1. Courtenay and its heritage

– The Saint-Martin parish church, built between 1870 and 1880. Inside the church you can observe the baptismal font and the allegorical group sculpted on the tympanum.
The building also houses the tomb of Louis de la Balme de Montchalin who was parish priest of Quirieu, Morestel and Courtenay.

– Montchalin Castle: dating from the 15th century, it is recognizable by its round crenellated towers (private building).

– Lancin Castle: dating from the end of the 19th century, it is classified as a historic monument (private building).

– Composed vernacular heritage: in Courtenay you will find several fountains scattered throughout its hamlets, as well as wash houses built according to a traditional plan with a protective roof for the washerwomen. Bread ovens, once essential to daily life, are now places of celebration and conviviality during local celebrations.


2. Courtenay topped with Dauphinois roofs

Talking about Courtenay also allows us to talk about the traditional Dauphinois roofs characteristic of local architecture. They are recognizable by their four-sided framework and their roofing in flat scale tiles.
There are also mantel roofs. These roofs have a series of slabs arranged like stairs on the side of the gable wall. These slabs are also called “mantles” or “coverlets”. They are used to protect the walls of the house against humidity and fire, an important precaution at the time when roofs were made of thatch. For this reason, they protrude on each side of the roof. At the top, it is possible to observe a piece of flint in the shape of a sugar loaf, called “the round charvet”, which adds an original final touch to these roofs.


3. Courtenay, nature side
In this village, the space is mainly occupied by ponds and forests, where nature has a dominant place in the landscape. Thus, it is not surprising that the name Courtenay, in local patois “Cortena”, derives from the Latin “Curtis” which means “garden”.

– The ornithological observatory of the Salette pond is a must in the town. This small wooden chalet on stilts offers stunning views of birds in their natural habitat, promising a peaceful and educational experience for the whole family.

– The Marais de Lancin pond contains a wide variety of fish such as pike, perch, tench, carp, white fish and even night carp! This fishermen's paradise is even accessible to cyclists since it is very close to ViaRhôna.

Free access.