The best road cycling routes around Frontonas

Beautiful little town, quite touristy, but worth the detour

Beautiful stone village and World Heritage Market Hall

Although first mentioned in 1540, the Cingle fortified house was undoubtedly built in the second half of the 14th century by the Pèlerin family. Originally composed of a main tower and a wing back to the west, it perhaps originally included a curtain wall. During the 15th century, the south wing was extended towards the west, a main building comprising a lower room and an upper room was attached to the north of the main tower, while a turret occupied on the first floor by an oratory and on the second by a dovecote is built to the east, projecting. A wing including the kitchen on the ground floor is also built at right angles to the north of the courtyard. The farm itself retains some architectural elements dating from the 16th century. Source: Ministry of Culture

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

Pretty little waterfall at the entrance to the village of Saint-Savin, it is very nicely decorated for Christmas, to see at night!

In the 10th century, a community of monks must have lived in Demptézieu, if only for the construction of a church. This monastery, under the dependence of the church of Lyon, managed the town, its lands and its vineyards. Around 1172, this church was placed under the patronage of Saint Chef and until 1801, it was patronized by the diocese of Vienna. In the 11th century, the castle of Demptézieu was defended by 15 towers connected by a surrounding wall 800m long and 1.30m thick. These fortifications went as far as the Chapelle Seigneuriale (the current church). In 1462, the chapel was reported as a parish church. Over the ages, the Church of Demptézieu was built in 3 stages and underwent numerous transformations. A plan from 1728 shows a Church in the shape of a cross: To the right of the choir, the Sainte Madeleine chapel. To the left of the choir, the Saint Etienne chapel The bell tower was located in the center of the choir. In 1885, the church was too small. The chapels were extended into 2 side naves, which transformed the Latin cross into a church with 3 naves. Today : To the right of the choir, a chapel dedicated to the Virgin To the left of the choir, a chapel dedicated to Saint Barhélémy, patron of the parish. We notice the presence of the bell tower above the porch. In the choir, a painting of St Barthélémy was offered by the Carthusians.

Magnificent castle which you can go up to and admire.