Serrières Canton: Discover Rhône History and Culture

Serrières lies on the banks of the Rhône and was once a village of Rhône boatmen. Much of the village lies between the hill and the river. Nearby are the Via Fluvia, the Via Rhôna and the Pilat. Those interested in the history of navigation and the village’s architecture will find various ways to explore these subjects: a museum, historic architecture and traces of former chapels.

Navigation history and historic buildings

Since 17 September 2003, the Musée des Mariniers et de la batellerie du Rhône has held the French designation “Musée de France”. Its collections illustrate everyday life on the Rhône in the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum also displays objects from the Rhône’s former inland shipping trade, including items related to the period when boats were towed by horses. Alongside life by the river, the exhibits focus on work and travel on the Rhône. Check the current opening hours before your visit.

The museum is housed in the former church of Saint-Sornin. Its original building probably dates back to the 10th century; the roof structure was built by ship carpenters in the 14th century and is shaped like the bottom of a boat. The former Saint-Sornin chapel is protected as a historic monument: the nave was listed by decree on 2 August 1932, and the rest of the chapel by decree on 22 December 1937. The dates therefore refer to two different parts of the building.

The village’s history is also reflected in its buildings elsewhere. The Tour des Pénitents is a remnant of the former Notre-Dame de la Pitié chapel, built in 1619 and 1663. Renaissance houses dating from the 16th and 17th centuries stand on Place du Tromph. Together with the former church, they offer a glimpse of different historic architectural styles and periods.

Another museum focuses on a different subject: the Musée de l'étrange is devoted to the unknown and the mysteries of nature and humanity. The cultural offering thus ranges from the specific history of Rhône navigation to questions about nature and people.

Market, water jousting and scenic views

A weekly market is held on Quai Nord on Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. You can plan a morning visit around these hours; market times may change, so check them in advance.

The Bassin de Joutes is the venue for water jousting tournaments organized by the Club de Serrières. During the season, demonstrations and training sessions take place there on Wednesdays from 5 p.m. Tournaments and regular demonstrations offer different opportunities to learn about this activity. As the schedule is seasonal and may change, check the latest dates before making plans.

Those wishing to explore the area on foot can consider the La Côte de Serrières hiking trail. It offers views of the Rhône, the Serrières suspension bridge and the statue of the Virgin Mary. The Panorama de la Madone offers a different landscape view, with vistas across the Rhône Valley and the Île de la Platière nature reserve. The viewpoints therefore offer different scenes: one takes in the river, bridge and statue, while the other looks out over the valley and nature reserve.

The local wines are another part of the area’s identity: Serrières produces AOC wines bearing the Saint-Joseph and Condrieu designations. These names add another regional dimension to the cultural and landscape themes, without requiring a visit to be part of your itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Sanilhac, Tauriers, Saint-Didier-Sous-Aubenas, Malarce-Sur-La-Thines, Rompon, Saint-Julien-Labrousse, Fabras, Alba-La-Romaine.

For the broader travel overview: Ardèche.