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Saint-Priest-la-Prugne

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Loire

Saint-Priest-la-Prugne - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Loire
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Saint-Priest-la-Prugne is a commune in the Loire department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, 10 km northwest of Saint-Just-en-Chevalet.

Bordering the departments of Allier to the north and west and Puy-de-Dôme to the south-west, its territory of 36 km² ranges from 610 to 1287 m in altitude. It stretches from the mountainous and forested massif of the Bois Noirs in the west to the Monts de la Madeleine in the east. Its highest point is the Puy de Montoncel, at the top of the Bois Noirs.

The locality therefore has hilly and steep but green landscapes, covered with forests (73% of its area), meadows (21%) and agricultural areas (4%).

The village developed in the Middle Ages, on a road already known for a long time as a passageway between the Allier and Loire valleys. A Romanesque church was established in the 12th century, then a priory dependent on the abbey of Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse (Italian Piedmont).

Under the Old Regime, smuggling of salt multiplied, of which Saint-Priest-la-Prugne was the nerve center, on the borders of the provinces of Auvergne, Forez and Bourbonnais. The amount of the gabelle differs from one to the other. The State therefore set up a brigade of farm clerks (future customs officers) there…

For the rest, activity there was long devoted to the exploitation of the forest (sawmills) and cultivation. More recently, from 1951 to 1981, a uranium target was exploited there. The site is now covered by an artificial lake not accessible to the public.

The rest of the territory, on the other hand, will delight lovers of green tourism and even winter sports in winter (cross-country skiing, snowshoeing).

Enough to justify a discovery of the town, which has some 430 inhabitants.

Geographical information

MunicipalitySaint-Priest-la-Prugne
Postcode42830
Latitude45.9608100 (N 45° 57’ 39”)
Longitude3.7499060 (E 3° 44’ 60”)
AltitudeFrom 610m to 1287m
Surface area36.68 km²
Population430 inhabitants
Density11 inhabitants/km²
PrefectureSaint-Etienne (100 km, 1:12)
Insee code42276
IntercommunalityCC du Pays d'Urfé
DepartmentLoire
TerritoriesLyonnais, Massif Central
RegionAuvergne-Rhône-Alps

Nearest cities & towns

Laprugne4.7 km (7 min)
La Tuilière5.1 km (8 min)
Lavoine6.6 km (9 min)
Saint-Just-en-Chevalet10.8 km (13 min)
Chausseterre11.2 km (17 min)
Saint-Romain-d'Urfé11.9 km (19 min)
Arconsat12.4 km (19 min)
La Chabanne13.1 km (20 min)
Ferrières-sur-Sichon13.6 km (17 min)
Chabreloche14.7 km (24 min)
La Guillermie14.9 km (21 min)
Juré16.6 km (20 min)
Saint-Marcel-d'Urfé18.8 km (24 min)
Champoly19 km (22 min)

Things to see and do

The locality has a rich built and natural heritage, renowned as the "gateway" to the Bois Noirs massif.

As for the first, to see in the first place, the parish church of Saint-Prix, renowned for its exterior staircase with a singular cachet. Dating from the 12th century, the crossing of the transept and the half-cradles of the vaults of the two crosspieces of the same transept bear witness to its Auvergne Romanesque style. Between 1775 and 1777, the church was enlarged at the level of the choir (in cul-de-four) and the western facade, then raised in 1789. Inside, a statue of Saint Priest and a large carved wooden crucifix are preserved.

In another genre, you can see the 18th century building used as a stable for the clerks (future customs officers) who watched the comings and goings of smugglers in the village...

To the west of the territory, after the Beau Louis pass, we finally notice the Peux viaduct, completed in 1912 as part of the development of the railway linking Vichy to Roanne. It has the specificity of being curved and 112 m long, and is the highest structure of its kind in the region, overlooking the Bois Noirs by 25 m.

On the cultural side, we note that activities are regularly offered at the library: contact +33 9 63 21 61 13.

As for walks and hikes, as well as leisure activities and "nature" sports, the panorama is wide.

It is first worth mentioning a pedestrian circuit dedicated to the discovery of the heritage that the local walking club has designed. 6.5 km long, it includes the sites already mentioned above, but also an inn where the poet Marie Noël stayed, 17th century wrought iron crosses, old sawmills, a few nearby hamlets, the banks of the Etui river, the peat bogs that border the watercourse and a lime tree planted in the time of Sully, the minister of Henri IV. Booklet available in the few shops in the town or in the town hall (join +33 4 77 62 92 13).

A circuit is also available which joins the summit of Puy de Montoncel. This is a variant of the GR3A, which connects the summits of Bourbonnais (in the Allier) and the Monts de la Madeleine… It takes 2 to 3 hours for the outward journey and as much for the return, from the center of the village. It is therefore rather reserved for experienced hikers. But it is dotted with magnificent viewpoints and protected areas for their rich biodiversity...

At the bottom of the mountain, surrounded by fir trees, the Foyer du Montoncel is dedicated to hosting "nature" leisure activities: mountain bike base, orienteering course and archery in summer, cross-country skiing, sledding and snowshoeing in winter. Information on +33 4 77 62 92 13 or +33 4 77 71 51 77.

Of course, the vast Bois Noir massif (one of the oldest fir forests in Europe), which covers some 11,000 hectares, has other trails (for walkers or mountain bikers). Be careful, however, to follow the signposted paths!

One of the loops crossing the area finally allows you to admire the Bout waterfall (on the Cours du Noyer), at the level of the eponymous hamlet. Maps and information on +33 4 77 62 92 13 or +33 4 77 71 51 77.

As for fishing enthusiasts, they can find out about the most suitable locations and the regulations to follow to take advantage of the various streams (some rich in trout) that cross the town. Join the local club on +33 6 50 95 35 54.

Places of interest

Natural sites

Events and festivities

The third weekend of July, feast of the town with pétanque competition, fun activities, ball and fireworks on Saturday evening, hikes, gourmet meals and games on Sunday.

Photos

The commune
The commune
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The commune
The commune
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The church
The church
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The town hall
The town hall
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The commune
The commune
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The church
The church
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The commune
The commune
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The commune
The commune
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The commune
The commune
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The commune
The commune
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The municipality
The municipality
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The municipality
The municipality
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Weather

Thursday 28 march
Min. 4°C - Max. 10°C
Day
Night
Friday 29 march
Min. 8°C - Max. 14°C
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Night
Saturday 30 march
Min. 6°C - Max. 11°C
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Night

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Leisure activities

Last nameActivity typeRateCity
Visit to a knife-maker’s workshop
Arts and CraftsFreeArconsat (8.8 km)
Sylvotherapy and sound therapy
Well-being65 € to 155 € Ferrières-sur-Sichon (12.8 km)
Visit the conservatory of cutlery skills
Arts and CraftsFreeLa Monnerie-le-Montel (14.6 km)
Horse ride in the Monts du Forez
Nature and the great outdoors27 € to 90 € Vollore-Montagne (19.2 km)
Balneotherapy and Balinese massage
Well-being87 € to 170 € Lezoux (34 km)

Outings

Last nameOuting typeDifficultyDurationDeparture municipality
Villages of the Côte Roannaise
Car itineraryEasy4:00Cordelle (24 km)
Rilly Castle Circuit
HikeEasy2:00Cordelle (24 km)
Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice, Pêt d'Âne and La Roche Castle
Car itineraryEasy5:00Cordelle (24 km)
Mars Peninsula
HikeEasy3:00Cordelle (24 km)
Squirrel circuit
Snowshoe hikeEasy1:30Chalmazel-Jeansagnière (32 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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