must for its beautiful medieval and Art Nouveau heritage and its famous gastronomic speciality, the Fourme d'Ambert, a delicious blue-veined cheese.

Near Ambert, in the Lagat valley, stands the Moulin Richard de Bas, the last paper mill in operation in the Auvergne. This picturesque site is open to the public and is home to a paper museum explaining the history of paper and how it is manufactured.

Also not to be missed are the Livradois-Forez discovery trains: a steam train and a panoramic rail car linking Courpière in the Puy-de-Dôme département to La Chaise-Dieu in the Haute-Loire. An excellent way of exploring this vast area's natural and built treasures!

The park visitor centre (Maison du Parc) in Saint-Gervais-sous-Meymont has a great deal of information available for those organising their stay in the Livradois-Forez.