The best road cycling routes around Panossas

Beautiful little town, quite touristy, but worth the detour

Beautiful stone village and World Heritage Market Hall

On a clear day, of course 😉

The Bienassis fortified house, built by the Vallin family at the end of the 14th century, was organized around an enclosed courtyard and included a pavilion surrounded by watchtower turrets. The current building was completed in 1897 for Casimir Gournet, who wanted to give the old feudal residence the appearance of a medieval castle. Alphonse de Lamartine made several stays in Bienassis with his friend Nicolas Prosper Guichard, between 1804 and 1808. The castle, built of limestone rubble, consists of an L-shaped building covered with a long-pitched roof covered with mechanical tiles extended to the south by a high quadrangular tower with a porch in the work. The north wing has four levels of elevation: three cellars on the basement floor, a square floor and an attic floor. The tower rises on three levels: a ground floor with ribbed vaults and two square floors, the buildings are crowned with false machicolation. The corner turrets are covered with conical slate roofs. The stained glass windows of the ground floor living room are decorated with two bust-length women and two bust-length men in rondels. The coat of arms of the Joubert de Montlevon family can be found on one of the windows of the first living room on the ground floor. In the library, two shields with scrolling scroll motifs, a shield decorated with three female heads, a shield decorated with a passing griffin, and a shield decorated with two hammers with the initials C G for Casimir Gournet adorn the windows. Source: Châteaux de France

Magnificent and immense pond, dominated by Château Saint-Julien, also called Château Saint-Jullin.

This 19th century wash house is remarkable for its size and the quality of its workmanship. Located on the side of the road, it measures more than 11 m. long and shelters a vast basin fed by the waters of the Amby. Its imposing framework supports a slate roof. This washhouse was built in 1873 by Pierre Chatelard, mason, Pierre Marin, master stonemason and Benoît Reynaud, carpenter. Source: balconies of Dauphiné Tourisme

Optevoz has been occupied since the Bronze Age. In the 19th century, limestone mining and agriculture were the main activities. At this time, the village became a place of stay for many painters seduced by the light and the landscapes (in particular the Vanne d'Optevoz represented in numerous paintings). Source: Optevoz website

The Delphinal Castle (12th century), from the top of its strategic promontory, bears witness to the development of the city: construction of imposing fortified gates (14th century), a majestic market hall (15th century), a convent of Augustins leaning against the ramparts (14th-19th century) then its cloister (16th century)... So many vestiges which are the visible traces of a past where Crémieu had military, economic and religious importance. The medieval city of Crémieu is classified as a ZPPAUP (Urban and Landscape Architectural Heritage Protection Zone). Source: Isère Tourism