Monuments to visit Rhône-Alpes

In Saint-Maximin, a thirty-three meter tower erected in 1895 on the ruins of an old medieval castle, by the Carthusian monks in honor of Saint Hugues d'Avalon, Carthusian and bishop of Lincoln at the end of the ^12th century, where documents on ancient rural life are presented. Exhibition of paintings and sculptures. Visit to the chapel of the Tower of Avalon. Panoramic view on the Grésivaudan valley from the top.

It welcomes you at the entrance to the village: this remarkable fountain would actually date from the Middle Ages, but it joined its current location in the sixteenth century. The water comes from the mountains by some kind of closed gutter, stone. This fountain is classified as an additional inventory of Historic Monuments.

First, the castle of Roche-la-Molière was a 12th century fortress. Modified in the 15th century and then in the 18th century, it is one of the rare medieval remains of the southern Loire. Surrounded by a magnificent garden, the castle opens its doors to you for a visit among its towers, curtains, machicolation... 13th century kitchen with a very rare set of 3 ovens, 17th century vaults decorated with coats of arms, 18th century salons and Kabyle lounge, chapel decorated with paintings... a great historical interest. Temporary exhibitions are regularly organized.

This splendid building, which combines the Gothic style with the Renaissance style, has successively undergone different functions: property of the Dukes of Bourbons until 1527, the princely residence, and then the hotel, lodging of stage for officers and post office in the service of the King, Maréchaussée brigade in 1737, presbytery under the Second Empire. It served as a welcome to prestigious guests. Here you can admire a splendid and imposing roof as well as a remarkable structure (renversée boat). Inside, many coated graffiti and frescos adorn thick walls. The Renaissance entrance door is surmounted by a sculpted shell where two angels have a stone coat, damaged by revolution. Legend wants them not to be destroyed in the revolution because "without panties". During the season you can visit the Petit Louvre but also enjoy various temporary exhibitions (paintings, sculptures).

The first monks settled in Apple in 834. In 960 they passed under the administration of Cluny. The first church is then abandoned in favour of a new Romanesque building, now Parish Church Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul. In the th century, the priory changed the strong house and endowed it with a Renaissance facade. After the Revolution of large bourgeois families buy the places and turn them into a residential castle. In 1990 the general council became owner, supported the restoration to open it to the public. Many temporary exhibitions offer the beauty of the places!

To find this beautiful castle and visit its park in free access, go to the th century church and then take the direction of Montaigu-le-Blin. Hérissant of its towers the marshy plain surrounding it, Le Méage is a strong house known as 1272. The castle and its courtyard are surrounded by water moat; its avant courtyard is closed by a portal of wrought iron. Linked to these moat, a small stream runs along the north-west aisle. A circular basin was installed by the owner between the prairie and the castle. Signage provides explanations and elements on the history of the site.

This dungeon is one of the last vestiges of the feudal castle. It was built in the first half of the fifteenth by the Nesmond brothers. He rises on a slight eminence, on the edge of the stream the Drop of the Ré. Quadrangular shape is particularly high, since it has no less than five levels. Each was divided into two pieces that kept their chimney. The third floor is occupied by a first attic that gives access to the round road above the corbeaux à, which li the top of the dungeon. The second attic covered with the roof covered two watchtower located above the rectangular turrets. To the south of the dungeon came the th century buildings, which houses a apothicairerie where an interesting collection of pharmacy pots from the th to the th. This room was followed by the poor and sick room, which opened the chapel with a single nave with a flat bedside adorned with woodwork and stucco. Since the 1900 th century, Gayette has been increasing many buildings and in particular a wing in the extension of the th century, to the south-west of the dungeon, built around.

As witnesses from the time of the lavandières, there are still numerous washing machines in this sector of the department. Restored in 1994, this circular and semi-covered wash, which makes it possible to collect rainwater, is a relic of the castle. The chimney fuel the washing machine and supplied ashes used as detergent cleaning. Dug below, it is accessed by a few steps. Its large capacity allows it to host many lavandières, which kneel in the edge of flat surfaces with solidarity. The newly renovated Saint-Gérand-le-Puy is also very interesting for its top roof and chimneys.

Always sheltered by its water ditches, this castle fully restored on 15 acres, accessed via a drawbridge, is dominated by a squat and impressive keep. The interior is up, with an interesting decoration and architecture.

It is a tunnel closely monitored since the 1999 disaster - reassuring, therefore - and long 11,6 kilometres, between Chamonix and Courmayeur. Only the width of the tube, which could not be changed, still seems too narrow for the eternal claustrophobes. But for all the rest, what improvements: better lighting and overhaul of the ventilation system, a 100-metre drive, a mid-term rescue station, a combination of French and Italian control rooms and, above all, the construction of an independent evacuation gallery under the road. More fun, the tail of vehicles at the counter: you will have the impression of taking the start of a ski competition, with front of you the small barrier that displays on screen the time allotted before your departure. 10, 9, 8, 7… When it rises, you can start up to the limit speed of 70 km/h and with a spacing of 150 metres between each vehicle, which now seems very well respected. The reason? The multiplication of surveillance cameras, such as tickets.