Champoly is a commune in the Loire, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, 37 km south-west of Roanne, on the borders of the departments of Allier and Puy-de-Dome.
The territory of the vast locality of about 15 km² ranges from 490 to 950 m altitude, and is located between the southern end of the Monts de la Madeleine and the Monts du Forez. The woods of Urfé, north-east of the town, dominate the village.
Now crossed by the A89 motorway linking Lyon to Clermont-Ferrand, Champoly was during the Antiquity by a Roman road, then the site was cleared and put in culture (hence its original name of Champ Poli). The village develops in the twelfth century when is erected the castle of Horns d'Urfe and if the field is ruined at the Revolution (there are however some spectacular remains), a quarry, a sawmill and a rich artisanal and agricultural fabric testify still the vitality of the town today. Despite the heavy toll of the rural exodus (about 330 inhabitants today against more than a thousand in the nineteenth), Champoly with its heritage and its green and hilly environment is a stage of interest, especially for hikers (on foot or by mountain bike).
The castle of Horns d'Urfe is the heritage jewel of the town. It was built on a rocky promontory at 920 m altitude between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries. It enjoyed an ideal strategic position, revealing itself as an observation and surveillance post at the crossroads of three provinces: Forez-Roannais, Bourbonnais and Auvergne. It was the seat of the important family of Urfé, who will eventually settle in the plain of Forez in 1418 after the assassination of one of his lords, Jean d'Urfe. The fortress was indeed very coveted, and the lords of Beaujeu as the Counts of Forez disputed it for decades.
Already altered in the sixteenth century, the estate is looted during the Revolution. From the last quarter of the twentieth century, an association of enthusiasts undertook a long but careful restoration company respecting the plans and materials of origin. Workshops are organized in summer. For now, are still visible, the quadrangular enclosure, a dungeon of the twelfth century 18 m high, a square tower-gate, towers and curtain walls.
The top of the dungeon is accessible: a platform has been fitted out, equipped with an enamelled lava orientation table: the panoramic point of view makes it possible to see on a clear day the puy de Dôme in the west, the chain of Mont-Blanc and even the mountains of Lyonnais to the east.
The castle site is accessible every day, and guided tours can be arranged by appointment at +33 6 46 86 28 33.
In addition, terminals are implemented that allow to download an application to freely visit the site with information. Information on +33 6 46 86 28 33.
In terms of heritage still, we will appreciate the charm of the old houses of the village, with their picturesque style and materials from the basement and quarries of the region.
Then place the leisure and activities "nature" that can be practiced at Champoly.
Several hiking trails are marked and marked on the territory. Their length is variable and it is also necessary to take into account the relief with sometimes important unevennesses. Some of them include natural curiosities (such as the waterfalls of the Gour Dodu in the heart of granitic rocks or the wood of Urfé) or heritage elements (Chemin des Croix). Maps and information on +33 6 46 86 28 33.
For mountain bikers, note that the town belongs to the network of Black Woods, which includes 42 circuits totaling 1100 km of course! They include incursions into neighboring departments. They make it possible to go through a hilly region, but with a preserved and green environment. Champoly is the starting point of several circuits and is crossed by others... Maps and information on +33 4 77 24 93 04.
