Haute Loire, France

It’s was another busy day exploring this very pretty part of France. We walked around various villages and to a waterfall as well.

We felt the chill this morning in Chaudeyrolles and as we looked out the window while we were having our morning coffee we were surprised so see snow fluttering around us. Poor Bluey also had a warning light on to indicate he wasn’t happy with the freezing conditions! Consequently our plans to do some walks around here were shelved.

So we used the dump point and ventured off via the road that passes Mt.Mezenc, it was still in the clouds and had light snow sitting around. We then drove through the ski village of Les Estables.

Our next stop was to admire the engineering of the RECOUMENE VIADUC built in 1925. It’s situated in a lovely forest over a river.

Close by was the picturesque historic village of Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille, famous for its deep monastic roots and as the classic starting point for the hiking route by Robert Louis Stevenson: The Scottish author who famously began his 12th-day donkey trek (which he detailed in his book Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes) from this village in 1878. We walked through the village to the centre piece that the town grew around…The 11th-century Saint-Chaffre Abbey which is a stunning masterpiece of Romanesque architecture.

  

Further along the road we could not miss the church in SOLIGNAC SUR LOIRE which is built on a rocky, volcanic-basaltic plateau overlooking the Loire Valley.

 

It was only a short drive from here to the Cascade de la Beaume: A spectacular 27-metre-high waterfall surrounded by forest trails. It only took us 20mins or so each way.

Our next stop was GOUDET, a small village located along the upper reaches of the Loire River which primarily known for its stunning natural river beaches and the historic Château de Beaufort—a medieval fortress ruin perched on a rocky outcrop which is privately owned. We strolled through the village admiring the lovely stone buildings.

ARLEMPDES is a tiny, picturesque commune officially classified as one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France. It is famous for being the first castle along the wild Loire River which is perched on a 100-meter volcanic basalt rock, the medieval fortress dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries and features a beautifully restored Romanesque chapel. We bought tickets from the hotel @€6each and went to explore.

A bit rough on the old toosh hahaha 

Then it was time to call it a day so we decided to stay the night in an aire near Pradelles, which we will explore tomorrow. It was located next to a shop selling local produce.. so we went to have a look.

87km today