St. Alban Les Eaux: Hotels and Accommodation

The PR Les gorges du Désert is a 6 km hiking trail that meets the quality standards of the FFRandonnée.

You may want to find a hotel for a stay in St. Alban Les Eaux.

Hiking

The Les gorges du Désert circular hike is moderately difficult, 6 km long, and described as taking 2 hours, with an elevation gain of 270 metres. It begins at the Église, Place de l’Église, in Saint-Alban-les-Eaux. From the starting point at the church, it leads to the Parc des Eaux Minérales and past the springs; it also follows the Montouse and leads to a waterfall.

The Les gorges du Désert circular hike also provides access to Châtelus. In the Iron Age, the village was a natural defensive position and offers a viewpoint.

Nature

The Belvédère de Saint-Alban-les-Eaux has an orientation table and offers wide-ranging views over the Roannais.

The Gorges du Désert are home to a special ecosystem. It is characterised by the presence of water and Mediterranean influences on the south-facing slope.

History

At the heart of Saint-Alban-les-Eaux lies the Parc des Eaux Minérales. It conveys an impression of the spa town’s past at the beginning of the 20th century. The park contains four natural carbonated mineral springs.

The Parc des Eaux Minérales also includes an enclosed spring area. The former bottling plant was renovated in 2002 and now houses artists’ studios.

Further trails

The short walks La Clef des champs lead to agricultural points of interest and provide information about local agriculture with the help of information panels.

Boucle 6 / La Thermale is a moderately difficult 9.9 km mountain biking loop that leads from Saint-André-d’Apchon towards Saint-Alban-les-Eaux. It leaves Saint-Alban-les-Eaux towards Villemontais; along the way, the route highlights the village’s spa history on the wine route.

More destinations

La Tuilière, Saint-Priest-La-Prugne, Sauvain, Saint-Rirand, Les Noës, Saint-Bonnet-Le-Courreau, Chalmazel

Back to the overview of destinations: Loire.