This calm French city along the Loire Valley has a celebrated jazz festival and traditional restaurants. Its medieval streets lead to art museums and a 16th-century fortress.
Roanne, a town in central France's Loire department, has earned international recognition through Maison Troisgros, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant operating since 1968. Walk along the Loire River to spot the medieval Château de la Roche, explore Egyptian artifacts at the Musée des Beaux-arts, or hike through the dramatic gorges that cut through the landscape.
Getting to Roanne
Roanne lies 90 kilometers northwest of Lyon, with hourly train connections to Clermont-Ferrand, Saint-Étienne, and Moulins. The journey from Lyon takes about 1.5 hours by train or car. The town's train station sits in the center, a 10-minute walk from the main square.
Egyptian Collection at the Museum
At the Musée des Beaux-arts et d'Archéologie Joseph-Déchelette, you can examine 5,000 Egyptian artifacts dating from 2500 BCE. Walk through halls filled with painted wooden sarcophagi, limestone funerary masks, bronze amulets, and ceramic vases from the 4th Dynasty. Join a French-language guided tour at 2:30 PM daily. The museum welcomes visitors Tuesday through Sunday.
Along the Loire River
Walk or cycle along the paved paths on both banks of the Loire River. Follow the 3-kilometer trail to the Gorges de la Loire, where the Villerest Dam creates a swimming and sailing lake (open June to September). Climb to the 14th-century Château de la Roche to see five rooms of period furniture and weapons, and learn about river navigation and medieval life through interactive exhibits.
Food and Markets
Browse among 40 vendors at Les Halles Diderot market (Tuesday-Sunday, 7 AM-1 PM). You'll find Charolais beef, goat cheese from nearby farms, wines from CĂ´te Roannaise, and fresh produce. Try the local Praluline, a pink-studded brioche made with crushed almond and hazelnut pralines.
Day Trips from Roanne
Visit the 12th-century Benedictine Abbey in Charlieu, 20 kilometers north, to see its intricate stone portals and 13th-century cloister capitals. Step into 19th-century rural life at the Musée Alice Taverne in Ambierle, where original furniture and tools fill reconstructed period rooms. Drive the Côte Roannaise wine route to taste Gamay-based wines at 15 independent wineries.
