Upie: Chapel, village history and Fête des Bouviers

Upie combines a historic village setting with an agricultural winter festival, animal experiences and activities by the lake or on the hiking trail. These themes offer different starting points for a stay: buildings tell stories of different eras, while the festival, zoo and activities around Valsoyo each come with their own planning considerations.

Village history between the chapel and the village centre

Outside the village, in the cemetery, stands the Saint-Baudile Chapel, on the site of an ancient settlement. It dates back to the 12th century and has been listed as a Monument historique since 1926. In the village, a 15th-century house next to the town hall is part of the historic village walk. As you stroll through the lanes, you can also discover the covered washhouse built in 1867. On the hill above the village, the Church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul was built on the site of the remains of the old castle. Together, these buildings offer different ways to explore Upie’s history—from the chapel outside the village to sites in the village centre.

Winter festival and community preparations

The Fête des Bouviers d’Upie is an agricultural winter festival held on the second Sunday in January. Today, the main events take place over two weekends. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for the relevant year, as the annual arrangements may change. In preparation, flowers are handmade from crepe paper every Friday evening in November. All residents of Upie are invited to take part at the community centre. The festival and its preparations therefore take place in different months, which may be a factor when choosing when to travel.

Animals and activities around Valsoyo

The Zoo d’Upie is home to more than 800 animals from 180 different species; these figures may change over time. Educational animal experiences include feeding lemurs and meerkats, parrot shows and a birds of prey display. The programme may vary seasonally, so it is advisable to check it before your visit. The zoo also has two playgrounds and a petting zoo or mini-farm for children. If you are mainly interested in animals and shows, you will find different options here than on the historic village walk.

The Domaine de Valsoyo in Upie offers activities around a lake, including a zip line, rafting, Mayak, footgolf and recumbent cycling. Mayak refers to kayaking while kneeling or standing. Another activity is Valsoyo’s “A Journey Around the World”, an orienteering course through the forests of Upie: large white rocks represent eight countries, each with its own questions, riddles and brainteasers. The activities offer distinct experiences: around the lake, you can choose from various ways to get active, while the orienteering course centres on challenges and riddles. Before making plans, check current booking conditions and activity availability.

Mont Miéry: views and hiking trail

Mont Miéry is an isolated wooded massif in the Rhône Valley. From an oratory dedicated to the Virgin Mary, you can enjoy a 350-degree panorama. For planning a hike, there is also the Mont Miéry trail in Upie: it is 7.9 kilometres long, takes about two hours and 30 minutes, and is classified as moderate. The estimated duration and difficulty rating help you gauge how much time the hike will take; trail information may be updated, so check the details before making plans.

Discover more destinations: Ferrassières, La Begude-De-Mazenc, Mirabel-et-Blacons, Chatuzange-Le-Goubet, Reilhanette, Saint-Vallier, Miribel, Recoubeau-Jansac.

Go to the regional travel overview: Drôme.