Bellegarde-Poussieu: Hiking, Nature and Heritage

Bellegarde-Poussieu brings together hiking trails and natural attractions with historic churches and horse-riding activities. During your stay, you can focus on a range of different experiences: explore the Espace naturel sensible de la Salette, learn about the history of the chapel and parish church, or consider activities at the Club Hippique de Taravas.

Hiking Trails and Nature at La Salette

At the high-altitude trail, Bellegarde-Poussieu’s orientation table stands at just under 400 metres above sea level. From its location, you can see across the Bièvre plain. Its elevation and the view of the plain offer a tangible connection to the local landscape.

The path to the Espace naturel sensible de la Salette is lined with large oak trees and passes pastures where herds of goats graze. Here, the landscape and the path go hand in hand: the route winds past the oaks and grazing land rather than focusing on a single destination.

The Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Salette overlooks a dry grassland. Wild orchids can be seen there seasonally. At the foot of the grassland, two ponds provide a habitat for numerous amphibians; wildlife viewing is also seasonal. The grassland and ponds therefore offer different nature experiences: seasonal plant life and the habitats around the water.

Hiking trails surround the Espace naturel sensible, and the Way of St James passes through the area. The GR 422 long-distance hiking trail ends in Bellegarde-Poussieu at the Chapelle de la Salette. The routes have different connections to the area: the Way of St James crosses it, while the GR 422 ends at the chapel.

Churches and History

The Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Salette was Bellegarde-Poussieu’s former parish church. It was built on a rocky outcrop south of the boundary wall surrounding the Bellegarde family’s castle. The family’s history dates back to the 11th century. Its former role as a church, its rocky setting and the castle’s boundary wall all contribute to the chapel’s distinctive historical context.

The parish church dedicated to the Nativity of Our Lady has a different building history: it was largely completed in neo-Gothic style in 1886, and its spire was built in 1891. The two dates distinguish the construction of the church from the later addition of the spire.

The parish church also preserves a Baroque tabernacle from the 17th century. Its carved architectural ornamentation is complemented by religious statuettes. The church thus brings together different historical and artistic influences: the 19th-century neo-Gothic architecture and a Baroque furnishing from the 17th century.

Horse-Riding Activities in Taravas

The Club Hippique de Taravas offers riding lessons, courses and training sessions, as well as horseback rides and trekking on horseback. Activities are available for adults and children, including pony games. Activities are by reservation. When choosing, you can distinguish between lessons, horseback outings and pony activities, rather than treating the different formats as the same experience.

There are marked routes for children and parents. The club has an outdoor riding arena, an indoor riding arena, a cross-country course and a lunge ring. These routes and facilities add specific formats and amenities to the activities on offer; they are distinct from the lessons and outings.

Discover more destinations: La Terrasse, Siccieu-Saint-Julien-Et-Carisieu, Beaucroissant, Valbonnais, Le Monestier-du-Percy, Moidieu-Détourbe, Proveysieux, Lalley.

For the regional travel overview: Isere.