WALKING IN THE MASSIF CENTRAL: ST BONNET

St. Bonnet is a small, picturesque village comprising of old stone houses, a fine Romanesque church and a sprinkling of shops and bars. Situated at about 1100m on a high ridge in the Vivarais, south-west of Lyon, the area offers excellent walking including a choice of circuits along the flanks of the Doux valley and the village of Le Mas de Tence. Most days, however, will involve using the hotel's bus to extend the range to hills and ridges above delightful old villages such as St. Symphorien and Lalouvesc or to the cherry orchards and vineyards above the Rhone valley, and perhaps down to the river itself to visit a wine cave. The ninth-century Chateau de Rochebonne, dramatically situated high above the Eyrieux valley, is the target for another favourite walk.