Culture and History
The Church of Saint-Maurice-de-Roche has existed since at least 1020 and was a small priory dependent on the Abbey of Chamalières. It has a nave, transept, dome, and an externally pentagonal apse dating from the 12th century. It has been classified as a historic monument since 2 April 1942.
Above Roche's old town, at the highest point of the former castle, stands the Roche castle tower, a preserved defensive tower from the 13th century. It served as a watchtower; remains of the walls and fortifications are still visible among the rocks.
The Leyret Mill is a watermill dating from 1860 that has preserved all of its original equipment. This includes a crushing machine, a rapeseed oil press, as well as millstones and sieves for flour.
The Castel de Leyssac is a fortified house built in the mid-16th century outside Roche's fortification walls, near the road to Saint-Pierre-du-Champ. The original Castel de Leyssac included a tower with machicolations that defended the entrance.
The Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel was built in the centre of the present-day town after the Wars of Religion. It houses a dressed wooden statue of the Madonna and has a bell tower with a bell cast in Lyon in 1843.
La Dauphine is a visible Renaissance house from the 15th century. From its original ownership by the Vacherel notary family, a projecting structure with an exceptional vault made of intersecting segmental arches has been preserved.
Part of Roche-en-Régnier's former fortifications has been preserved on the corner tower of the Grande Bâtisse, the former town hall. The Prévôté projecting structure is a preserved building from the beginning of the 17th century that served as an outbuilding of the former barony.
Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Roche-En-Régnier can focus their accommodation search on this town.
Nature and Hiking
The PR604 “Suc de Combres and Forêt de Miaune” is a marked, challenging circular hike starting from Roche-en-Régnier. It takes 4 hours and 15 minutes, covers 13.3 km, and includes 431 m of ascent and descent.
The Miaune Forest along the PR604 contains beautiful beech stands and offers views from La Tournelle over the meanders of the Loire, the Sucs, and the Mézenc.
The “Patrimoine” orienteering course in Roche-en-Régnier is available in all seasons – spring, summer, autumn, and winter – and includes a picnic area and a car park.
The Roche-en-Régnier–Chalignac stage of the MicroAventure GR3 is a marked hiking route on the GR3-302 through the Loire gorges and part of a three-day station-to-station route.
Stage 16 East of the GR 765 leads from Roche-en-Régnier towards the Loire Valley and onwards to near Saint-Vincent. Stage 15 East of the GR 765 connects Retournac with Roche-en-Régnier.
Further information about localities is available for Vals-Près-Le-Puy, Saint-Privat-D'allier, Solignac-sur-Loire, Salzuit, Saint-Privat-Du-Dragon, Couteuges, Sainte-Florine, and Vielprat.
