Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand: holiday apartments and holiday homes

Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand lies on the edge of the Gand Valley and the Bernand Valley. The two streams rise in the surrounding hills among cultivated areas and forests.

Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand can discover this place as a destination.

Nature

The natural and landscape heritage of the Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand area includes the Natura 2000 site “Site à Chiroptères des Monts du Matin”. The railway tunnel of Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand belongs to this area, which was designated because of a significant population of western barbastelles. The natural and landscape areas also include the Collines boisées du seuil de Neulise, covering an area of 357 hectares.

The bat-themed trail leads through the landscape of Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand and along a botanical educational trail; the Pont Marteau viaduct can be seen from various viewpoints.

The Base de loisirs in Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand has a picnic area, a children's playground, a basketball court, dry toilets, a fitness trail and a pétanque court. The Aire de loisirs de Vareilles offers a slide, a swing, a basketball hoop, seesaws, a botanical educational trail and dry toilets.

Culture

The Église de Sainte-Colombe was demolished in 1686; its bell tower and choir were rebuilt in a Gothic-inspired style. In 1855 and 1857, the choir windows and the rose window, made by a stained-glass artist from Troyes, were installed in the church.

A large part of Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand's architectural heritage consists of stone buildings with numerous corbels made from the golden-coloured stone of Beaujolais. From the 17th century onwards, Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand participated in the growth of the textile industry that developed around the Lyon region.

The Château de Montcellier was built in the 12th century, around the year 1200, by the Counts of Forez. The Château de Sainte Colombe was built in the 13th century and belonged for five centuries to the de Sainte Colombe family, who lived there.

The Château de Sainte Colombe can be seen from the D103 departmental road, which connects Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand with Saint-Just-la-Pendue. It has an angled floor plan and is flanked by two cylindrical towers and a square tower that developed from part of a medieval residential building.

The Pont Marteau viaduct is 312 metres long and 50 metres high. It was inaugurated in 1923 on the Régny–Balbigny–Vichy railway line.

Hiking trails

The ruins of the Château de Montcellier can be discovered via the signposted hiking trail from the village. The Sentier découverte du viaduc du Pont Marteau, following the route of the Tacot, starts in Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand and is an easy 7-kilometre circular hike. The Balade en Terre de Tisseurs is an easy 2-kilometre thematic circular hiking trail starting in Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand.

The Sentier Les Hauts de Sainte-Colombe is a moderate 11-kilometre circular hike starting in Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand. It passes through wooded areas and offers views of the Pont Marteau viaduct and the Monts du Forez. The Sentier Le Pont Marteau also passes through wooded areas and offers views of the Pont Marteau viaduct.

The Pont Marteau viaduct has been restored and reopened to walkers; numerous hiking routes start at the viaduct. The trail following the route of the Tacot follows the former railway connection between Régny and Saint-Just-en-Chevalet and passes through Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand.

Geographical location

TIL bus route M200 connects Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand with Roanne.

Other destinations in the region: Loire.

Other destinations

Other places in the region:

Champoly, Briennon, Bourg-Argental, Chambœuf, Estivareilles, Chandon, Saint-Rirand, Saint-Sauveur-En-Rue.