La Frette: Landscape, Architecture and Local Offerings

La Frette can be considered for trip planning in terms of its landscape, architecture and local offerings. The village lies on the edge of the bed of a former glacier, in the long Bièvre-Valloire plain between Chambaran and the Terres Froides. The area includes a plain and partly wooded slopes. Together, these two types of terrain shape the landscape and provide a starting point for planning your trip.

Landscape and orientation

In good weather, the slopes of La Frette offer views of the Bièvre plain, the Chartreuse and Vercors mountain ranges, and the Belledonne and Taillefer mountain ranges beyond Grenoble. The plain shapes the landscape, while in good weather the slopes also provide a starting point for these views. For regional orientation, La Frette lies at the junction of the RD10N85 and RD75 roads, which connect Grenoble, Lyon and Vienne. Check current road conditions before setting out.

Guided village tours

Guided walking tours of the village are offered at certain times of the year and last two to three hours. Allow for this duration when planning your day, and check in advance for current dates. This lets you plan the tour as a dedicated activity rather than trying to fit it in as an afterthought.

Church and chapel

The Church of Saint Ours stands on a hill above the village and the Bièvre plain. It was built between 1861 and 1868 to plans by the architect Peyronnet. Its location places it above the village and the plain; its construction dates and architect offer a specific point of reference for its architectural history.

The Chapel of Notre-Dame de Lourdes is attached to the Church of Saint Ours. Its stained-glass windows bear the coats of arms of Berger de La Villardière. The chapel thus brings together two distinct features: its architectural connection to the church and the heraldic detail of its windows.

Other buildings

The present-day Château de La Frette has four round towers at its corners. The Ancienne Cure de La Frette is a building made of rammed earth on a pebble foundation. The château is notable for the shape of its corner towers, while the Ancienne Cure is distinguished by its building material and foundation. This comparison gives architecture enthusiasts specific features they can use to tell the two buildings apart.

Local produce and workshops

La Gamme Paysanne is a community-run farm shop in La Frette. It sells local produce such as cheese, poultry, cured meats, meat, vegetables, fruit, bread and honey. If you plan to visit, check the current opening hours in advance.

Atelier Gourmand d’Amandine is another local offering, focused on creative and culinary workshops. The two offerings differ in purpose: regional produce on the one hand and workshop topics on the other. Check the current programme in advance if a workshop is important to your plans.

Discover more destinations: Chavanoz, La Chapelle-Du-Bard, Mottier, La Balme-les-Grottes, Saint-Martin-Le-Vinoux, Miribel-Les-Échelles, Dolomieu, Saint-Christophe-En-Oisans

For the overview of the wider region: Isere.