Villeneuve-De-Marc: Forest, Circular Trails and Abbey History

Villeneuve-de-Marc brings together traces of the past and a landscape shaped by forests and water. The history of the Abbaye de Bonnevaux, the church, the wooded areas and two trails offer different starting points for planning your trip. If you are looking for a hotel, you can first consider whether you are most interested in abbey history, a particular hiking route or the pond landscape.

Forest and Trails in Bonnevaux

The Bonnevaux Forest covers the southern hills; its wooded areas account for almost a third of the municipality of Villeneuve-de-Marc. This makes the forest a distinctive natural feature alongside the historical heritage, and helps you get a sense of the landscape as you plan your trip.

The 7.2 km “Plateau de Bonnevaux” circular trail passes through the forest and by streams and rammed-earth barns. Rammed earth is compacted soil used as a building material; along the route, the construction method can be seen in the barns. This trail therefore combines natural features with a local building style. You can assess the circular route not only by its length, but also by its mix of forest, water and rural architecture.

The “Promenade entre forêts et étangs” offers a second perspective: it starts in Villeneuve-de-Marc and returns there via the D41f. The hiking area is dotted with numerous ponds created through the work of the monks of Bonnevaux, who lived off fishing. This tour therefore focuses not only on the route itself but also on how the pond landscape came about. Comparing it with the Plateau circular trail reveals different highlights: for the latter, the 7.2 km distance, forest, streams and rammed-earth barns are key; here, the ponds and their historical origins are the main point of interest.

Abbey History and the Village Landscape

The Abbaye de Bonnevaux was established in the Gère Valley in 1117. In 1790, it was looted, dissolved and converted into a quarry. Together, these details mark two contrasting chapters: its establishment in the Gère Valley and the later upheaval involving looting, dissolution and use as a quarry.

Villeneuve-de-Marc’s church dates from the early 19th century and was built using materials from the former Abbaye de Bonnevaux. Its construction history directly links the later church to the former abbey, while the very old bell is a distinct historical detail. The church and abbey history therefore offer two different points of connection: the reuse of materials and an object inside the church.

The fountain on Place de la Paix offers a place to cool off and provides a steady flow of water throughout the year. It adds a practical public amenity to the historical and landscape features. Alongside the hiking trails and architectural heritage, it offers another specific local point of interest to consider when planning your stay.

Discover more destinations: Châbons, La Motte-Saint-Martin, Saint-Étienne-De-Saint-Geoirs, La Mure, Les Adrets, Bressieux, Mont-De-Lans, Saint-Lattier

Go to the regional travel overview: Isere.