Discover Saint-Laurent-Du-Pont

Saint-Laurent-Du-Pont lies in the Chartreuse Regional Natural Park between Grenoble and Chambéry. The town brings together the landscape along the Guiers Mort and traces of Chartreuse history, including historic bridges, a former distillery, farm architecture and trails that highlight the heritage of the Carthusian monks. The peat bogs of l’Herretang are also part of the surrounding landscape. This gives you a specific starting point when choosing where to stay: would you mainly like to explore architectural and industrial history, or are you more interested in riverside scenery and marshland?

The Guiers Mort and the Chartreuse Landscape

The Guiers Mort flows through Saint-Laurent-Du-Pont after passing through the Guiers Gorges, which descend from the area around Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse. A twelve-kilometre stretch of river runs from its source near Perquelin to the Fourvoirie site in Saint-Laurent-Du-Pont. This stretch bears the “Site Rivières Sauvages” label. If you want to take this protected status into account when planning your visit, check the label in advance.

Different aspects of the area come together along the river: the gorges above the town, the course of the Guiers Mort through the commune and the stretch as far as Fourvoirie. The landscape can therefore be appreciated as more than a backdrop for historic buildings: the watercourse and Chartreuse heritage are linked at several of the places and along several of the routes described here.

Bridges, Farm and Chartreuse Heritage

The Pont de la Petite Vache, also known as the Ponceau des Agneaux, was built in the 16th century. It lies on the historic route between Saint-Laurent-Du-Pont and the Grande Chartreuse monastery and has been classified as a monument historique since 1923. The historic Pont Pérant, also dating from the 16th century, is also part of this route. It is 15 metres long and stands 14 metres high. The two bridges offer different points of interest: the Petite Vache’s history includes its name and protected status, while the length and height of Pont Pérant are recorded.

The Ferme de l’Echaillon dates from the late 17th century. Its timber frame, built around 1675, is considered representative of the scattered settlement architecture of the Chartreuse Massif. The property also includes a 17th-century bread oven; it has been listed as a monument historique since 2003.

The industrial history can also be seen at Fourvoirie. The former Chartreuse distillery is listed as a monument historique and has been protected since 20 September 1993. What remains of the Carthusian Fathers’ former distillery is a partly ruined building with eight stills, as well as vaulted cellars with ribbed vaults and square pillars. This offers a different picture from the agricultural architecture of the Ferme de l’Echaillon: here, the focus is on the surviving production spaces.

Trails to History and Viewpoints

The themed trail to Pic de l’Oeillette runs through the forest from Pont Saint Bruno to the peak. Around ten information panels explain the heritage of the Carthusian monks. The “Circuit historique” (Historic Tour) includes, among other sites, the Chapelle Notre Dame du Château. The present-day chapel was built in 1852 on the site of the old keep and former castle. It offers panoramic views over the hills of Miribel-Les-Échelles and the Guiers Valley.

Another route combining a trail with industrial history is “D’une distillerie à l’autre” (“From One Distillery to Another”): the walking route leads to the Fourvoirie distillery, where Chartreuse liqueur was produced from 1862 to 1935, with a break between 1903 and 1929. The circular route is 13.2 kilometres long and starts in Saint-Laurent-Du-Pont. As of 23 June 2026, it was temporarily closed due to a significant water leak. Check current access conditions before planning this walk.

Peat Bogs and Archaeological Traces

The peat bogs of l’Herretang extend across Saint-Laurent-Du-Pont and Saint-Joseph-de-Rivière. They form the largest wetland in the Chartreuse Regional Natural Park. A discovery trail explores the history of the peat bogs and includes an observation centre, Camargue horses and the area’s wildlife. This adds a nature-focused experience to the historic trails: here, the focus is on wetlands and wildlife rather than bridges, chapels or production sites.

Another trace of early human history is the Grotte des Eugles in Saint-Laurent-Du-Pont. It was temporarily used by humans during the Middle Paleolithic and lies at an altitude of 850 metres. The town’s history thus includes both prehistoric traces and the buildings and ways of life that shaped its later development.

Discover more destinations: Ruy, Saint-Just-de-Claix, Besse, Bilieu, Saint-Christophe-Sur-Guiers, Saint-Didier-De-La-Tour, Montagnieu, Réaumont.

For the broader travel overview: Isere.