The church, art and hiking offer different reasons to stay in Bourg-Argental. The town is in the Parc du Pilat, at the foot of the Col de la République and Col du Tracol; the GR®42 long-distance trail reaches its centre. Those looking to combine heritage and landscape can focus on the church’s architectural history, the Espace Louis Bancel or a long-distance route when choosing what to see.
Church and art in the old town
The main construction phase of the church in Bourg-Argental took place in the first half of the 12th century; 1140 is given as the year it was built. Part of the portal, including the side columns, is protected as a Monument historique. The designation was made by list in 1840 and additionally by decree on 19 November 1947. The construction date and protection dates thus relate to different aspects: the church’s architectural history and the legal protection of the portal area.
The Espace Louis Bancel is located on the first floor of the Maison du Châtelet, in the heart of the medieval old town. It displays sculptures in bronze, marble and onyx, along with sketches and drawings in pencil, pen and charcoal. The themed tour explores how a sculpture is created, Louis Bancel’s artistic development and his ongoing search for new forms. The materials and techniques used in the works are presented alongside a look at Bancel’s artistic development.
Landscape, roses and a long timescale
The landscape also has several specific points of interest. Bourg-Argental is in the Parc du Pilat, at the foot of the Col de la RĂ©publique and Col du Tracol, and is crossed by the DĂ©Ă´me, Riotet and Argental rivers. The rivers and mountain passes offer different perspectives on the surroundings: waterways run through the town, while the passes shape its connection to the surrounding landscape.
The “Tortue” (Turtle) adds another local point of interest. It is located on the Sentier d'interprétation de la Tortue and has a shell several thousand years old. Alongside the church’s 12th-century construction phase, this age points to a different timescale.
La Grande Roseraie at Pépinières Paul Croix, created by Jacques Ranchon in 2003, contains more than 20,000 roses in beds of around 130 plants each. It showcases creations by Paul Croix as well as more recent creations by Dominique Croix and Jacques Ranchon. This gives it a different focus from the church and Espace Louis Bancel: the emphasis is on the roses, their arrangement in beds and the named creations.
Long-distance trails and practical information
The route information answers different planning questions. The GR®42 reaches the centre of Bourg-Argental. The GR®65 branches off in Bourg-Argental and heads towards Saint-Sauveur-en-Rue. The two routes therefore play different roles in your plans: Bourg-Argental is a place reached on the GR®42, while the GR®65 sets off from the town in a particular direction.
The Bourg-Argental market takes place on Thursday and Sunday mornings on Rue de la DĂ©Ă´me and under the market hall. If visiting the market is one of your priorities, these two mornings are a useful guide; check the exact times before setting out, as they may change. The tourist office can be reached on bus route L17, formerly TIL 122, at the Le Bourg stop. Check the current timetable before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Roanne, L'Hôpital-le-Grand, Saint-Martin-la-Sauveté, Sauvain, Pélussin, Champoly, Cordelle, Fourneaux.
For the broader travel overview: Loire.
