Panoramic views from the Belvédère de la Sauveté

The Belvédère de la Sauveté offers panoramic views of the Monts de la Madeleine, with the Château des Cornes d’Urfé; the Bois Noirs, with the Notre-Dame de l’Hermitage monastery; and the Monts du Forez, with the radar installations at Pierre-sur-Haute. At 1,634 m, Pierre-sur-Haute is the highest point in the département. The view also takes in the Monts du Lyonnais, with the Tour Matagrin, the Neulise Plateau and the Plaine du Forez. On a clear day, the panorama extends as far as the Alps. An orientation table at the belvedere was inaugurated in 1973.

Maison des Traditions and historic landmarks

The Maison des Traditions brings together the history of the building and the history of the village. Built around 1750, it is typical of the gallery houses of the Forez. The house traces the entire history of the village and also displays the workshops of former craftspeople, including those of a blacksmith and a clog maker. Architecture, local history and accounts of traditional trades thus come together in one place. The Maison des Traditions is open to the public free of charge from May to September. If you are planning a visit, check the visiting dates before your trip.

Other historic landmarks offer their own points of interest: the Croix de la Conche is a 16th-century cross marking the meeting point of four former lordships. The largest bell in the church tower is called Anne Marie Sauveterre, dates from June 1617 and is listed as a historic monument. Together with the Maison, built around 1750, these sites offer different historical and thematic connections: the cross recalls former lordships, the bell is a named monument, and the Maison presents village history and craftsmanship.

Hiking from Saint-Martin-la-Sauveté

The challenging La Vallée de l’Aix circular hike starts in Saint-Martin-la-Sauveté, is 15 km long and takes about 4 hours and 45 minutes. It leads from the panoramic viewpoint at La Sauveté to the wooded banks of the Aix gorges. For planning the hike, you can take into account its distance, stated difficulty and approximate duration. Check trail conditions before setting off.

Route No. 24, “Place du Coin,” also starts in Saint-Martin-la-Sauveté. It is an 8 km circular route with 130 m of elevation gain. In terms of distance alone, it is 7 km shorter than La Vallée de l’Aix; the elevation gain provides another specific planning detail. This shorter route should not automatically be considered easier. When comparing the two circular hikes, you can consider distance and elevation gain, as well as the stated difficulty and duration of La Vallée de l’Aix. Check trail conditions before setting off on this route, too.

If you would like to combine culture and hiking during your stay, plan your visit to the Maison and your choice of circular hike separately. The Maison is open seasonally from May to September; you can allow about 4 hours and 45 minutes for La Vallée de l’Aix. Check visiting dates and trail conditions before finalising your plans.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Pierre-De-Bœuf, La Ricamarie, Burdignes, Bonson, Planfoy, Usson-En-Forez, Thélis-La-Combe, La Talaudière

See the wider travel guide: Loire.