Published 2 / 01 / 2024 Reading time: 8 min
The year 2024 opens its arms to us with the prospect of a year full of discoveries, joy and experiences. I am embarking on a 2024 “to do list” to enjoy again and again the Roannais and its multiple riches.
January: Obtain the Guide to hikes in the Loire
After the end-of-year excesses, and like many, I'm starting the year full of good resolutions: hiking every month!
January is the perfect month to motivate yourself with the release of the Hiking Guide in Loire published by the French Hiking Federation Loire. This guide lists all the country hikes organized in the department every weekend. For those who don't know what a country hike is, it's an organized and marked walk offering several circuits with supplies of local products.
From mid-January, the paper guide is available at the Roanne Tourist Office!
Also find the list of organized marches of Roannais.
February: Treat yourself to a romantic dinner
February without being a great romantic is the month of Love! So I make a note to treat us to a romantic dinner in one of the many Roanne restaurants. Take advantage of Valentine's Day or another evening to enjoy a gourmet meal in a cozy and charming setting.
My selection for a romantic romantic dinner:
- The Restaurant of the Château d'Origny in Ouches,
- The Priory in Ambierle,
- Oma-Restaurant in Roanne.
March: Attend a screening at Ciné Court Animé
Roanne can boast of having an international festival, the Short Animated Movie à Roanne. Whether you are passionate about animated cinema or just an amateur, you absolutely have to go see a screening. More than 230 short films are offered from 40 countries. There are even “young audience” sessions for those who want to go with their family.
April: Take part in a guided tour
In 2024, Roannais tourism offers 2 programs of guided tours according to the seasons. The first comes out in the spring and offers a choice of visits on different themes: heritage, nature and company visits.
This year, I want to discover the guided tour of the Village of Character of Perreux. It is a newly certified village which is worth discovering with its half-timbered houses and its medieval town.
It’s up to you to choose the visit that you want and why not do several at different times of the year?
May: A long weekend in a tiny house on the Côte Roannaise
The month of May is the month of public holidays and long weekends. No need to go far to feel disorientated and refreshed, so I put in my checklist to organize a weekend in a unusual accommodation of Roannais.
I choose the new with The Tiny of the Roanne Coast à Ambierle. A tiny house is a sort of very small house halfway between a trailer and a house where everything is thought of for a comfortable stay.
During this natural break, I will take advantage of the new, freshly marked Wine Route to discover the wines of the Côte Roannaise through a hiking circuit. The route of the Wine Route extends from La Pacaudiere to the North to Saint-Jean-St-Maurice-sur-Loire to the South, i.e. 55 km, dedicated to this vineyard.
A road book is available to fully explore this route.
June: Canoeing on the Loire
Summer is revealed with beautiful, long days that are sometimes already very hot! I love to take advantage of these days and do a canoe trip on our beautiful and majestic river: the Loire. Canoeing allows me to understand the landscape of the banks of the Loire differently and to gently enjoy, along the water, the fauna and flora of Roannais.
You can rent a canoe:
- Sport Escape Canoe-Kayak in Villerest,
- Canoe Loire Adventure in Briennon.
June is also music month, it's impossible not to schedule a summer concert. This perhaps during the Music Festival or local programs: Summer quarters at Château de la Roche or Monts de la Madeleine festival.
July: Take part in the Gourmet Walk in Côte Roannaise
There is a great event in July: The Gourmet Walk on the Roanne Coast.
This event combines hiking and gastronomy by offering a circuit in Roannaise coast through vineyards and hills. The concept: enjoy 5 gastronomic stops from appetizers to desserts that you taste throughout the hiking circuit.
This year, the villages of Saint-Haon-le-Vieux and Saint-Haon-le-Châtel are hosting the event:
- Saturday July 6 in the evening at Saint-Haon-le-Chatel,
- Sunday July 7 from 9 a.m. Saint-Haon-le-Vieux.
August: Go mountain biking in Destination Grand Air
During my vacation, I decided to take an excursion to a mountain bike area in Roannais, the one “Mountain and Plain Space in Roannais” seems appropriate to my practice. We must not forget that Roannais is part of the largest mountain bike area in France labeled FFC: Destination Grand Air. To allow me to extend the distance and be able to take full advantage of this mountain bike space, I will rent an electrically assisted mountain bike. Pedaling and exercising while helping yourself with the slightly more difficult elevation changes is a good compromise.
September: Participate in the European Heritage Days
The European Heritage Days remain the unmissable national back-to-school event. Each year, a complete program is offered in Roannais where heritage establishments open their doors to visitors free of charge. It’s openness to culture for all.
My list of sites to visit this year:
- Castle of Roche for the unmissable aspect and its dramatized visit,
- The Roanne Theater, for its Italian-style room.
Remember to ask for the program established each year of sites open to visits.
October: Treat yourself to a Roanne Open Table evening
In October, Roanne takes on the colors of a major event: The Roanne Open Table Festival.
For a month, art and gastronomy mingle perfectly. The originality of the concept lies in the opening of restaurants to artists for original evenings. Opening evening, dinner shows, cooking workshops, many activities are offered throughout the duration of the event.
To do in 2024, a dinner show in a Roanne restaurant with friends!
A great outing to do with friends. Also, for those who are wine lovers, also take advantage of the Fascinating Weekend. An event for labeled destinations Vignobles et Découvertes. Entertainment, activities and tastings are on the program for this event.
November: Discover the Côte Roannaise vineyard with a winegrower meeting
I would like to introduce my friends to the wines of the Côte Roannaise through a visit to the estates. Winegrowers Meetings are ideal for getting to know this vineyard, the work of the winemaker, the estate and the cellars. This visit meeting ends with the tasting of 4 wines accompanied by local products.
December: Enjoy the magic of Christmas
From the beginning of December, all I think about is Christmas. Trees, decorations, Christmas markets and meeting Santa Claus… I love taking advantage of this month to discover the Christmas magic. Every year, I ask for the entertainment program and there is always something to do, particularly the programming of Christmas Fest in Roanne.
There you go, I have delivered to you my “to do list” for the year 2024, it is quite complete, isn’t it? I hope it gave you some ideas to spend your year! All I have to do is hold it well to succeed in my resolutions.
