Bouvesse-Quirieu

Heritage of Bouvesse-Quirieu


– The sleeping city of Quirieu

It was in 1190 that the first mention of the city appeared. In the XNUMXth century, it became an important strategic point, due to its geographical position, in the conflict between Savoy and Dauphiné.
From the 1914th to the XNUMXth century, Quirieu was at its peak. It was finally from the XNUMXth century that it lost its military and economic usefulness and gradually fell into oblivion. Its last resident left the place in XNUMX.

And Bouvesse? “Bouvesse” means “ox” and this takes on its full meaning when we know that Quirieu is located on a rocky spur where there is not enough space to accommodate animals, including oxen. This is why it was at the bottom of the village that the animals were kept.

Today, the city is nothing more than a “ghost” site. You will find there the remains of a fortified house probably dating from the 15th and 16th centuries, of the Sainte-Catherine chapel which had been enlarged to replace the old church of Quirieu looted by Protestants, or those of the main street of round pebbles which once structured the life of the city by notably hosting the weekly market.

The city, where vegetation gradually regains its rights, is a place of tranquility conducive to the awakening of poetic imaginations.

The “Imagine Quirieu” association continues with consistency and passion to bring this heritage to life through regular events and the programming of open-air exhibitions. The site can be visited freely, respecting the place. Open-air exhibitions take place there regularly, find out more in advance from the Balcons du Dauphiné tourist office.


– The Bouvesse quarries: since the 19th century, they have been part of a common dynamic in the stone mining area. In Bouvesse-Quirieu, if we first turn to the manufacture of lime, it is very quickly the production of cement which occupies the factories. This is particularly what allowed a flagship of the French economy, the Vicat cement plant, to reach a production of around two million tonnes per year. It is the only company that has remained in the town.

It is particularly for this purpose that we see the construction of two stations appear between 1879 and 1882 in the town. The train of the Est Lyonnais railway line allowed the transport of passengers and goods such as lime and cement between the factories in the area. It worked for travelers until 1947, then was used until the 1980s by stone factories. In fact, it ended up being replaced by cars for passengers, then by special trucks for businesses.


– The church probably built at the end of the 1861th century. It has a marble high altar sculpted by Adami of Lyon in XNUMX. Although the interior is very refined, its stained glass windows from the mid-XNUMXth century give it real elegance.

– “Au Four et au Moulin”: the old 16th century mill is today an artisanal bakery. Here, the ancestral techniques of the art of baking are perpetuated, with baking in a floor oven, guaranteeing an intense crust and better preservation. This traditional place knows how to put all its know-how at the service of quality gourmet products.

– The Chogne mill: probably dating from the 17th century, it is still in operation today. It is used in the production of walnut and hazelnut oil.

– The Enieu fortified house (private site): dating from the 14th century, it was a post house in the 19th century before being transformed into a dwelling.

– Enieu Castle (private site): there is little information on this building, its construction is estimated in the 17th century.

– Crosses, wells, fountains, bread ovens and wash houses complete this pretty picture and silently preserve the memory of the daily life of yesteryear.


What if the discovery was made by bike? Bouvesse-Quirieu is accessible by ViaRhôna, an ideal cycle route for a family ride.