The best MTB trails around Coubon

This stone bridge, once an important crossing, is now partly collapsed, but its still visible arches offer a fascinating spectacle. Walking around the ruins, one can admire the tranquil beauty of the river flowing below, surrounded by lush vegetation.

A beautiful view of the Loire Valley from the Velay greenway.

Coubon is a small Loire village full of character located in Velay. Behind the bustling city center rich in shops and services, the Saint-Georges church has a magnificent facade of Romanesque architecture.

From the parking lot of the Coubon train station, a little warm-up by going down the greenway to Brives Charensac where there is a small crossing of the Loire then join the road to get back to the transcévenole. There, the path is a natural path if I may say so where you will find stones but not smooth ground as you can find on the greenways. There are about 4 and a half km of this stone path. Then after going through a tunnel towards Lantriac, the path is much more passable. After there is a fork on the right, we cross a road and take a small path for 150 to 200 m which can be cluttered with vegetation, but it is passable. After a climb, we come to a path where there are stones. The climb can be difficult if you do not have electric assistance, or a low level of fitness. Then we join a road for 150 to 200 m before turning left and enjoying a phenomenal panorama. Then a descent where you have to take your time, a crossing of a very pleasant little village and a very smooth path but in which there can be difficulties on the ground. After we join a charming little road before making a small climb to join a small path for a few hundred meters around Arsac. Then the descent on Coubon, and the climb to join the departure car park. Be careful the climb is steep at times.

nice view of the Monastier

superb view of the Loire after a pretty path lined with pine trees

The special feature of this church is often found in this region: there is no church tower but a bell wall. The stone blocks of this bell wall have beautiful, natural color nuances. When I tried to enter the church I had a surprise: it was open! However, I quickly realized why this is so: the interior is very simple and plain. But that's exactly what I liked. There are benches, tables and toilets right next to the church and the parking lot.

The Saint-Georges church was bequeathed to the Monastier-sur-Gazeille abbey in 1090. However, only the central part of the facade remains of the Romanesque building. From 1740 its surface area was considered insufficient but it was not until the beginning of the 19C. so that work can be undertaken to compensate for the cramped conditions of the place. Thus in 1833, the date engraved in the Saint-Ferréol chapel, the entire monument was transformed, except for the central part between the two buttresses. The comb bell tower was then built between 1838 and 1844, its architect would have been inspired by the gable of the Puy-en-Velay cathedral. It replaced the one built in 1810 which itself succeeded the one destroyed during the Revolution. In 1875 a miter window on the façade was opened and the vaults of the church were built.