Come breathe with family, lovers or friends at the Balcons du Dauphiné, northern tip of the Isère department with the Rhône as its border! Less than an hour from Lyon on the east side, between the Rhone capital and Chambéry, not very far from Grenoble and about twenty kilometers north of Bourgoin-Jallieu, you will necessarily stop off in our cheerful and preserved countryside!
Once you arrive, everything is available to you: the hiking trails, the walking and cycling path, the cycle route ViaRhôna, remarkable sites... Active or contemplative, it is within a territory rich in authentic heritage, a lively and welcoming rurality whose actors and inhabitants take full measure of the challenges of eco-responsibility that we will meet you.
We don't have red pandas but we have... European pond turtles!
Boasting some twenty Sensitive Natural Areas , the Haut-Rhône Français National Nature Reserve, and the Creys-Mépieu Ponds Regional Nature Reserve, the Balcons du Dauphiné is a truly nature-focused destination! In spring, there are countless places to admire the blooming wild orchids or to watch with binoculars for the moment when a European pond turtle comes to bask in the sun by the pond… For those wishing to deepen their knowledge, free themed tours are offered every summer, by reservation, with nature guides from the department, and throughout the year with the Lo Parvi association!
We don't have Mont Ventoux but we have… the ViaRhôna!
Whether you're looking for a leisurely family outing on the 18km Green Way between Crémieu and Arandon-Passins or a thrill-seeker on rocky mountain bike descents, all cyclists will find a playground to suit their tastes in the Balcons du Dauphiné! With no less than 700km of hiking trails and the ViaRhôna continuing to expand into our region, cycling is truly a paradise in the Balcons. Let's go!
We don't have the Sistine Chapel but we have… the Chapel of the Angels!
Of course, when we talk about heritage in the Balcons du Dauphiné region, we immediately think of the medieval town of Crémieu , the abbey town of Saint-Chef , the artists' town of Morestel , but also the sites of Quirieu , the "sleeping beauty," or Vertrieu with its two castles overlooking the Rhône. Archaeological sites are also very well represented, with Larina (not forgetting the museum!) and the Vernai site in Saint-Romain-de-Jalionas. Beyond these unmissable remains, it's not uncommon to find, in the many small villages of the Balcons, a wash house here, a communal oven there, or a pretty chapel… The charm of our beautiful countryside also lies in the diversity of this lovely vernacular heritage, which is the pride of its inhabitants!
We don't have the Niagara Falls but we have… the Lônes du Rhône!
The third longest river in France, and the largest by flow rate, also marks a natural border between our region and the Ain department. Over time, the Rhône, in its impetuous or serene moments, has shaped remarkable landscapes, notably islands that are a haven for numerous plant and animal species, such as the beaver, the swan, and our emblematic European pond turtle. Many outdoor activities are enjoyed on its banks: hydrospeeding, kayaking, boating… What a beautiful river the Rhône is!
We go and we (re) come to the Balcons du Dauphiné!