Saint-Geoire-En-Valdaine: Châteaux, Church and the Ainan Valley

Saint-Geoire-En-Valdaine may appeal to travelers who want to include historic buildings, landscapes and local produce in their plans. The commune has seven châteaux and a thousand-year-old church. Attractions include Château de Longpra and Église Saint-Georges, as well as a permanent orienteering course, a mountain biking loop and local producers. This gives you a choice of different focuses for your stay: culture, outdoor activities and culinary interests.

Châteaux and Churches

Château de Longpra has been listed as a Monument historique since 1997. A visit to the château and its estate includes the chapel incorporated into the residential building, the apartments and salons preserved since the 18th century, and the French Baroque gardens. The preserved living quarters and gardens offer different perspectives on the estate. The Musée de l’Ébénisterie is housed in the château’s outbuildings. If you would like to visit the museum, check the visiting arrangements in advance.

Église Saint-Georges dates back to the early Middle Ages and has been listed as a Monument historique since 1907. The Marché de Saint-Geoire-en-Valdaine takes place on Tuesday mornings as a food market near the church. The church can be visited free of charge on Tuesday mornings during the market. On other days, visits are possible only by request to the mairie and subject to the availability of the person in charge. If you would like to combine the market with a visit to the church, check the market dates and arrange the visit in advance.

Valley and Routes

The Ainan is a small tributary of the Guiers and winds through the valley named after it. From the grounds of Château de Longpra, you can see almost the entire valley. This offers two distinct aspects of a stay: historic architecture and far-reaching views of the landscape.

The permanent orienteering course is called “Circuit de l'Eglise et des 7 Chateaux.” It can be used alone or with the family; green SGV signs mark the entire route. Another option is Route N°30 “Le Tour des Châteaux,” a green mountain biking loop for beginners on hilly terrain. It is 4.4 kilometres long, has an elevation gain of 155 metres and passes near Château de Longpra. Check trail conditions before setting out. The main consideration when choosing is the activity you prefer: orienteering or a mountain biking loop; for the latter, the distance and elevation gain can help you gauge the effort involved.

Market and Local Produce

Biscuiterie Louvat offers free tours and tastings by appointment. It makes Baisers, Rochers, Moelleux and Macarons by hand, using traditional family recipes. Ingredients include local walnuts, raspberries and blueberries. Arrange your visit in advance and check the current arrangements before making plans.

At La Dauphine, all the beers are made and brewed on site using traditional craft methods. Together with the sweet specialties of the biscuit shop, this description shows two distinct sides of local production: pastries made with named regional ingredients and beers brewed on site.

Discover more destinations: Herbeys, La Verpillière, Charantonnay, Les Avenières, Cordéac, Fontanil-Cornillon, Seyssins, Saint-Christophe-Sur-Guiers.

For the broader travel overview: Isere.