Chambles: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Nature

Chambles is located in a Natura 2000 zone and in a classified area. The Natura 2000 protected area FR8212014 “Gorges de la Loire” includes Chambles and is particularly notable for breeding populations of short-toed snake eagles, red kites, black kites, European honey buzzards and eagle owls.

Trails

Chambles is suitable for walks on foot or by mountain bike along forest paths. The marked circular hiking trail “Autour de Chambles – PR 11” is 13.0 kilometres long. On the PR 11, you reach the Presqu’île and the Chapelle du Châtelet via a steep descent; the round trip takes 50 minutes. A family circular walk of around one and a half hours is also possible around the Château d’Essalois.

From the car park, a 5- to 10-minute walk leads along the Loire gorges to the Château d’Essalois. The Presqu’île du Châtelet can be reached from Saint-Victor by boat or from Chambles on foot. The Chapelle Sainte-Foy-du-Châtelet can be reached on foot via a winding path that leads to a small stone bridge over the Loire; afterwards, a few hundred metres remain to be covered to reach a small clearing.

The Montée de Chambles takes place every year on 31 December.

Culture

The earliest written records of the Saint-Pierre church in Chambles date from the 12th century. The Tour de Chambles dates from the 11th century. The 18-metre-high Tour de Chambles is accessible to the top and offers a panoramic view over the Loire gorges.

At the Château d’Essalois, the Centre d’Interprétation des Gorges de la Loire presents the cultural heritage of the Loire gorges and EDF’s hydroelectric facility at Grangent.

The Chapelle Ste Foy du Châtelet is an example of Romanesque architecture built in the 11th century and is listed in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments.

Local

Local producers and artisans in Chambles offer cured meats, cheese, vegetable basket selections, honey and guimauve.

Those who have chosen Chambles as their holiday destination may wish to rent a holiday apartment.

Other destinations: Amions, La Tourette, Marcoux, Saint-Priest-La-Prugne, Noailly, Sury-Le-Comtal, Palogneux, Fontanès

To the higher-level travel overview: Loire.