Seyssins: Nature, Trails and Heritage

Seyssins offers several ways to explore during your stay: nature and views at Colline de Comboire, trails with different profiles, and architectural and cultural history. These different themes give you ideas for planning your itinerary.

Nature and views at Colline de Comboire

Colline de Comboire extends across Claix and Seyssins and has been designated a sensitive natural area (Espace Naturel Sensible) since 2017. From there, views stretch across the Grenoble valley and the surrounding mountain ranges. The natural area also provides refuge for tawny owls, peregrine falcons, European beavers and European green toads. The views and biodiversity reveal different sides of this hill: the outlook spans the valley and mountain ranges, while the animals mentioned are characteristic of the area’s natural habitat.

Another facet of nature can be found at the Franges vertes de Seyssins. Its dry grasslands are home to a variety of wildlife, including orchids, butterflies and rabbits. Seyssins therefore offers both views across a wider landscape and the diversity of a specific type of grassland. If you are interested in nature, you can consider these two themes side by side when planning, without treating them as the same kind of nature experience.

Trails with different profiles

To hike to Fort de Comboire, you can start at the Pré-Nouvel eco-district; yellow trail markers indicate the way. As signposting may change, check the signs on site when planning your hike. The route leads to a structure with a history of its own: Fort de Comboire was the last fort built in the Grenoble area, between 1882 and 1885.

The Via du Tram combines physical activity with cultural history. It follows the remains of the former tram line that once connected Grenoble with the Vercors plateau. Designed as a sporting and cultural-historical trail, it can be explored on foot or by bike; you can cover it on foot, by mountain bike or by electric mountain bike. The route is 38 kilometres long and has a total of 1,240 metres of ascent and descent. Its length, elevation changes and the modes of transport listed give this route a very different profile from a short walk.

Histoire de la Plaine is a signposted cultural-historical circuit open to everyone. Unlike the Via du Tram, its defining feature is its circuit format, while the Via is described as a sporting route with specified distances and elevation changes. The two options therefore offer different ways to experience cultural history: as a circuit or as a longer route that can be covered on foot or by bike.

Architectural history and cultural events

The Church of Saint-Martin preserves a basilica-style architectural form of Roman origin; its capitals have been classified as historic monuments since 1908. It is also one of the five venues for the annual Les Vagabondes season. Since 2017, Seyssins and Seyssinet-Pariset have worked together as part of this shared cultural programme. If you would like to combine your trip with Les Vagabondes, check the dates for the relevant season.

Today’s Château Le Harivel du Rocher also offers a specific point of reference for architectural history: Nicolas de Langon had it built in 1613. Tour Saint-Ange is one of several fortified houses in Seyssins. Along with the Church of Saint-Martin and Fort de Comboire, these buildings offer different ways to explore the history of the area, from architectural forms and capitals to fortified buildings.

When looking for a hotel in Seyssins, you can choose your focus based on what you would like to do during your trip: explore nature at Colline de Comboire, take one of the various routes, or discover architectural and cultural history. This gives you a clear picture of the destination to start with and helps you prioritise the themes that interest you.

Discover more destinations: La Balme-les-Grottes, Romagnieu, Château-Bernard, Panissage, Choranche, La Frette, Chozeau, Saint-Martin-Le-Vinoux

For the regional travel overview: Isere.