The Tourist Information Office will give you a warm welcome and provide you with information, in the heart of the abbey city of Saint-Chef
The Romanesque frescoes in the upper chapel can only be viewed on a guided tour, from April to September. Please contact us for details about the timings!

Guided tours for groups are organised all year round (the Abbey and frescoes, the museum and city), booking required.

Period of opening : From 05/04 to 11/06/2022
Opening hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 10 am and 12 pm and between 2 pm and 6 pm. On Thursday between 2 pm and 6 pm.
Closed exceptionally on Easter Monday, Feast of the Ascension, Whit Monday, May 1st and May 8th.

From 12/06 to 18/09/2022
Opening hours on Tuesday and Sunday between 2 pm and 6 pm. On Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 9.30 am and 12 pm and between 2 pm and 6 pm.
Closed exceptionally on July 14th and August 15th.

From 19/09 to 30/09/2022
Opening hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 10 am and 12 pm and between 2 pm and 6 pm. On Thursday between 2 pm and 6 pm.

From 01/10/2022 to 03/04/2023.
Closed exceptionally on January 1st, November 1st, November 11th and December 25th.

Morestel, the city of painters, so called as much for the number of artists who have set up their easels all over the town, as for the galleries and fine exhibitions. The medieval city invites you to discover its charms.

Period of opening : From 05/04 to 11/06
Opening hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 10 am and 12 pm and between 2 pm and 6 pm. On Thursday between 2 pm and 6 pm. On Sunday between 9.30 am and 12 pm.
Closed on Monday.
Closed exceptionally on Whit Monday and May 1st.

From 12/06 to 18/09
Opening hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 9.30 am and 12 pm and between 2 pm and 6 pm. On Sunday between 9.30 am and 12 pm.
Closed on Monday.

From 19/09 to 30/09
Opening hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 10 am and 12 pm and between 2 pm and 6 pm. On Thursday between 2 pm and 6 pm. On Sunday between 9.30 am and 12 pm.
Closed on Monday.

From 01/10 to 03/04
Opening hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 10 am and 12 pm and between 2 pm and 5 pm.
Closed Monday, Thursday and Sunday.
Closed exceptionally on January 1st, November 1st, November 11th and December 25th.

The Crémieu Tourist Information Office is in the heart of the medieval city. We can help you throughout your stay, giving you practical information about the beautiful Balcons du Dauphine region.

Period of opening : From 05/04 to 11/06
Opening hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 10 am and 12 pm and between 2 pm and 6 pm. On Thursday between 2 pm and 6 pm. On Sunday between 2 pm and 6 pm.
Closed on Monday.
Closed exceptionally on May 1st.

From 12/06 to 18/09
Opening hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 9.30 am and 12 pm and between 2 pm and 6 pm.
Closed on Monday.

From 19/09 to 30/09
Opening hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 10 am and 12 pm and between 2 pm and 6 pm. On Thursday between 2 pm and 6 pm. On Sunday between 2 pm and 6 pm.
Closed on Monday.

From 01/10 to 03/04
Opening hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 10 am and 12 pm and between 2 pm and 5 pm.
Closed Monday, Thursday and Sunday.
Closed exceptionally on January 1st, November 1st, November 11th and December 25th.

Located in a 16th century house, the museum retraces nearly 15 centuries of history in Saint-Chef: the origins of the abbey, the interpretation of the Romanesque frescoes in the church, the local traditions and famous people born in the area Louis Seigner et Frédéric Dard)
The Heritage Museum is a museum accessible to all, thanks in particular to the richness of its information: models, films, reconstructions, CD-ROMs and explanatory booklets. Saint-Chef can hold no more secrets from you... In the heart of one of the most prestigious Dauphiné abbeys, the permanent exhibition presents, through models, CD-ROM and film, the history of the abbey and offers an interpretation of the beautiful frescoes in the chapel of angels (some of the richest evidence of Romanesque art in France). It also takes a look at the traditions of this Balmes Dauphinoises village (vineyard, adobe architecture, patois). Such an appeal certainly left its mark on famous people born in the area (Marius Riollet the writer, the actor Louis Seigner, and Frédéric Dard).
The new interactive terminal on Louis Seigner and Frédéric Dard in the last room of the museum, allows visitors to gain a deeper knowledge of these two characters.

Period of opening : From 09/04 to 11/06
Opening hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 10 am and 12 pm and between 2 pm and 6 pm. On Thursday and Sunday between 2 pm and 6 pm.
Closed on Monday.
Closed exceptionally on May 1st.

From 12/06 to 18/09/2022
Opening hours on Tuesday and Sunday between 2 pm and 6 pm. On Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 9.30 am and 12 pm and between 2 pm and 6 pm.

From 19/09 to 30/09
Opening hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 10 am and 12 pm and between 2 pm and 6 pm. On Thursday and Sunday between 2 pm and 6 pm.
Closed on Monday.

From 01/10 to 31/10/2022 between 2 pm and 6 pm.
Closed on Monday.

From 01/11/2022 to 31/03/2023, daily.

Prices : Free entry. Guided tour of the museum: €5 per person.
Access : A3, exit 7 for Isle d'Abeau Centre'
Follow signs for Morestel, then Saint-Chef

On the heights of the old town of Morestel, the Maison Ravier is a fine example of the Dauphine houses with a heritage character. The painter Auguste Ravier (1814-1895) settled there in 1867 and lived there until the end of his life.
This early 18th century residence located in the heart of the old town, is remarkable for the elegance of its proportions: it is accessed by an authentic porch door that confirms its character. A three-sided mansard roof, pierced with windows and covered with scale tiles like the Dauphine houses of the region, and four rows of decorative tiles at its base, testify to the owners' wealth at the time of construction.
Surrounded by outbuildings, originally barns and stables, this house is spread over an area of ??almost 190m² both on the ground floor and upper floors: the terrace and gardens cover nearly 6323m². From this privileged setting, there is a surprising view: mountains of Bugey and Chartreuse, and the chains of Belledonne and Vercors.

Managed by the Association of Friends of the Maison Ravier, the house has been home to an exhibition space since 24 April 1992 with nearly 150 works, many unseen previously, by the painter Ravier, from private collections and museums.
In 2000, restoration works in the building in front of the house, the old stable, allowed for increased storage areas and the association's office, where all the exhibitions are decided upon and prepared.

Period of opening : From 06/04 to 06/11/2022, every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 2 pm and 6 pm.
Closed exceptionally on May 1st.

Prices : Adult: 6 to 8 €
Group adults: from 3 €.

Free entry for children < 18 years.
Group rate available for > 10 people.

Free: Members of Maison Ravier
Reduced rate entry during European Days of Heritage and during the 'Musées en fête' weekend.
Access : From Grenoble, take the A48 until the Voiron exit, then RD75 to Morestel. Located in the centre of the old town, the site cannot be accessed by coaches.

At the Chateau de Montiracle, discover the world of minerals, with more than 1800 samples and 150 related objects. In season, there is an ice bar on the chateau terrace, accessible to all.
As part of the Chateau de Montiracle, a former Templar Commandery, discover the wonderful world of minerals. With more than 1400 selected and varied samples and over 150 related objects, displayed in a dozen showcases spread over 4 rooms, the museum is the leading site in this field in the Rhône-Alpes-Auvergne region and beyond. As a bonus, there is the history of the castle. Private parking at the bottom of the castle. Opening days, times and prices can be found on the website or by ringing +33 (0)6 81 40 28 01
In season, an ice bar on the large, 400m2 terrace in front of the chateau allows you to enjoy the exceptional site fully.

Prices : Adult: 6 €
Child (6-18 years): 5 €
Large family: 15 €.

Free entry for children < 6 years.
Access : At the entrance of the medieval city of Crémieu. 40 km from Lyon.
Close to many tourist sites: Crémieu, the La Balme caves, the Hières-sur-Amby heritage centre, the Larina archaeological site, the abbey of Saint-Chef, the Ravier Centre in Morestel, the Pierre au Ciment Centre in Montalieu-Vercieu...

Located just below the village of Courtenay, this lake is home to a very rich diversity of wildlife. You'll find a birdwatching observatory here.

In the past, this site was an alkaline swamp through which the Save flowed. Locals came here to harvest the hay from the wetlands and collect peat to heat their houses.
Today, following the re-routing of the Save and the industrial exploitation of peat for horticulture, the swamp disappeared, giving way to a succession of lakes on both sides of the Save.

There are more than 745 species surveyed, some with strong heritage value, like the Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), the Least bur-reed (Sparganium minimum), and the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis).

The landscape is marked by its geological history. One of its peculiarities is the presence in a same place of a rocky outcrop polished and streaked by the Würm glacier, of moraine deposits and of ancient peat, which allow the history of the last glaciation to be traced.

In the heart of Isle Crémieu lies the étang de Lemps, a representative pond of the wetlands in Nord Isère. This 23ha site is part of Optevoz and Saint-Baudille-de-la-Tour villages.
A thematic trail and an observatory with disabled access introduce visitors to the lake's aquatic life, including the remarkable European pond turtle, an endangered specie.

Emblem of the site, the pond turtle is a threatened specie due to the disappearance of its habitat. The étang de Lemps is an ideal environment (water, shade, adapted banks and dry slopes for the laying of eggs). the live, feed and breed at the water's edge.

How do you recognize it? It is about 20cm long, the males have red eyes and the females have small, yellow eyes. They have a black body with yellow dots.
Among the 457 plant species surveyed, there are orchids, marsh pennywort, southern adderstongue, European Michaelmas daisies...

Flora: 14 heritage species (Lax-flowered orchids, Anacampus palustris, Bombycilaena erecta, Marsh pennywort, Knautia Timeroyii, Spiny water nymph, Adder's tongue, Threadleaf crowfoot, Golden dock, Downy woundwort, Teucrium scordium, Common meadow rue, Southern bladderwort, Smooth vetch)

Fauna: 3 invertebrate heritage species (Small red-eye damselfly, Stag beetle, Desmoulin's whorl snail) 17 species of reptiles and amphibians (Agile frog, European pond turtle...) 130 species of birds (Little bittern, Reed bunting) , Kingfisher, Eurasian reed warbler, Great reed warbler...)

Habitats: 12 heritage habitats (eutrophic stagnant water, phragmites)

Located between Villemoirieu and Saint-Romain-de-Jalionas, the Besseye marsh is one of the last large wetlands in Eastern Lyon. Thematic path: educational pond, observation pontoons and information boards.
Covering 35ha, this remarkable natural area is home to a great diversity of natural environments dominated by reed beds and swamp sawgrass, characteristic of low marshes.
This mosaic of wetlands, alder trees and dry meadows has led to the establishment of plant and animal heritage species.
Numerous amphibians, such as the Palmate newt and Natterjack toad, live in the ponds and flooded areas, and there is a large number of endangered plant species such as Teucrium scordium or the Lesser water-plantain.