Isère Valley and Belledonne · part 1

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Fuel stop in Bourgoin-Jallieu

   Bourgoin-Jallieu is the main town of Nord-Isère, a working place on the old road from Lyon to Chambéry and Grenoble, and it makes a good, unfussy start to a ride. The two old villages of Bourgoin and Jallieu grew together in the nineteenth century around textile mills, and printing on cloth was the town's speciality. The museum in the centre has collections on the history of textile printing, and you can still see old mill buildings along the Bourbre river.

   Read the complete Fuel stop in Bourgoin-Jallieu write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Isère Valley and Belledonne is where the day begins. Next is Food stop near Artemare.

2. 2. Food stop near Artemare

   Artemare is a small town in the Valromey, a valley in the Bugey, at the foot of the Grand Colombier, the highest summit at the southern end of the Jura. The town sits where the Séran river emerges from its valley, and the landscape around it is a mix of meadows, forests, limestone cliffs and small villages. Just to the north, the Cascade de Cerveyrieu drops in a spectacular fall over a limestone ledge, especially impressive after rain.

   Read the complete Food stop near Artemare write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Food stop near Artemare is where this day stops to eat. Next is High point near Péronnas.

3. 3. High point near Péronnas

   Péronnas is a suburb on the southern edge of Bourg-en-Bresse, and the high ground near it is little more than a gentle swell where three landscapes meet. North and west lies the Bresse, flat and green; south, the Dombes begins, with its ponds and woods; and east, the abrupt wooded wall of the Revermont rises out of the plain like the edge of a stage set. On a clear day the snowy Alps sometimes appear far beyond, an unexpected bonus.

   Read the complete High point near Péronnas write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   This is where the road stops climbing. Next is Scenic stretch near Beaujeu.

4. 4. Scenic stretch near Beaujeu

   Beaujeu gave its name to the Beaujolais. The lords of Beaujeu ruled this land of hills and vineyards in the Middle Ages, and the little town in the valley of the Ardières remained its capital until the role passed to Villefranche. Today it is a quiet place, with a Romanesque church, old houses and a hospice with a fine collection of pharmacy jars, and it takes great pride in its wine. Every November, the release of Beaujolais Nouveau is celebrated here with festivities that draw crowds.

   Read the complete Scenic stretch near Beaujeu write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Scenic stretch near Beaujeu closes the day.