La boucle des bords de Loire

The site covers around 30 ha and is a riparian area (forests on the riverbanks) which has developed on a former aggregate extraction area. To the north, there is an erosion area. Free all year round.

Explore the fortress which inspired the Montrond-les-Bains spa resort. It protected the major thoroughfare that was the Loire ford from the top of its round basalt hill.It was built by the Forez counts using volcanic rock, pebbles from the Loire and some beautiful large stones. The impressive fortress mellowed in the Renaissance to become a residence. Visitors can soak up the atmosphere from the courtyard, post guarding the entrance court, the kitchens to the foundations, dungeon and patrol path. Forez Postal Museum, Renaissance Centre: children’s games, costumes etc...

The Roman style Saint Roch church in Montrond-les-Bains was formerly the Château’s chapel and was built in the 12th and 15th centuries.Sights to behold: - Outside: the church porch has a Roman surround (ribbed inside the church). The gable is topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary (19th century) - Inside: the Apchon coat of arms “d’or semé de fleur de lys d’azur” (golden coat of arms with blue fleur de lys) on the keystone and the base of the two pillars - 16th century funereal band with painted coats of arms - Floral decorations that were rediscovered during the church’s 15th century renovation can be seen in the lateral aisles - The lords of Montrond’s tombstones and 17th century floral ornaments in the central nave - Choir stained glass: the middle one (1896) is by the great glassmaker L.Bégule from Lyon and the right-hand one is by Campagne. The decorated and floral stained glass along the aisles are by Mauvernay who came from Saint-Galmier.

Garden bearing the "jardin remarquable" label and where you can find 164 plant and crops species as well as their symbolism.As its President Elie Lafont said at the time: “The Château’s friends association created this garden in keeping with medieval tradition: cross-shaped layout and division into four areas as per the Villis capitulary established by Emperor Charlemagne in 816.” Visitors therefore find themselves in raised squares (known as “plessis”): the Hortus (kitchen garden square), Herbularius (aromatic plant square), Viridarius (orchard square) and the ornamental or Town Hall garden. The ornamental garden adds the finishing touch to this new park with benches and flowers for Montrondais visitors and residents. The project has been mostly funded by the Château’s friends associations and there are plans for a central well in the long term. Plants have signs.