Paladru – Ainan Valley
Paladru – Ainan Valley
The Paladru - Charavines area is renowned for the beauty of its lake surrounded by wooded hills.
A number of little-known roads will take you to the Ainan valley, with an exceptional historical and natural heritage. The tour begins at the gateway to the Charteuse: Voiron. In addition to the world's largest liqueur cellar, Voiron also has a fine neo-gothic church, dedicated to St Bruno.
The next port of call on this tour is Chirens Priory, a remarkable 12th-century building with a Romanesque apse and 17th-century frescoes. Take a detour along the D50 for a glimpse of Lake Paladru. At Colletière, on the D50 from Charavines to Bilieu, there is an extremely interesting underwater archaeological site dating back to neolithic times (2700 BC) and the Middle Ages.
Along the way, look out for the barn at Louisias, a traditional house with rammed earth walls and a thatched roof. Next you will come to Virieu, a medieval town with a remarkable 11th-century castle overlooking the Bourbre Valley, with listed gardens.
Now head towards Aoste, a former Gallo-Roman town known for its potters' workshops. The Museum presents finds from the excavations covering a period of 400 years.
Next step is Pont de Beauvoisin. This town used to lie on the border with Savoy and has been a major furniture-making centre since the time of Francis I.
Visit the museum of wood-turning and hand tools, the only one if its kind in France.
Your tour now takes you to the heart of the Ainan valley, at Saint Geoire en Valdaine. Visit its magnificent 12th-century church, a listed monument with frescoes from the 15th and 16th centuries.
The architecture and interior furnishings of the château de Longpra, bear witness to 700 years of history in Dauphiné.
Go over the Col des Mille Martyrs (with breathtaking views over the Chartreuse) before arriving in Saint Laurent du Pont.
This is a bustling commercial town lying at the foot of the Grande Sure.
Visit "Mariette's House", displaying paintings, engravings and icons by the artist.
Return to Grenoble via Voreppe. This town and its historic centre provided inspiration for Balzac, Debelle, Achard, Stravinsky, de Laclos and Stendhal.
Worth seeing:
La Grange Dimière, a 17th-century building (tithe barn)
La Valdaine history walk
Nature trail around a peat bog
Worth tasting:
Whitebait from the lake
Chartreuse liqueurs
Bigallet liqueurs and cordials
Bonnat chocolate
Antésite plant-based cordial
Louvat hand-made biscuits
