In the Tertiary Period, the Alpine cycle created the current landscape with mountains and valleys.

[1][2] The Forez mountains form a diverse natural environment where a marked stratification of different biotopes can be distinguished.

Thiers is the cutlery capital of France, and its region, which includes the Durolle valley, is the largest cutlery-producing area in the world.

[5][6] The western slope of the Forez mountain range, in the Puy-de-Dôme department, is part of the Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park.

On July 27, 2011, during the revision of its charter, five communes from the Loire department also joined the park.