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Violay

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Loire

Violay - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Loire
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Location:

Rhône-Alpes region, along the axis of the A89 motorway, Violay is located 30 minutes from Lyon and Roanne, 1 hour from Saint-Etienne and Clermont-Ferrand. This tourist village, well known for its tower Matagrin and its highest point of the Monts du Lyonnais (Mont Boussuivre 1004 m), covers 2705 hectares and has about 1400 inhabitants. Located in the heart of the Mountains of Morning, Violay enjoys a splendid view over the plain of Forez, Monts de la Madeleine and the Alps.

History

Archaeological excavations on the territory of the municipality showed that Violay is a populated site so settled at least since ancient times. After the invasion of the Celts, Violay is under the control of Ségusiaves, people of Celtic Gaul. In the Middle Ages, around 1250, it is the line of Talaru, from Saint-Forgeux that leaves its mark Violay with the construction of two large houses: Noailly and Villette.

In medieval times the main sphere of influence comes from the powerful abbey of Savigny around which the noble families and is at the origin of several buildings in the village and the surrounding area.

In 1789, the Forez, Beaujolais and Lyonnais form a single department: Rhone-Loire. But November 19, 1793, Lyon took sides against the Girondins to the national convention then mostly represented by the mountaineers. In retaliation, the department is divided, leaving only a small area in Lyon, giving rise to the two existing departments: Rhône and Loire. Since 1793 Violay belongs to the department of the Loire, in the district of Roanne and Township Néronde.

Geographical information

MunicipalityViolay
Postcode42780
Tourism label
Latitude45.8532640 (N 45° 51’ 12”)
Longitude4.3586610 (E 4° 21’ 31”)
AltitudeFrom 535m to 1003m
Surface area27.07 km²
Population1252 inhabitants
Density46 inhabitants/km²
PrefectureSaint-Etienne (78 km, 59 min)
Insee code42334
IntercommunalityCC de Forez-Est
DepartmentLoire
TerritoriesLyonnais, Massif Central
RegionAuvergne-Rhône-Alps

Nearest cities & towns

Joux6.8 km (8 min)
Montchal7.5 km (10 min)
Villechenève9 km (14 min)
Sainte-Agathe-en-Donzy9.1 km (11 min)
Bussières9.6 km (13 min)
Saint-Cyr-de-Valorges9.8 km (16 min)
Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand10.4 km (14 min)
Chirassimont11.6 km (21 min)
Tarare11.9 km (14 min)
Affoux12.2 km (20 min)
Néronde12.7 km (13 min)
Panissières12.9 km (19 min)
Cottance13.4 km (16 min)
Machézal13.5 km (20 min)
Longessaigne13.5 km (21 min)

Things to see and do

The Matagrin tower: from the top of which you can discover 14 departments and a view of a part of the Alpine chain with the Mont Blanc as a climax. A paragliding runway is open at the foot of the tower and a discovery circuit "from the tree to the wood" leads you through the larch forest.

The hiking trails: numerous, in particular the GR7 (and its variant crossing the village with a hiker's hall) with a view to the Alps on the east side and on the Forez plain and its buttresses on the west side.

But also: the Madonna, the lakes, the chapel of Saint-Roch, the church, 28 crosses on the paths, small animal park with llamas.

Events and festivities

Tuesday morning and Sunday morning: market.

A trail on the last weekend of June.

The 3rd weekend of October: patronal festival of the village.

Photos

Overview of the village south side
Overview of the village south side
See photo
Tour Matagrin, altitude 1004 meters
Tour Matagrin, altitude 1004 meters
See photo
Violay west side
Violay west side
See photo

Weather

Tuesday 19 march
Min. 8°C - Max. 15°C
Day
Night
Wednesday 20 march
Min. 8°C - Max. 18°C
Day
Night
Thursday 21 march
Min. 10°C - Max. 16°C
Day
Night

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Leisure activities

Last nameActivity typeRateCity
Museum of Weaving and Silk-making
Culture and education4 € to 6 € Bussières (7.2 km)
Horse ride in Green Beaujolais
Nature and the great outdoors50 € to 220 € Chamelet (17 km)
Cross-country electric scooter ride in West Lyonnais
Sports sensations30 € to 40 € Bessenay (17.8 km)
Virtual reality experience
Entertainment29 € Brignais (37 km)
Dramatised tour of Lyon
Culture and education10 € to 15 € Lyon (38 km)

Outings

Last nameOuting typeDifficultyDurationDeparture municipality
Circuit of the Cross of the Fol - Observatory of the landscapes of Montrottier
HikeEasy1:40Montrottier (10.9 km)
Villages of the Côte Roannaise
Car itineraryEasy4:00Cordelle (25 km)
Rilly Castle Circuit
HikeEasy2:00Cordelle (25 km)
Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice, Pêt d'Âne and La Roche Castle
Car itineraryEasy5:00Cordelle (25 km)
Mars Peninsula
HikeEasy3:00Cordelle (25 km)

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

Your holidays
A hotel
A vacation rental
A bed & breakfast
A campsite
A leisure activity
A restaurant
A rental car
A plane ticket
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