Veyssilieu: Church, Chapel and Cultural Heritage

Veyssilieu lies in a hilly, green landscape. Two themes provide a good way to explore the area: the “Autour de Veyssilieu” circular walk and the history of the local cultural heritage. The route leads to viewpoints and the Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette at the summit of Mont Chatelan. The Church of Saint-Hilaire and the Château de Veyssilieu also represent different chapters in the town’s history. Historical points of interest include both the church, documented as early as the 14th century, and the private château dating from the 13th century. This offers a choice between a circular walk focused on the landscape and summit, and an exploration of religious architecture and château architecture.

Circular Walk Through the Hills

The “Autour de Veyssilieu” circular walk starts in Veyssilieu and leads to viewpoints and the Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette at the summit of Mont Chatelan. The route thus centers on two specific points of interest: the viewpoints and the chapel as its summit destination. The hilly, green landscape provides the setting for the walk. Check trail conditions before setting out. When planning, you can decide whether you would like to focus more on the scenery or on the religious and historical destination.

Church of Saint-Hilaire

The Church of Saint-Hilaire is documented as early as the 14th century. The current building was constructed in 1891, replacing an earlier church that had been destroyed. The church houses a group of stained-glass windows created around 1890 and attributed to the artist Etienne Buche, who came from Grenoble. The approximate date of the windows is close to the construction year of the current building, while the documentary evidence takes the church’s history further back. Thus, an early record of the church and the construction history of the current building are connected in time, though the two dates do not refer to the same event.

Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette

The priest Jacques Philippe Douare had the Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette built in gratitude for the Virgin Mary having protected the parishioners from cholera. It opened for worship in 1867 and was restored in 1978. These dates therefore mark different stages in its history. A statue of Notre-Dame de la Salette stands on the raised gable. The sculptural group Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette is protected as movable cultural heritage. There is also a Calvary on the path leading to the chapel, which was blessed in 1893.

Château de Veyssilieu

The Château de Veyssilieu is a private château dating from the 13th century, situated on the heights of the commune. Only the round tower remains from the original structure. The restoration, which began in 1828, gave the château a new main building and two square towers. Its construction history can therefore be understood through different features: the only tower to survive from the original structure and the changes that began with the restoration. A view of the château thus adds another chapter in the history of local architecture to the religious buildings.

Visits

The heritage site in Veyssilieu offers free, self-guided visits every day throughout the year. Check the current visiting conditions before your visit.

Discover more destinations: L'isle-D'abeau, Sarcenas, Lalley, Claix, Valjouffrey, La Tour-Du-Pin, Morêtel-de-Mailles, Vaulx-Milieu

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