La Chapelle-Bertin: Cultural History and Nature

If you would like to combine cultural history and nature on a trip, La Chapelle-Bertin offers several specific points of interest. The Église Saint-Marcellin, the Natura 2000 site Complexe minier de la vallée de la Senouire and the PR563 Les sapins de Grellet walking trail represent different aspects of the area. There is also the Table des sorcières in the marshes of La Farre and a local tradition that connects this place with a tale about treasure. The area’s character thus ranges from architecture and regional landscapes to a local legend.

Church Architecture and Architectural History

The Église Saint-Marcellin was protected as a historic monument by an order dated 28 October 1993. Its modern stained-glass windows were created by the painter André Paillon from Saint-Étienne. The protection is therefore associated with a specific date; the stained-glass windows add an artistic dimension to the building’s history.

At a Romanesque church, collapsed vaults were replaced with wood. The change from vaults to wood shows a specific change in construction methods. Stone quarried from the former granite quarry at Pubellier was used for door and window surrounds. These surrounds frame a building’s openings, making the use of stone tangible in a specific architectural feature. The change to the vaults and the use of granite show different aspects of architectural history.

Protected Site and Natural Landscape

The Natura 2000 site Complexe minier de la vallée de la Senouire covers 2,181 hectares and extends across eight municipalities: Jax, Josat, Sainte-Marguerite, La Chapelle-Bertin, Chavaniac-Lafayette, Varennes-Saint-Honorat, Mazerat-Aurouze and Chassagnes. It is the only site where Bechstein’s bat occurs. The area and the eight municipalities show the site’s regional extent, while the bat brings a specific species into focus.

PR563 Les sapins de Grellet Walking Trail

The two 300-year-old fir trees at Grellet are about 200 m from the walking trail. An optional detour leads to basin stones in the forest. These details offer different kinds of planning information: the fir trees are located at an approximate distance from the trail, while the basin stones are an optional extension. Check trail conditions locally if you plan to take the PR563.

Table des sorcières and Local Legend

The Table des sorcières, also called the pierre plate, is located in the marshes of La Farre. It is about 4 m in size and has a row of eight holes. According to legend, the Table des sorcières was brought to the marsh of La Farre and is said to conceal a treasure. The story adds a local motif to the specific details about the stone: its size and holes describe the object, while the treasure remains part of local tradition. If you are interested in local legends, this story offers a different perspective from the architectural history or protected site.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Front, Le Chambon-Sur-Lignon, Saint-Arcons-D'allier, Saint-Hostien, Saint-Julien-Chapteuil, Valprivas, Chamalières-Sur-Loire, Bas-En-Basset.

For the regional travel overview: Haute-Loire.