Tourism in the Roannaise region.

Our region

In the following pages we have prepared tourist information to help you visit the lovely Roannais region - the villages, sites and countryside near Roanne. See our car Trips - See bicycle trips

At the heart of the Burgundy, Beaujolais and Auvergne area and just an hour from Lyon and 40 minutes from the cities of Vichy and St. Etienne, the little known region of Roanne has preserved its traditions, heritage and the essence of provincial life. A small provincial city, the inhabitants of Roanne make visitors feel welcome and their conviviality is a rare quality that makes the area a special place to visit.

Set in the foothills of the Massif Central, the beauty of the Roanne area is captivating with its medieval villages and abbeys, the richness of Cluny and Cistercian architecture, the gently undulating hills of the Côtes Roannaises and Brionnais, its Romanesque churches, and skilled craftsmen. An area steeped in gallo-roman history, life in the Roanne region traces its history back into the forgotten passages of human history.

Its history intimately tied to the Loire river, its lovely canal and pleasant port, lakes, waterways and modern nautical centre offer diverse sports, kayak, canoeing, windsurfing, canal boat rides... A wide variety of sporting and cultural activites for all inclinations are offered from golfing, horse-riding, ice-skating... to its 18th theatre, fascinating ceramics, gallo-roman and late 19th lifestyle museum.

A gastronomic centre, the pleasures of the table are a highlight of visits to the Roanne area with its vineyards, top quality restaurants and relaxed family inns.

Conviviality, tradition, gentle beauty, the Roanne region and its people are here to welcome you.