Holiday apartment in Cherier: hiking, history and animal experiences

Cherier combines permanently marked hiking trails, historic religious buildings, special viewpoints and a farm with numerous animals. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Cherier, you can shape your trip around very different interests: active days on circular hiking trails, cultural discoveries around the Vieux Bourg, sweeping views over the Roanne plain or a visit with goats, donkeys and alpacas.

Hiking in Cherier with a variety of route ideas

A municipal hiking guide lists nine permanently marked circular hiking trails. In addition, the association “LES CHEMINS DE TRAVERSE” organizes a free themed guided walk in Cherier on the first Saturday of every month, open to everyone. This means that, alongside independent hikes, there is also a recurring opportunity to experience the area as part of a guided walk.

The Aire de pique-nique des 4 tilleuls is equipped with tables, benches and parking spaces and is located in the shade. The 3 km “Le petit tour de la Salette” trail starts there. Another specific route is “La marche du Point du jour”, a hiking route in Cherier. At Blanchardon, it crosses the Isable over a small bridge and crosses it again near its source at a ford. The different trail lengths and crossings help you adapt your daily plans to the desired amount of hiking.

Hills, views and distinctive trails

Vieux Cherier lies away from the main traffic routes and overlooks the entire Roanne plain. A particularly striking landscape feature is the 815 m-high Barbet hill. The Chapelle de la Salette stands on it. From the chapel, the view extends across the Roanne plain; 58 church towers can be counted, and Mont Blanc and the Alpine range are often visible as well.

A walking trail to the Chapelle de la Salette passes the Grotte du Poyet megalith. This trail therefore combines the landscape with visible evidence from different periods, without the individual destinations losing their own significance.

Churches and regional history

The Eglise Ste Marie du Vieux bourg de Cherier is a Romanesque church from the 11th and 12th centuries. It is listed as a historic monument. For your tour of the Vieux Bourg, it therefore provides a clear cultural point of reference that differs from the town’s later religious buildings.

The Chapelle de la Salette was inaugurated on 16 August 1883. It was preceded by an initiative by Abbé Thévenet in 1877, after he had made a pilgrimage with his parishioners to La Salette in the Alps. Together with its location on Barbet and the walking trail by the Grotte du Poyet, the chapel makes history, landscape and the experience of the trail directly tangible as interconnected elements.

Animal experiences at Les Montagnes de Jaya

Les Montagnes de Jaya offers guided farm tours in Cherier by appointment. The tours include walks with goats, feeding the poultry, contact with donkeys and alpacas, and pony rides. Almost 200 animals live on the farm. This visit is an independent travel idea, especially for families who want to alternate hiking days with vivid encounters with animals.

Choosing a holiday apartment in Cherier to suit your travel plans

When searching for a holiday apartment in Cherier, it is worth deciding on your preferred focus first. Hiking enthusiasts can consider the nine circular hiking trails, “La marche du Point du jour” and the 3 km trail to the Chapelle de la Salette. Those wishing to combine culture and views will find several specific points of interest in the Vieux Bourg, the Eglise Ste Marie, the Chapelle de la Salette and the view over the Roanne plain. For a day with animals, the Les Montagnes de Jaya farm is available by appointment. This keeps your choice of accommodation closely aligned with the experiences you are actually looking for in Cherier.

Further places for planning your trip: Belmont-De-La-Loire, Épercieux-Saint-Paul, Pommiers, Verrières-En-Forez, Chambœuf, L'etrat, Usson-En-Forez, La Fouillouse

For the higher-level travel overview: Loire.