Chandon is a small village in the far north of the Loire department, close to the borders of Burgundy and the Rhône, in a landscape of green pastures, hedges and gentle hills. The white Charolais cattle grazing in the fields tell you that you are on the edge of the Brionnais, and the farms, churches and villages are built of warm, honey-coloured stone.
The nearest town of any size is Charlieu, a few kilometres to the north-east, and it is well worth a visit. Its Benedictine abbey, founded in the ninth century, has a magnificent Romanesque portal, among the finest in Burgundy, and the town was once a centre of silk weaving, with a museum dedicated to the craft. The old streets, with half-timbered houses and Gothic façades, are lovely.
As a food stop, Charlieu is the best choice nearby, with restaurants and cafés serving the hearty food of the region: Charolais beef, local cheeses and charcuterie. Roanne, about twenty kilometres to the south-west, is a larger town with a long gastronomic reputation and plenty of choice.
The riding around Chandon is relaxed and scenic. Roads wind through the hills, past farms and villages, with gentle bends and good surfaces. Traffic is light. The Loire valley to the west and the hills of the Beaujolais to the east offer more varied riding. Fuel is available in Charlieu and Roanne.