Discover Monestier-De-Clermont

Monestier-de-Clermont combines historic buildings and local stories with two circular routes. This gives you two options to focus on during your stay: the sights in the town or a walking or cycling circuit. Historic landmarks include La Petite Chapelle de la Salette, the Église Saint-Pierre, the Château de Bardonenche and the Tour Vallier; there is also the thermal spring, now called source Saint Paul. The two routes differ considerably in activity, length and difficulty. You can first decide whether to focus on local history or on a specific circular route.

Town Centre and Historic Landmarks

The “Centre Bourg” town-centre heritage trail is a walking tour of Monestier-de-Clermont’s sights and heritage. It includes 16 information panels. The trail brings together different landmarks under a shared theme: the town centre and its history. If you would like to explore several sights as part of a themed walk, “Centre Bourg” offers a different perspective from visiting a single building.

La Petite Chapelle de la Salette was built on 19 September 1862 on the ridge of the Côtes du Calvaire. The chapel offers views of the Balcon Est du Vercors. Its location, construction date and views are all connected: the chapel stands on the ridge, with views opening out towards the Balcon Est du Vercors.

The thermal spring in Monestier-de-Clermont is now called “source Saint Paul”. It is located in an octagonal building at the end of Allée des Portes du Trièves. The spring’s name and its architectural setting connect it with a specific place in the townscape.

At the Château de Bardonenche, a gateway marks the entrance to the courtyard. The château acquired its present-day appearance in the 18th century. The gateway marks the passage into the courtyard, while the date places the château’s development in context: these are two distinct aspects of the same building.

The Église Saint-Pierre probably originated as the chapel of the former Clermont monastery. Inside, you can see a life-size wooden Christ. The stained-glass windows from the late 19th century depict scenes of the apparition of the Virgin Mary at La Salette. Its connection to the former chapel remains probable; the figure of Christ and the windows, by contrast, are specific features of the church interior. The scenes depicted give the windows a particular connection to La Salette.

The Tour Vallier was completed in 1925 by the miller of the time in memory of his son Lucien Vallier, who was killed in the 1914 war. The construction date, builder and dedication connect the structure with a personal remembrance from local history.

Walking or Cycling

“Autour de la Salette” is an easy, waymarked circular walk of 7.6 kilometres. It starts in the centre of Monestier-de-Clermont. The cycling route “Le Balcon Est du Vercors”, Route 5, is 35.7 kilometres long, rated very difficult and starts at Place du Champ de Foire in Monestier-de-Clermont. Both are circular routes, but differ considerably in activity, length and difficulty: the walk is shorter and easy, while the cycling route is much longer and very difficult. The comparison therefore involves more than distance; it also depends on the listed activity and difficulty rating. The starting points are also specific: the town centre for the walk and Place du Champ de Foire for the cycling route.

Discover more destinations: Miribel-Les-Échelles, Tullins, Pont-de-Chéruy, Veyssilieu, Uriage-Les-Bains, Chantelouve, Chozeau, Proveysieux.

For the regional travel overview: Isere.