Corbelin: Discover Silk and Industrial History

Anyone looking for a hotel in Corbelin can plan their stay around the town’s distinctive history: silk production, motorcycle manufacturing, and buildings from different centuries shape its local heritage. The Étang de la Rivoire and a protected wetland are also part of the picture. Corbelin therefore offers a range of starting points for planning a trip, from industrial history to nature. The examples below show what gives the destination its character.

Silk Industry and Historic Buildings

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Donat factory in Corbelin produced patterned silk fabrics for luxury goods. The Médiathèque Les Rondiers also offers a link to the silk industry’s heritage: the municipal media library is housed in a renovated former silk factory associated with the silk-making history of the Donat family. Here, the building’s current use as a media library meets its former industrial function.

Another part of the town’s history dates back to the Middle Ages. The former priory was founded in 1129 by Ponce, Bishop of Belley. The Church of Notre-Dame de Compassion was rebuilt near this former priory after 1880. These dates refer to different events: 1129 marks the founding of the priory, while the period after 1880 refers to the rebuilding of the church.

The Domaine de Champ Levet also brings together several historical traces. Its oldest surviving parts date from the 16th century. These include notable windows with mullions and transoms, whose design is defined by vertical and horizontal divisions. The outbuildings once served various purposes: they housed a silkworm farm, an oven with two fireboxes, and a washhouse. Together, the buildings and their former uses offer a layered picture of the estate’s history.

Guiguet Workshop and Motorcycle Manufacturing

Corbelin’s industrial history includes motorcycle manufacturing as well as silk production. The machinery and engines used to make motorcycle parts are fully preserved in the Guiguet workshop. The workshop is also associated with the M.-G.-C. motorcycles produced by Marcel Guiguet. The production equipment and connection to a specific motorcycle manufacturer are both represented here.

The Guiguet estate also includes a hall with its original fittings, a shed, a barn, and the family home. The estate is not open to visitors. Nevertheless, its surviving buildings and workshop objects are among Corbelin’s important historical features: they differ from the evidence of the silk industry and broaden the picture of local production history.

Étang de la Rivoire and Protected Nature

For those interested in nature and fishing, the Étang de la Rivoire is another highlight. The pond is open year-round and is used for fishing by both locals and visitors. An annual or day fishing permit is required; check the current conditions before fishing. This is a practical point to consider when planning your trip: visiting the Étang is one option, but fishing requires the appropriate permit.

Corbelin’s wetland is a classified area protected to conserve biodiversity. Corbelin therefore brings together different themes: historic buildings and industrial history on one hand, and waterways and protected nature on the other.

Discover more destinations: Châbons, Auberives-Sur-Varèze, Romagnieu, Séchilienne, Vizille, Reventin-Vaugris, Oris-en-Rattier, Morêtel-de-Mailles.

For the broader travel overview: Isere.