Violay offers a range of reasons to visit when planning a trip: the panoramic views from Tour Matagrin, outdoor activities, a July festival and the archaeological site of La Truche.

Views and the Watershed

Violay can be explored through the views from Tour Matagrin and its distinctive watershed. From the top of the tower, on a clear day the panoramic views extend across 14 départements. The GR7® runs from Tour Matagrin along the watershed between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean; Col de la Croix Cazard lies at 865 metres, right on this watershed. The term refers to the boundary between the drainage basins flowing towards the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. These three landmarks answer different questions: the tower offers panoramic views, the GR7® follows the watershed, and the col marks its precise elevation. Together, they help you understand Violay’s landscape from the perspectives of views, routes and elevation.

Tour Matagrin: Access and History

Tour Matagrin is open to the public free of charge from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; check access times before your visit. The tower previously served as Maître Matagrin’s hunting lodge and was used as an observation post during wartime. A paragliding take-off site at Tour Matagrin is approved by the Fédération Française de Vol Libre. In spring 2021, Violay was designated as a GR7® stage on the route across the Massif Central via the parks, starting from Tour Matagrin. The two time references serve different purposes: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. refers to access, while spring 2021 is when the stage was designated.

Excursions with Different Focuses

In the Douglas fir forest, Parc Aventure Violay offers 48 activity stations, as well as a net course accessible from the age of two. The “Entre Ruisseau et Forêt” walking trail is intended for the general public, school groups and tourists, particularly families. A guided husky hike (Cani-Rando) is also offered by Zou.Loups Canins at Tour Matagrin in Violay. When planning with children, it helps to note the distinction: the walking trail is particularly suited to families, while the age-two minimum applies to the net course at Parc Aventure.

July Festival and Archaeological Traces

A seasonal event is the Fête de la Tour, held every July to celebrate the warm weather in a guinguette-style setting. The exact programme may vary; if you want to plan your stay around it, check the specific event dates. The archaeological site of La Truche offers a different cultural experience. Flint tools have been found there, estimated to be around 40,000 years old. The site broadens the perspective beyond the tower’s history: the estimated 40,000-year age places La Truche in a much earlier period than the tower’s use as an observation post during wartime.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Champdieu, Unieux, Maringes, Sury-Le-Comtal, Belmont-De-La-Loire, Chavanay, Neulise, Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice-sur-Loire

For the overview of the wider destination: Loire.