THE REGIONAL NATURAL RESERVE OF LIVRADOIS – FOREZ

Black-Wood on the borders of Velay, the Regional Natural reserve Livradois - Forez spreads out over 300 000 hectares. It is called also Auvergne rising sun side. It regroups the thiernoise region, the Bottom - Livradois, the high - Livradois, the mountains of Forez, the plain of Ambert and the country of La Chaise-Dieu.
Created to value environment, landscapes and natural resources, the Park also leads numerous actions in favour of the built patrimony and of the modernization of the rural economy.

Regional Natural reserve Livradois - Forez owes its name to the two massifs separated by the valley of the Dore, Livradois and Forez that watch as old complices in the east of Auvergne. Natural Earth par excellence, we go through the sweetness of hills, the depth of forests in the open air and the summits ruffled by winds. It is also a territory anchored in its traditions and its legends. Those that read Gaspard of Mountains know it.
In the East, the Black Wood, the profound and vast fir plantation, mark border between Auvergne and Forez. On the ancient road which comes from Lyons, for instance a signpost prevents the traveller: " Here finishes France, here begins Auvergne "!
The relief is rather sweet. Mountains and hills are partially covered by the forest. It is the country of walks in undergrowth.
In border of the plain of Limagne, Thiers harbours treasures. Since the XVI-th century, as the Auvergne novelist Jean Anglade wrote it, the thiernoise town had to produce " all which cuts, all which carve, all which slices ". The museum of Cutlery industry and the House of the Cutlers give evidence of it (04 73 80 58 86).
Along Durolle, cross the " Circuits of the valley of spinning wheels ", paths of discovery of mills to sharpen the knives which tell the life of the sharpeners. Formerly, the peasant families completed their agricultural incomes by works made at home for the settled "factories" along the Dore
On the initiative of the Regional Natural reserve Livradois - Forez, the Road of Professions (04 73 95 57 57), allows to visit in all the country artisans’ workshops and the museums which redraw or immortalize the activity of this time of " domestic industry ".
Farther down, the mountains of Drill will make the happiness of the amateurs of rides and walks. It is possible to cross them on horseback (circuit Curls Dore ). In Pierre-sur-Haute, point of view is grand.
High Thatches (L 13), meadows of height dominated by the wind, ca be discovered on foot along the road of the peddler. Some «jasseries ", typical farms covered with straw of rye roofs, welcome the walkers to make them discover and sample local productions.
More on the West, on the mountains of Livradois, the decoration becomes milder again and takes Southern look.henceforth we speak about " Toscane Auvergne ".
The countries of Billom and of Comté ondulate on their hillsides made languid in Limagne's sun.
In the South finally, the plateau of Chaise - Dieu stretches towards the first volcanoes of Velay. Right in the heart of summer, Craponne-sur-Arzon vibrates in the agreements of the " country " music .
Lavaudieu's village occupies a charming site on the edges of Sénouire. It is classified among the " Most beautiful Villages of France ". You will see there the only Romanic convent kept intact in Auvergne and its remarkable little columns. Quite close, a farmer - baker's former house became the house of arts and popular traditions (04 71 76 46 00).