Burdignes combines wooded areas with open landscapes. From here, panoramic views stretch towards the Cance Valley to the south and the Déôme Valley to the north. The Forêt de Taillard extends beyond Burdignes into neighbouring municipalities in the Loire, Ardèche and Haute-Loire départements. Visitors arriving in Burdignes from Ardèche enter the Parc Naturel Régional du Pilat. Forests and open landscapes define the area and give trip planning a clear focus on nature and hiking.

Hiking and Nature in the Forêt de Taillard

The heart of the Forêt de Taillard is classified as a ZNIEFF and provides a habitat for rare bats, boreal owls, pine martens, roe deer, wild boar and red kites. The forest landscape is therefore home to remarkable wildlife. The Forêt de Taillard is also a cross-border natural area, extending into neighbouring municipalities in three départements.

The GR 65 and GR 7 cross the forest. There are ten kilometres of forest trails for hiking or trail running. If you want to explore the Ardèche side of the Parc Naturel Régional du Pilat, you can include the Sentier Ardéchois in your plans. It starts at Place du Bourg du Feu in Burdignes.

More Activities and Different Trip Lengths

For a different kind of activity, Parcabout Alti'Fil in Burdignes has nets suspended between trees, where visitors can walk, climb and jump several metres above the ground. It offers a distinct alternative to the forest trails.

Based in Burdignes, Les Sabots de la Vigne offers guided rides, horseback hiking and multi-day horse-riding trips. Options include two- or three-day circular tours without vehicle support. The two-day “Aux frontières de Taillard” tour runs from May to August on request. Both the request requirement and the stated period should be taken into account when planning this tour.

A two-day family hike also links Bourg-Argental and Burdignes. It can be reached without a car from Saint-Étienne or Annonay via bus routes L12 or L17. This offer is available seasonally. If you plan this hike, take its seasonal availability into account when choosing your dates.

A Local Specialty: Raw-Milk Cheese

GAEC La Source in Burdignes makes organic raw-milk cheese from cow’s and goat’s milk. Named varieties include Bleu de Burdignes, La roche Béraud, Meule de pierre brune, Fourme blanche and various types of Rigotte. The range and seasonal availability may change. Cheese-making adds another local highlight to the nature and activity offerings.

Plan Your Stay

When looking for accommodation in Burdignes, start by deciding which activity will shape your trip: the forest trails, the two-day family hike or a multi-day horse-riding tour. The ten kilometres of forest trails and the explicitly two- or multi-day offers provide different trip-planning options. You can then choose your preferred length of stay based on the activity, rather than trying to fit every option into one itinerary.

If you choose the “Aux frontières de Taillard” tour, note that it runs from May to August on request. The family hike is available seasonally; check the specific dates before booking accommodation.

Discover more destinations: La Tourette, Chambœuf, Ambierle, Amions, Cellieu, Mizérieux, Bellegarde-en-Forez, Saint-Bonnet-Le-Courreau.

For the main travel overview: Loire.