We recently took a short trip to Brioude, a charming town nestled in the Haute-Loire region of south-central France. With roots tracing back to Roman times—when it was known as Brivas—Brioude has long been a place of historical significance. Its crowning jewel is the Basilica of Saint-Julien, the largest Romanesque church in Auvergne, built between the 11th and 14th centuries atop the tomb of the martyr Saint Julien. Wandering through the old town, you can feel the layers of history in the architecture and cobbled streets. Unfortunately, we were a bit disappointed to find that many areas were quite dirty, which dulled some of the town’s natural charm. That said, we had a fantastic time staying at the new motorhome stopover just behind the skate park. It was peaceful, well-located, and made for a perfect base to explore the area. Despite the mess in town, the stopover gave us a cozy and convenient place to relax—and that made all the difference.
