A nice romantic and bucolic walk of 8 km, which links two dams of the Furan built under Napoleon III. From the parking lot in the Gouffre d'Enfer valley, a path follows the bed of the old torrent to the foot of the dam. The site is impressive: the rocky walls, vigorously cut, close up to form a narrow and dark gully. The dam of the Gouffre de l'enfer was built to feed St-Étienne. Stairs allow access to the crest. The reservoir develops at the foot of the fir-covered slopes. At 50 m on the left, stairs give access to a viewpoint facing Rochetaillée. Then follow the signs to the Pas de Riot dam. You will be able to admire giant Sequoias classified as remarkable trees during this walk which forms a loop.

This reserve of the Gorges of the Loire is of a crazy richness and is free of access throughout the year. It was created in 1988 and is part of the Natura 2000 network. It extends over the communes of Saint-Victor-sur-Loire and Unieux. The Regional Nature Reserve of the Gorges de la Loire is essentially made up of the steep slopes of the water level of the Grangent dam. It is a wild and precious heritage, appreciated by walkers and nature observers. Hiking trails have been set up to discover this privileged area. You can discover, in addition to a breathtaking view on the Loire, the castle of Essalois, the castle of Saint Victor as well as the castle of Grangent (which floats like a ship on the lake of Grangent), all three coming out of the Middle Ages as in a dream. One of the most famous walks is the Plateau de la Danse which allows to reach a rocky peak in order to admire a sublime view on the gorges of the Loire.
This nature reserve is rich in natural diversity: deciduous forest, mixed forests, grasslands, meadows, moors, rocky areas. It is also renowned for its ornithological wealth (black woodpecker, eagle owl, red kite, white-tailed eagle, etc.), its rare plants or mammals (such as bats, the small wild blue butterfly or the stag beetle).

In Dancé, there is a very well known walking area: the Pêt d'Âne. The Loire is a wild and winding river. Here is its biggest meander with a very particular shape. This incredible meander of the Loire is a real jewel to discover in the Roannais. The view is splendid and is a very famous place for photographers and Instagrammers. From the parking lot there are several paths, all marked, to cross the surrounding woods and enjoy the shade and the view!

Located in the Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park and in the Forez Art and History Country, the Hautes Chaumes cover the highest ridges of the Forez mountains. It is a huge natural space (40 km long and 20 wide), classified Natura 2000, located between 1 300 and 1 643 m of altitude, its highest point being the summit of Pierre-sur-Haute. Unrolling a long carpet of moors and pastures with changing colors over the seasons, the Hautes Chaumes offer hikers an exceptional panorama open, to the west, on the chain of Auvergne volcanoes, and, to the east, on the Alps: a 360° viewpoint. For centuries, men have proudly exploited this mountain with its harsh climate, known for its two products of excellence: the Ambert and Montbrison ants, A.O.P. cheeses. The Hautes Chaumes offer an atypical face still shaped by agro pastoralism. This wild territory, favourable to hiking and discovery, shelters a rich fauna and flora. Its particularity is to be very little populated in trees, this for two reasons. The first one is human, with important cuttings made in the Middle Ages. The second is natural, because difficult climatic conditions prevent trees from growing. The Hauts-de-Chaumes resembles the landscapes of the Aubrac plateau, the Scottish Highlands or Mongolia. You will have a strange feeling of traveling, without leaving our beautiful department of the Loire. While walking around you will discover sumptuous viewpoints on the Pilat massifs, the Auvergne and the Alps. The place is so immense that you will have the impression to be alone in the world, far from the civilization.

For a hike within everyone's reach : https://rando.parc-livradois-forez.org/pedestre/les-hautes-chaumes/

The Medieval Site of Donzy is located 1.9 km from the center of Salt en Donzy, on the edge of a small river, the Charpassonne, and on the passage of the Monorail, a single-rail railway line built at the end of the 19th century between Feurs and Panissières, which was never opened to the public but which today offers a very beautiful hiking trail
The ruins of the castle of Donzy itself rise on a hillock dominating the Forez plain. Built on a square plan flanked by three large towers, it was the property of the Counts of Forez from the 12th century, then of the Bourbons who took it over in the 15th century. It was demolished in 1603 at the request of the inhabitants under the pretext that it was used as a refuge and shelter for many brigands.
Before, from the 13th to the 15th century, Donzy was an important and brilliant city.
Because of its historical importance, the site has been the object of particular attention for about twenty years on the part of the Municipality and the Association for the Safeguarding of the Heritage of Salt en Donzy. With the strong involvement of volunteers and the advice of archaeologists, significant work is carried out every year for its conservation and rehabilitation, such as the consolidation of the walls of the old castle, the ramparts and the chapel.
The site is also the object of projects concerning its botanical aspect. A medieval garden is being reconstructed since 2014, offering a pathway with commented plantings allowing visitors to recognize the typical plants of the Middle Ages that are still found on the estate.
Today it is a place full of charm where one will enjoy finding the traces of a past life in ruins which vegetation almost triumphed. A site that is visited every year by several thousand walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders, and whose many visitors who stop in the summer on the banks of the Charpassonne at the foot of the ramparts also appreciate the coolness of the white water and the shade of the undergrowth.
It is a shady walk that will make you dream!