Montbrison offers museums, historic buildings, themed trails and regional market products. For a stay in Montbrison, you can search for a holiday apartment.
Culture and History
The Musée de la Diana has held the status of “Musée de France” since 17 September 2003. Its collections include Gallo-Roman remains from the theatre of Moingt. The Collégiale Notre-Dame-d'Espérance was founded in 1223 by Guy IV, Count of Forez, in Montbrison on the right bank of the Vizézy, and is 77 metres long. In the Salle de la Diana, the wooden vaulted ceiling contains 1,728 coat-of-arms panels.
The city fortifications also tell of Montbrison’s past: they were built within ten years and included seven gates and 46 towers. Archaeologists identified Moingt as the ancient Aquae Segetae based on a Roman road marker and the Peutinger Table. The themed trail “Moingt, la gallo-romaine” leads to ancient Gallo-Roman thermal baths and a nearby mixed theatre; the remains preserved in the ground extend over 15 hectares.
The Musée d’Allard is housed in an elegant 19th-century mansion. It displays collections on nature, art, science and toys, and offers a changing programme for all audiences throughout the year. Montbrison’s heritage can also be explored via the “Passé, passants, passages” heritage trail, using historical information displays that point out the city’s most important and notable sites.
Landscape and Trails
Rising above Montbrison is the Colline du Calvaire, a 429-metre-high basalt hill crowned by three crosses. From there, the view extends across the Forez plain. From Montbrison, the Colline du Calvaire can be reached via several winding roads.
Today’s Jardin d’Allard was laid out and inaugurated in 1857. It is a traditional and popular place for walks in a public garden. The themed trail “Montbrison, le tour de la ville” invites visitors to walk from the banks of the Vizézy to the Calvaire, as well as through the town centre and around the city. This trail is listed at the address Centre social, Place Pasteur, 42600 Montbrison.
A longer route is the section of the GR®765 and the Way of St James from Montbrison to Marols: the challenging hiking route runs in one direction, starts in Montbrison, is 22.5 kilometres long and has a stated walking time of 6 hours and 10 minutes.
Market and Regional Specialities
Montbrison’s market has existed since the Middle Ages. Visitors can discover products from butchers, beekeepers and market gardeners, including cheese, Sarasson, terrines, sausages, honey, gingerbread, nougat and mead. At BIM – Brasserie, guided tours with tasting sessions are offered by reservation for groups of eight or more.
Getting There
Access via the A72 motorway is through exit 8 at Montrond-les-Bains.
