Saint-Romain-le-Puy is overlooked to the north by an 80-metre-high basalt cone, with the priory standing at its summit. Here, a striking landform meets a historic complex of buildings. Highlights include frescoes and different building phases, a hiking route with views across the Forez plain, and a stretch along the Canal du Forez. Winegrowing and historic pilgrimage routes round out the picture.
The priory and its building history
The main building phases of the Ancien prieuré date from the 10th, 11th, 12th and 14th centuries. The priory is partly classified as a historic monument: the church was classified in 1862 and the remains of the priory in 1875. The wall paintings add their own points of reference in time. Parts of the church are covered with frescoes from the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 15th centuries. The building phases and the dates of the paintings offer two specific ways to explore the history of the building.
At the Château de La Bruyère et ses dépendances, some parts are classified as historic monuments, while others are listed as historic monuments. Its main building phases fall in the last quarter of the 18th century and the first quarter of the 19th century. These dates are significantly later than those of the priory.
In 2025, a free heritage interpretation space was located behind the church, in the ancienne cure, with archival documents and historic objects. In 2025, it also hosted temporary exhibitions on the history of the village and on painters, sculptors and photographers. The Salle Hildegarde houses a tourist information point run by the Histoire et Patrimoine association.
Another way to explore local history is the medieval garden, Le Clos d’Hildegarde. It features colourful flower beds as well as medicinal and useful plants.
Hiking route, views and the Canal du Forez
The hiking route goes almost all the way around the summit and offers views of the Monts du Forez, Montbrison and the plain, the Monts du Lyonnais, and the Pilat. A viewpoint on the basalt cone also opens up a wide panorama over the Forez plain. The route combines these views with a clearly described trail: it crosses the Canal du Forez at the Pont de Pierre and then follows the Berges de l’Oratoire.
The Canal du Forez also serves a practical purpose in the landscape. It draws water from the Loire at the Barrage de Grangent to irrigate the plain and slopes of the Forez. Along the way, the route crosses the canal at the Pont de Pierre; the waterway is therefore both part of the local infrastructure and a landmark on the hike.
Helmets and QR codes are installed along the climb from the Montée de Maubec to the summit, providing a virtual-reality experience of the medieval priory. The digital installations may require seasonal maintenance. Check in advance whether they are operational.
Pilgrimage routes and multi-day hikes
Saint-Romain-le-Puy was historically a junction for two former pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Pilgrims travelled along them from either Cluny or Lyon. Separate from these historic routes is the Chemins-de-Compostelle hike between Saint-Romain-le-Puy and Le Puy-en-Velay: it takes six days and passes through the Loire Valley and the Monts du Forez. The historic routes describe where pilgrims once came from; the six-day hike, by contrast, has named endpoints and a stated duration.
Flora and winegrowing
An understated Mediterranean flora grows on the basalt cone, including fig trees, anise and almond trees. The ZNIEFF Rivière de la Mare de Boisset à St Marcellin is also of ecological and faunal interest; the groups mentioned include fish, amphibians, birds, mammals, butterflies and other insects.
On the slopes of the Pic, you can learn about winegrowing and taste grape varieties with local winegrowers. Confirm the arrangements for taking part locally. This activity adds an encounter with winegrowing to the cultural and hiking themes, without presuming any specific format.
Opening hours and changing activities
Le Clos Hildegarde is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., from April to October. As seasonal opening hours may change, check this information before your visit. Guided tours and themed visits at the priory are offered in collaboration with the Pays d’Art et d’Histoire and the tourist office; the programme may change seasonally. For specific dates, it is therefore worth checking the latest information.
The Priory association organises a cultural season and programmes for the European Heritage Days each year. Individual programmes vary from year to year. When planning, you can therefore distinguish between longer-term cultural themes and seasonal guided tours.
Discover more destinations: Usson-En-Forez, Marcenod, Firminy, Le Chambon-Feugerolles, Fourneaux, Montrond-Les-Bains, Villemontais, Cuinzier.
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