Montbrison

Montbrison, historical city, mentioned as of the end of XI century, are regarded as the historical capital of Forez. This prestigious past, the city preserves a rich person inheritance whose Collegial Notre-Dame of Espérance, founded in 1223 is the most imposing illustration.

Gravitational shopping mall: its 280 trade of centre town and its weekly market saturdays morning are famous.

The label " Cities or Country of art and history " is allotted by the ministry for the Culture and the Communication to local government agencies which wish to develop their inheritance, to support architectural creation and to promote quality in built or arranged spaces.

The term of inheritance must be heard in its broadest meaning since it as well relates to the whole of built inheritance of the city as the inheritances naturalness, industrialist, as well as the memory of the inhabitants. It is thus a question of integrating in the step all the elements which contribute to the identity of a city or a rich of its past and strong country of its dynamism.

Many Gallo-Roman vestiges make it possible to reconstitute the great stages of the history of this thermal city. Thermal baths, a theatre, a temple, sections of aqueduct, residential districts were identified.

• Vestiges of the Roman Theatre

This theatre, of Ier and IIème century after JC, form a hemicycle eighty meters in diameter. The theatre could accomodate nearly 8.000 spectators who came to attend spectacles or to follow combat of gladiators. To see: vestiges of the cavea with buttress and vault of a vomitorium.

• The Church Saint-Julien-d’Antioche

Built in the XI century, the church of Saint-Julien-in Antioche is, in spite of a partial rebuilding in the XV century, an interesting illustration of the Romanesque architecture. To see: Romance bell-tower - bays decorated with columns and capitals - apparatus reticulates.

• The Door of Sarrazins

Single vestige of the old ramparts which included 9 turns, this 21 meters high tower was raised very often

• The Laundrette

Built in 1892, the laundrette of Moingt, 17,5 meters length, are one of largest of the area. It has a direct catch on the river of Moingt. To see: the fresco representing of the lavender fields realized by a workshop of young people.

The construction of this Gothic church spreads out on almost two centuries and half (1223-1466). Classified " monument historique" , just like the Callinet organ which is installed there, it was reproduced on the very first list of Prosper Mérimée. With its beautiful architecture, it is the heart of the city and one of the most beautiful churches of all the area. The turn-bell-tower of XV century, shouldered buttresses, gives to the frontage an imposing aspect. It includes two stages of coupled windows.

Gentleman montbrisonnais, Jean-Baptiste d' Allard made arrange under the Prime Minister Worsens a vast garden behind its private mansion which shelters the museum today. This garden shelters many local species but also an interesting collection of exotic gasolines originating in particular in North America.