Voiron: Discover culture, churches and trails

Voiron offers several distinct themes for a stay: historic churches, art and archival collections at the Musée Mainssieux, the history of Chartreuse liqueur, and trails with views of the Chartreuse and Vercors. Attractions range from art and architectural history to outdoor destinations.

Museums and churches

The Musée Mainssieux was founded in 1989. It presents the painter Lucien Mainssieux’s studio collection and personal art collection, which consists mainly of 19th- and 20th-century paintings. The collection includes more than 1,000 paintings and 6,000 drawings, as well as illustrated books, personal belongings and the complete archive of Mainssieux’s personal documents. Guided tours and workshops are available year-round for children, teenagers and adults; specific program details may change. The museum is located on a pedestrian street behind the Église Saint-Bruno.

The Église Saint-Bruno was fully designated a historic monument by the French state in 2007. Its organ also has its own history: the Callinet brothers of Rouffach made it in 1883, and it was designated a historic monument in 1973. The Église Saint-Pierre is one of Voiron’s oldest buildings and dates back to the 11th century. It was built at the foot of a hill that had already been inhabited in Gallo-Roman times. Inside are 18th-century choir stalls and 17th-century paintings.

Liqueur culture and performing arts

The Caves de la Chartreuse in Voiron offer a visitor and cultural space exploring the history and world of liqueur. Visits conclude with a guided tasting of traditional liqueurs such as Green Chartreuse and Yellow Chartreuse; details may depend on booking conditions.

For the performing arts, Le Grand Angle presents public performances in opera, theater, rock, jazz and dance. There is also a program for young audiences and workshops in artistic practice. As the program changes over time, check the current schedule if you are interested in a particular event.

Trails, views and landscapes

Voiron is one of three towns designated as gateway towns to the Parc Naturel Régional de Chartreuse. The Notre-Dame de Vouise is within walking distance and offers a 360-degree panorama of the Chartreuse and Vercors mountain ranges. The marked trail there takes just over an hour from the center and passes through quiet hamlets and a protected natural landscape. Trail conditions and markings may change, so check them before setting out.

Les Balcons de Voiron also starts in the center and passes through quiet hamlets, with impressive views of the Chartreuse and Vercors. La parenthèse nature de Voiron follows a different route: it starts at the Église Saint-Pierre and follows trails that connect the town with the rural landscapes of Charauze. Trail conditions and markings can change here too, so check the route before setting out.

The Jardin de ville de Voiron covers 30,400 square meters and is home to 300 tree species, many of them more than a hundred years old. Another activity in the park is an orienteering course suitable for children, with 23 checkpoints hidden around the grounds.

Festivals in Voiron and the Chartreuse

The Fêtes de la Chartreuse take place every year around the symbolic date of May 16. Venues include Voiron, Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, Saint-Laurent-du-Pont and Entre-Deux-Guiers. If you want to time your trip to coincide with the festivals, check the specific event dates.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Laurent-Du-Pont, Assieu, La Rivière, Lavars, Savas-Mépin, Saint-Martin-De-La-Cluze, Septème, Beaurepaire.

See the regional travel overview: Isere.