The Loire in Burgundy
Last wild river in EuropeTake advantage of your stay to stroll along the banks of Europe's last wild river. The Loire has much to offer thanks to its diverse landscapes and rich flora and fauna . Whether on a riverside excursion or a stop along the EuroVelo 6 cycle route, you'll discover a stunning landscape. A leisurely pace is the perfect way to explore the Loire.
Wild islands, white sandbanks… The Loire offers numerous opportunities for walks and is home to exceptional flora and fauna. Whether you're on foot, by bike, or by canoe , seize the opportunity to observe all the treasures of this protected natural environment.
©Jérôme Champagnat Experiencing homelessness at your own pace
Hiking enthusiasts, take the GR3 trail which follows the Loire Valley from Mont-Gerbier-de-Jonc in the Ardèche to La Baule in the Loire-Atlantique. You'll get up close to the Loire River at La Crevée (Charrin) and at Thareau (Saint-Hilaire-Fontaine), so take a break: it's the perfect spot for a picnic by the river! These areas are equipped with picnic tables, benches, and barbecues, so you can recharge before continuing your hike.
©N-Monerau These two sites are also accessible by bicycle, via the EuroVelo 6 on the Cronat/Decize stage. This route is one of the major itineraries of the Tour de Bourgogne à Vélo (Burgundy Cycling Tour ). For an overnight rest between Decize and Bourbon-Lancy, stop in the village of Charrin: the Relais Véloroute ( Cycle Route Rest Stop) offers all the comforts and equipment needed for cyclists.
Would you prefer to explore the river even more closely? Glide along the water in a canoe or kayak … To access the Loire, there are two launch and landing areas located at La Crevée (Charrin) and at the Thareau site (Saint-Hilaire-Fontaine). And if you don't have your own equipment, L'Espérance Canoë Decize Saint-Léger-des-Vignes offers these types of boats for rent from May to October.
The quintessence of “Loire en Vivant”
Because the Loire Valley is more than just the Loire Valley castles, the Loire Itinérances association has developed the "Loire en Vie" (Loire in Life) destination . This offers an immersion into another, more secluded and lesser-known side of the Loire, following the EuroVelo 6 cycle route from Gien to Roanne. This 250 km route provides ideal diversity for long-distance cycling, from wild landscapes perfect for nature observation to areas with a rich cultural or gastronomic identity.
Among these territories crossed, some villages celebrate an authentic Loire, that of misty mornings, golden lights and silences populated by an infinity of sounds, away from the overcrowded tourists. This is the case of Charrin and Saint-Hilaire-Fontaine, nestled in a preserved natural setting. Here, we stroll to be moved by the unusual vestiges of our rural heritage. An upturned boat hull as a roof, an old brick ferryman's house... On the Rives du Morvan, the quintessence of “Loire en vie” is offered to lovers of timeless beauty.
Looking to satisfy your quest for new horizons? A multifaceted destination, "Loire en Vie" offers other ideas for wanderlust getaways. Your journey begins here, on video.
Discover the “Loire en vie” destination
©Hiking notebooks From sandy shores to gravel islands
The banks of the Loire at Charrin and Saint-Hilaire-Fontaine boast a great diversity of natural habitats : sandy banks sometimes colonized by vegetation, active or abandoned meanders, alluvial forest, and regularly reshaped gravel islands . These diverse biotopes foster a rich variety of flora and fauna . At the end of summer , it's the ideal spot to observe flocks of white storks in the middle of the floodplains.
©Mr. Jouve – CENB The fauna and flora that inhabit the banks of the river have been protected since 2015 by the regional nature reserve "Loire bourguignonne" and make it an unparalleled ecological jewel.
The Loire River benefits from the European Natura 2000 program for the protection of its biodiversity, ecosystems, and migratory species corridors. Please remain vigilant so as not to disturb or damage local biodiversity.
More information about the Loire Bourguignonne Regional Nature ReserveA glimpse into History
Until the 18th century, the Loire was a busy waterway, and Thareau a river port, a necessary stop for the abundant boat traffic that shuttled between Roanne and Nantes. It was also in Saint-Hilaire-Fontaine that sand was extracted for glassmaking at the Grande Halle de Fours . The manufactured glass was then shipped out by boat from Port-Thareau.
The boatmen, carpenters, coopers, merchants, ferrymen ... have gone away, and today only the tollhouse, the ferryman's house, a few charming brick houses erected on the Loire embankment and the paving stones of an old Roman road remain.
©N-Monerau 
©CENB 
©N. Monerau In Charrin, the nave of the church , rebuilt in 1705, bears witness to this riverine past, as it features a wooden vault shaped like a boat hull . Several reasons explain this distinctive feature. At that time, the construction of a port at La Crevée and a dike facilitated navigation on the Loire. Consequently, many shipwrights working on the river stopped in the region because of its abundance of oak, and particularly in the vicinity of Charrin.
