Villemoirieu between Heritage and Nature

Villemoirieu brings together historic buildings, varied landscapes and local festival traditions. Several fortified houses and churches tell the story of different building periods and changes; the Marais de la Besseye offers another side of the town. When choosing Villemoirieu as a destination, you can consider whether architectural history, nature or events are most important to your stay.

Landscape and the Marais de la Besseye

The Marais de la Besseye is designated an Espace Naturel Sensible by the Isère Department and covers 35 hectares. Its habitats include reed beds, Cladium stands, alder woods, wetlands and dry meadows. The area provides a habitat for amphibians and endangered wetland plants. Its diversity ranges from wet areas to dry meadows, making the marsh a specific nature-related feature to consider during a stay in Villemoirieu.

The landscape of plains and hills is also well suited to walks and hikes. This describes the area’s landscape overall; the Marais de la Besseye, by contrast, is a named natural area with designated habitats. If you want to include nature and outdoor activities in your travel plans, you will find both the wider landscape and an area with precisely identified wetland and dry habitats here.

Architectural history, from fortified houses to the church

The fortified house of Mallin was built by the Fayer family towards the end of the 15th century. Its features include a square, four-storey keep with a pavilion roof and a four-storey open gallery connecting it to the main building. The gallery has a lean-to roof. The two roofs are therefore different, while the gallery links the keep and main building.

The fortified house of Bienassis was built by the de Vallin family towards the end of the 14th century or at the beginning of the 15th century. Its present appearance dates from work carried out in 1897, when Casimir Gournet sought to give the former feudal residence the appearance of a medieval fortress. Its construction history and later design belong to different periods. Alphonse de Lamartine also stayed at the fortified house of Bienassis several times between 1804 and 1808.

The fortified house of Beptenoud is documented as early as 1332; its construction appears to date from the 14th century. This tentative dating of its construction should be distinguished from the earlier documentary reference. These differences in chronology give each of Villemoirieu’s historic buildings its own character.

The church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste is documented as early as 1172. The present church was rebuilt in 1837, with a coffered ceiling over the nave. It was rebuilt again in 1890, retaining sections of the old bell tower’s foundations. At the church of Saint-Maurice, by contrast, the focus is on its Romanesque architectural features: a single-nave layout, a small choir with a bell cote in the form of a bell gable, and a portal with a lintel resting on moulded corbels.

The Chapel of Moirieu was a parish chapel and is located at the edge of the road to Moras. Its interior was restored in 2020. In Beptenoud, the former parish church of Saint-Maurice is now a chapel. These different functions and building histories add further sites to the municipality’s religious heritage, alongside its larger fortified houses.

Communal bread ovens, festivals and Mineralogica

As you walk through the village, you can discover several communal bread ovens: Le Marais, Beptenoud, Mallin, Les Granges and Moirieu. Today they are fired up for festivals organised by local associations. Annual events include the Fête des Fours at the beginning of summer; exact dates vary. The sale of Foyesses and bread is also part of the annual “Courir à Villemoirieu” events. Dates and offerings may vary, so it is worth checking the latest event information before making plans.

Another cultural highlight is Mineralogica – Le musée des minéraux, a private museum in Villemoirieu. It is located in the Château de Montiracle, a former Templar commandery. The collection comprises more than 2,500 mineral specimens and 200 related objects. It is displayed in around 30 cases across four rooms. As the collection may change and visitor arrangements can vary, check the latest information before planning a visit.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Laurent-Du-Pont, Saint-Martin-Le-Vinoux, La Salette-Fallavaux, Jarrie, La Mure, Seyssinet-Pariset, Ruy, Valbonnais.

For the broader travel overview: Isere.