Monts du Forez Hotels

Whatever: Accomodation in the valley.

The Loire River cuts deep gorges in the Southern Auvergne and when it leaves the gorges, it enters a wide plain (Plaine du Forez, Forez designates also a plain), before its long journey North where it is famous for the castles built in the Vallée de la Loire. Here, not far from St Etienne, the Loire leaves the gorges and there are spectacular views over the valley from the Forez mountains; the two first pictures have been taken in Autumn, when the road leaves the balconies and plunges down to La Pertuiset in the valley. Many villages are built on the banks of the Loire (picture 3), when she leaves the gorges, and a few ruins or castles can be seen; on the last pictures are the calm waters of the Loire at le Pertuiset, 7 km south of the Grandjean dam, next to St Just St Rambert; there are many boating and canoeing possibilities in this place, and in summer many boats spot the waters of the Loire.

Many villages in the area offer accommodation and water sport activities, for all sorts of vacationers.
St Paul en Cornillon, at the entrance of the gorges, with its castle, is a very nice village built on a hill surrounded by a meander.
Aurec sur Loire, further upstream offers a lot of accommodation in Aurec or in the vicinity, mainly in “gites” or home stays.
Retournac is the best known holiday spot in the Gorges de la Loire, but we are already in Velay and Auvergne, not anymore Forez; but the place is beautiful and if you plan to go in the area, this website gives information about accommodation.
The websites are in French. . . . . we are in France. . . . !

• Opinion of Price: N/A
• Related to: Eco-Tourism
• Written December 11, 2008

Vista on the gorges de la Loire

4 more images

---

Was this review helpful?