Village of Character

Perched at a height of 1,160 meters, Montarcher proudly displays its heritage charged with a tumultuous history. Already populated before the invasion of the Celts, it was in turn refuge, stronghold and place of worship. Visitors can discover an outstanding panorama and a source of fresh air.

The village dominates Andrable Valley from a lofty granite peak 1,150 metres above sea level and affords the visitor an uninterrupted 360° view from the mound of the old fort. The faraway silhouettes of Pierre-sur-Haute, the highest peak in the Forez group (1634 m), Le Velay, Les Cévennes and even Mont Blanc can be seen from the village.
In the 13th century the castle passed from the Counts of Forez into the hands of a wealthy family called Baffie and then later to the Saint-Bonnet and eventually the Rochebaron families. In the 15th century the castle was abandoned by its owners because of its lack of comfort. In 1452 Montarcher became a parish. Father Ferrier was the first person in Montarcher to maintain a register of births, marriages and deaths and his book has become one of the oldest documents of its kind in France.
In 1536 Francis I took the county of Forez for the Crown; from then on Montarcher and Le Forez were most definitely part of France...

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