Le Bouchage

1. Le Bouchage and its heritage

– The Bouchage church: built in 1841 to replace the old Mollard church in poor condition.

– Vernacular heritage: notably the wash houses of the hamlets of Sous les Vernes, Mollard and Cessenoud.

– Rammed earth houses: characteristic of traditional architecture in the south of the Balcons du Dauphiné, this material is obtained by compacting sandy and clayey earth using a pissoir – a hardwood mass used to beat the earth. It provides good thermal and sound insulation but is very sensitive to humidity. To make an adobe wall, it is better not to be in a hurry because the drying time is one year!


2. Le Bouchage, “land of marshes and bocage”

The name of the commune comes from the dialect “Lo Boshageo” which means “land of marshes and bocage”. Imagine a time when the village was swallowed up by the capricious waves of the Rhône.
In reality, it is an area of ​​expansion of the river waters. Thanks to ingenious protective works, the plain is protected against potentially devastating floods.
However, when the Rhône is unleashed, reaching critical alert levels in flow and height: the valves open. This action causes controlled flooding of the Bouchage plain. The river is slowly regaining its rights. This voluntary flooding system was designed to protect the Lyon metropolitan area from the unpredictable moods of the Rhône.


3. The mouthful to eat!

The queen of the party is undoubtedly the apple that we see almost everywhere in the village. The first orchards, created on land intended for the tile industry, saw the light of day around 1934, marking a delicious turning point in local agriculture!
Rubinettes, melrose or boskoop, there is something for everyone!

The party not to be missed: the apple party of course! Celebrated every second weekend in October, this traditional event attracts thousands of visitors who come to savor the many products made from this emblematic fruit and enjoy a multitude of activities.