Morestel, cité des peintres

Historic district of Morestel, city of painters - Balcons du Dauphiné - North Isère - less than an hour from Lyon — Historic district of Morestel, city of painters – Balcons du Dauphiné – North Isère – less than an hour from Lyon, © Balcons du Dauphiné Tourist Office

Morestel, city of painters - Balconies of the Dauphiné - North Isère - less than an hour from Lyon — Morestel, City of Painters – Balcons du Dauphiné – Northern Isère – less than an hour from Lyon, © Balcons du Dauphiné Tourist Office

Discover the picturesque streets of the old town by following the heritage trail along rue François-Auguste Ravier. From the St Symphorien church to the Medieval Tower, Morestelloise history is available to you...Follow the guide!

Morestel has seduced many artists with its very special light… and the picturesque medieval setting of the town only reinforces the attractiveness and charm of this old fortified town… and Morestel has managed to preserve many traces of its past.
Stroll through the narrow streets of the upper part of the town, commonly known as the "Old Town"... Let yourself be guided by the Heritage Trail to discover the history of Morestel.

The town of Morestel developed at the foot of the rock which supports the castle and was certainly enclosed by ramparts in the first half of the 14th century.
Two gates provided access: the Saint Symphorien gate, whose trace remains visible in the wall, and the Murine gate, linked by the town's only commercial street, the "Grande Vie" (from the Latin via, the way), named Rue Ravier since 1945. Outside, near the gates, two suburbs developed.

Within the enclosure, sometimes backing onto the rampart of the Castle, numerous houses, barns and gardens crowded together, as well as residences of the local minor nobility, sometimes fortified: "Fortified Houses".

Further information :

For families, it is advisable to favor the baby carrier over the stroller.
For people with mobility difficulties, please note that access to the Medieval Tower is only via stairs.

Tips and Suggestions

Guided tours are organized throughout the year by the Tourist Office for groups and individuals. For more information, contact our group service on 04 74 90 45 13.

We speak: English, French

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Location details

Access to the historic district of Morestel is from Place des Halles.
For people with walking difficulties, it is possible to park your vehicle in the old town (Place Chanoz – subject to availability).