Crémieu plateau and its villages of stone
Crémieu plateau and its villages of stone
This limestone bastion cut into by lush valleys boasts many typical villages with stone houses and typical "lauze" tiled roofs. The silhouettes of distant chateaux, abbeys and medieval towns can be spotted on the horizon.
Leave Grenoble on the road to Bourgoin Jallieu (N85). The first stage on the tour is Saint-Chef, famous for its abbey church founded in the 6th century containing 12th-century frescoes.
It is one of France's finest preserved collections of Christian and medieval art.
The next stage in the tour is Crémieu, a magnificent medieval town still surrounded by its original ramparts. Its heritage has remained intact and bears witness to its rich history.
A marked tour has been laid out taking in all the highlights of the town: its gates, market hall, town hall (a former 16th-century convent), chapel, and remains of the 12th-century Delphinial chateau.
Continue on to Verna, the "village with 7 fountains", at foot of the cliffs of the Crémieu plateau.
Also worth a visit: château du Cingle, a 13th-century chateau used every summer for an art and music festival.
The next stage takes you to Hières sur Amby. Its "Maison du Patrimoine" heritage museum notably contains a reconstruction of a Celtic prince's tomb.
Higher up, on the top of the cliffs, the Larina Plateau overlooks the Rhône plain and is a magnificent archaeological site including remains dating from the Roman era to the Middle Ages.
Take a slight detour to Saint Baudille de la Tour to visit this fine stone village on Crémieu plateau and the 15th-century Ferme des Dames, where you can take a ride in a typical Dauphiné-style horse-drawn caravan.
Round off your tour by visiting the caves of la Balme, a listed site reaching deep into the cliffs of the Crémieu plateau, before returning to Grenoble via the N75.
Worth seeing:
The Sentier des Bigues footpath across the characteristic landscapes of Crémieu plateau
The Musée de la Lauze (depicting traditional tiling techniques) in Annoisin-Chatelans
Worth tasting:
Foyesse, a sweet brioche cake
Sabodet, a cooked slicing sausage
