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Montluçon
165.5 km
Friday 25 July
The sprinters will get their smiles, and legs, back in this somewhat flatter and faster-riding course across the Allier county.
Roanne Theater (Picture: City of Roanne - C. Verdet)
First time stage host.
Sub-prefecture of the Loire département, 40,120 inhabitants.
Famous throughout the world for its celebrated chefs like the Troisgros brothers and for its reputed textile manufacturing, Roanne is also a major mechanical engineering center, where the Leclerc tank was notably made. Built along the Loire river, with its ancient city center, pedestrian areas and leisure harbor, Roanne provides a festive and cultural atmosphere in a charming setting. Here the Loire river flows through the department of the same name. Having carved out its gorges and fed both Villerest lake and the canal Tranquille, the capricious waterway akes up its majestic progress. Blessed with a wealth of churches and chateaux, situated at the crossroads of Auvergne, Burgundy and Lyon, the Roanne area possesses a richly diversified architectural heritage. During your stay, be sure to enjoy the museum, the port, the good food, the variety of shops and the welcoming atmosphere of Roanne!
• Office du Tourisme du Grand Roannais
The Castle of the Dukes of Bourbon and fountains by night (Picture: City of Montluçon)
Five times stage town.
First time in 1953; winner: W. Wagtmans.
Last time in 2001; winner: Baguet.
Administrative centre of the canton, 44,000 inhabitants.
Located in the heart of France, second largest city in Auvergne, Montluçon met the challenge of the industrial revolution without ever disowning its historical heritage. The medieval town, with its small paved streets and half-timbered houses, and the chateau of the Dukes of Bourbon towering above it, takes you back on a journey through French history. Lying close to the hedged farmland of Bourbonnais, with the Cher river flowing through, Montluçon has a wealth of assets : leisure activities at close hand (canoeing, golf, nautical sports...), cultural and sporting facilities of quality. A city on the rise, Montluçon has launched major urban renovation schemes as well as restoration of its architectural heritage. An aquatic amusement park has recently opened.
Be sure not to miss:
- The “Fête de la musique” exhibit at the chateau
- The modern art center
- Boeuf-Villé carnival in the spring and medieval festival in the summer.
• Conseil général
