The attractive medieval town of Crémieu, the historic seat of the Dauphins de Viennois nobles, boasts a beautiful and picturesque built heritage that inspired many landscape painters in the 19th century. Walkers and architecture fans will find a wealth of interesting sites here, like the 15th-century covered market hall, where a market is held every Wednesday morning, the old Augustins Convent and its pretty cloisters, the 12th-century Delphinal Castle perched on top of a hill, old houses and fortified gateways (Porte de la Loi, Porte Neuve and Porte de Quirieu).
Every September, the town fills up with people for the Les Médiévales, a festive event dedicated to the Middle Ages with shows, royal dances, street entertainment, a craft market and banquet.
A 47 km from Lyon and in the heart of North Isere, capital of the Gauls, the medieval city of Crémieu welcomes you. After marriage between historical tradition and modern world Crémieu talking about the past and present always intertwined. Visitors will discover an authentic and impressive architectural heritage which the first written records date back to the twelfth century. Then will succeed in the city several centuries of prosperity...
A little history...
In 1315, a charter franchise gives people new freedoms and important trade privileges. This is the beginning of a boom that will see the construction of a second walled enclosure, and later in 1434, the construction of an imposing hall.
In 1337, the creation of a mint enshrines economic development of the city. Occupying a strategic position, the city then consolidates its role as grain trading center between France and Savoy, Switzerland and Italy.
Sanctioned in 1702 by the abolition of annual fairs established in the fourteenth century, economic decline encourages people to develop the textile and leather industry in 1710 will occupy nearly a quarter of the population.
In the following century, the capital of the Isle-Crémieu begins to seduce the landscapers around Corot, Ravier, Daubigny and tourists lovers picturesque.
Crémieu is also a wide choice of restaurants, shops and quality accommodation.
The medieval city is now under application for inclusion in World Heritage of UNESCO.
The Dauphin Castle (twelfth century), the top of its strategic promontory, has witnessed the development of the city construction of imposing fortified gates (XIV century), a majestic hall (fifteenth century), a convent of 'leaning against the walls Augustins (XIV-XIX century) then its cloister (seventeenth century) ... Much remains which are visible from a past where Crémieu was a military, economic and religious traces.
