Witnesses to the military, religious and economic importance of the territory, the historic towns of the Balcons du Dauphiné take you back to the past.
Whether essential, dormant or still unknown, they all deserve your attention. For those who don't want to miss anything, free maps available at the Tourist Office will guide you during your visit. And for those who prefer to be surprised, take a stroll through the narrow streets of these charming villages in Nord-Isère...
Crémieu: the happy medieval city like stones
It is the essential city of the Balcons du Dauphiné! Ideal for a day out: discovery of the gems of the city in the morning (visit plan or guided tour, your choice), then lunch on the terrace in one of the many restaurants before a cool digestive stroll on the Voie Verte which will serve as a warm-up for the climb to the Saint-Hippolyte hill and its fortifications at the end of the day with the sunset! Isn't life beautiful?
Morestel: the city that makes you see all the colors
It is the city that has inspired more than one! And for good reason, no matter where you arrive at Morestel, the view that awaits you is magnificent: the imposing medieval tower, the Saint-Symphorien church perched on the ramparts and the panoramic view of the mountains in the background ( weather permitting)… A feast for the eyes! And again, it's only an amuse-bouche... Wait until you stroll through the alleys of the old town or walk the aisles of the renowned Sunday market...
Saint-Chief: from the frescoes of the Angels to the escapades of San Antonio
It's the surprise you don't expect to find, the “icing on the cake” as they say! Sometimes even the inhabitants of the Balcons du Dauphiné do not suspect the wealth of the town, and yet... Hardly one begins to go up the street of the abbey that clues are revealed... "Chemin des châteaux", "Place Frédéric Dard" and suddenly , in front of us, the abbey church that appears. The historic center of the village and its appearance of a Provençal village promises great discoveries, and above all one of the most beautiful treasures of Romanesque art in France: the Romanesque frescoes from the XNUMXth century in exceptional preservation!
Vertrieu: a city that takes you on board… on the Rhône!
The northernmost village in the department of Isère! Bordered by the majestic Rhône, the city seduces with its historical and natural heritage: a 1716th-XNUMXth century castle and its French gardens, a XNUMXth century fortified house, a XNUMX cooler, a giant fresco, a garden of Simple bucolic and final bouquet, an exceptional panorama on the village, the Rhone and the department of Ain in the background since the cross of Serverin… It is an invitation to the total disconnection!
Quirieu: the sleeping city…
The “ghost” village with storybook decor! Not so ghostly… The city is laid out for visits, thanks to thematic panels and it wakes up regularly for the benefit of storytelling walks, concerts, shows, guided tours… The strong point of the site: one of the most beautiful panoramas of the Balcons du Dauphiné !
