Saint-Haon-le-Châtel can be discovered like an open-air museum, perched on its rocky peak. It offers an exceptional view of the Madeleine mountains. Between the XNUMXth century rampartse century, round towers, half-timbered houses, Renaissance mansions and XNUMXth century mansionse and XVIIIe centuries, the walls whisper the stories that have marked the life of the village.
Among the houses that are worth the detour, the house of the Cadran Solaire, those of the Marets or the Murette, the manor of the Fleur de Lys of the XVIe century, as well as the Petit Chateaumorand.
The XNUMXth century Romanesque church of Saint-Eustachee century and the Pelletier hotel, an aristocratic house from the XNUMXthe century, are also a must see. For an unusual picnic break, go to the old cemetery at the top of the church hill, a vestige of times gone by. By taking height, you will have an exceptional panorama on the surroundings.
Saint-Haon-le-Châtel, neighboring village of Renaison, combines charm, spectacular environment, medieval atmosphere and Renaissance heritage.
Precious architectures and places amaze and surprise the visitor: no two houses, two streets, two sites are alike! Saint-Haon-le-Châtel is one of the five villages labeled “Village of character in Loire” in Roannais with Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice-sur-Loire, Ambierle, Charlieu and Le Crozet.
Like the municipality of Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice-sur-Loire, the famous route of Saint-Jacques de Compostela crosses Saint-Haon-le Châtel.
Visit Saint-Haon-le-Châtel
The visitor has the choice to stroll through the village and discover the historical and heritage comments. Indeed, emblematic places and buildings have information panels. At the bend of an alley hides nuggets, like Éric the visual artist puppeteer: Les Marottes d'Éric or the LarTegalerie art gallery.
In order not to miss any of the secrets and mysteries of this characterful village, take the 1h30 guided tour, day or night. The most curious will find satisfaction.
The interactive game, Baludik: In search of the ball of Charles VII in Saint-Haon-le-Châtel
We are in 1440, in the heart of Saint-Haon-le-Châtel, where Charles VII, King of France, confronts his son the Dauphin Louis XI. The medieval city is bombarded and invaded by soldiers who must recover all the cannonballs that have been fired. One of them remains untraceable! The favorite ball of Charles VII. The King of France therefore called on Capucine and Colline to find his lost ball.
Help Capucine and Colline and dive into the heart of the Character Village of Saint-Haon-le-Châtel.
In any season, at any time of the day or night, we see, we feel the soul of the place, the presence of all the generations who have lived here and have followed one another in the houses, yards, gardens, alleys.
Jean Mathieu, genealogist
DID YOU KNOW ?
- There is only one correct spelling of Saint-Haon-le-Châtel. The 9 variants are fanciful!
- The great Christ on the beam of glory in the church is made of papier mache.
- Jean-Jules Jusserand, French Ambassador to the United States from 1903 to 1925, spent his holidays in Saint-Haon-le-Châtel, in his secondary house. Traces of the passage of this great man are still visible: a street and one of the towers of the castle bear his name.
The essentials of Saint-Haon-le-Châtel
- The house of the Sundial XVIe century
- Hotel Pelletier : Beautiful Renaissance residence built on one of the 8 towers of the ramparts. From the restored courtyard, where the original well remains, one admires a polygonal turret, adorned with yellow stone sculptures.
- The house of the Marets of the XVIIe century
- The garden of the Middle Ages : This medieval garden will interest the most curious with more than a hundred plants and vegetables of yesteryear. In 1996, a school project enabled the creation of this garden, located in the heart of the medieval village. Its current configuration was established by the "Garden Companions". Signs allow a self-guided tour. Access for the visit is free all year round.
- La Murette house
- Saint-Eustache Church : Built between 1166 and 1225 in gray granite from the region, it is in Romanesque style with lancet windows, numerous wall paintings dating from the XNUMXth century.e in the XVe century and a beam of glory. Saint-Eustache will bring a pious side to the visit and why not an aristocratic side in the Hôtel Pelletier du XVe century.
- The Fleur de Lys manor XVIe century
- Le Petit Chateaumorand XV-XVIIe century
- The remparts and studded oak door of the XIVe century
- the chapel Saint-Roch of the XVIIe century
![Le jardin du Moyen Âge de Saint-Haon-le-Châtel]()
The medieval garden © Yasmina Zaki ![Le jardin du Moyen Âge de Saint-Haon-le-Châtel]()
The medieval garden © Yasmina Zaki
3 good reasons to love Saint-Haon-le-Châtel
- Its ramparts : The only town in the Loire to have kept this configuration, the imposing stone walls surround Saint-Haon-le-Châtel. Instructive and very likely to move you.
- The soul of the place : The special atmosphere that reigns in the village comes from 1000 years of civilization. Modern houses dominate the village but the streets have always kept the same layout. With a little imagination, you can easily feel the soul of those who have walked the streets of Saint-Haon over the ages.
- A story rediscovered : For a weekend in August, the village of character plunges into the heart of the Middle Ages by taking part in an extraordinary festival, Saint-Haon in the times of Yesteryear.
The key figure
2000 : It is the number of inhabitants of the village in 1350, making it a central place of the county of Forez. The city thus largely exceeded Charlieu or even Roanne or even the city of Saint-Etienne.
![La porte de l'horloge à Saint-Haon-le-Châtel]()
The clock door in Saint-Haon-le-Châtel © Clo & Clem / RT ![Ruelle de Saint-Haon-le-Châtel]()
Alley in Saint-Haon-le-Châtel © Clo & Clem / RT
The history of Saint-Haon-le-Châtel
The walls, towers and gates date from 1360. Today, the fortifications are almost entirely preserved, a unique case in the Loire department. This gives it a place to walk and travel through incredible history.
After the siege of Charles VII in 1440 then began its economic and administrative decline in favor of Roanne. But today Saint-Haon remains of an indestructible and timeless cultural, historical and architectural richness.
TOURIST INFORMATION
Character village - Saint-Haon-le-Châtel
42370
Saint-Haon-le-Chatel
Marion's opinion
Enter through the ramparts and time seems to stand still. Take a thousand year leap in the past. This magnificent village full of character and history will delight you. I like to stroll in the alleys of Saint-Haon-le-Châtel and even more to browse it in the company of the guide, Jean Mathieu, source of knowledge and anecdotes.
