Châbons: Walking Routes, Church and Moorland

Châbons brings together a range of themes for a stay: eight walking routes for exploring the area, the Église Notre-Dame de l’Assomption and the natural heritage of the Tourbière du Grand Lemps. Cultural points of interest include the history of the church and the reconstruction of the Château de Pupetières. The moorland offers another perspective on the landscape and its distinctive features.

Walking routes and coach tours

The eight walking routes for exploring Châbons include:

• Sous l’Eglise
• Le Petit Nan
• Les Petits Diables
• Passage Aux Serves
• Au Fil de l’Eau
• Au Dessus du Bois des Côtes
• Les Martins
• Le Bois du Seigneur

The Boucle des Petits Diables is listed as 4.8 km long and taking approximately one hour. These two details make it possible to plan the loop as a specific time slot in your day. The Jongkind walking route also passes through Châbons.

Since 2004, volunteer guides have accompanied visitor groups on annual coach tours through the Bourbre Valley, the Bièvre Plain and the Côte Saint-André.

Church and architectural history

The Église Notre-Dame de l’Assomption was built in 1897 to replace the former church. It is the only church in the Diocese of Grenoble with a floor plan in the shape of a Greek cross. A Greek-cross floor plan is distinguished by four arms of equal length; this feature therefore refers to the shape of the building as seen from above. This makes it possible to understand the church’s architectural character alongside the date it was built.

A different building project is the focus at the Château de Pupetières: from 1861, it was rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style under the direction of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. The information about the church and the château describes two distinct building histories: a replacement for the former church, and a reconstruction that began in 1861.

The Tourbière du Grand Lemps

The Tourbière du Grand Lemps lies within the communes of Châbons and Le Grand-Lemps in the Bas-Dauphiné. It is situated at an altitude of 500 m and occupies a glacial valley in the Terres Froides. These geographical details locate the moorland both within the landscape and in terms of elevation.

Its exceptional importance as natural heritage is due to alkaline and acidic peat communities, distinctive hydrological features and the fauna observed there. Hydrological features relate to water conditions; together with the different peat communities and wildlife, they provide a multifaceted picture of the area.

The publicly accessible Jardin de Tourbières is located in the northern part of the protected area. Its discovery trail runs along the moor. The garden is also the starting point for two family-friendly circular walks, combining a trail alongside the moor with two designated walking options.

Plan your visit

The Château de Pupetières welcomes groups outside its advertised opening dates by prior reservation. If you are planning a group visit, check the reservation arrangements before you travel.

Discover more destinations: Grenay, Roussillon En Isere, Le Touvet, Mottier, Méaudre, Crémieu, La Côte-Saint-André, Saint-Étienne-De-Crossey.

For the broader travel overview: Isere.