Vaulnaveys-le-Haut brings together nature and local history. Five municipal hiking trails, a range of woodland activities and the Etang du Clos each offer something different; churches, monastery ruins and the history of its mills add a cultural and historical dimension. The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church stands in the village centre. Other landmarks include the Chapelle de Belmont, the Site de Prémol and the Moulin de la ville. When planning your trip, it is therefore worth considering not only whether you would like to spend time outdoors: the history of the commune and the weekly market are also practical aspects to plan for.
Hiking and woodland activities
The five municipal trails offer a varied selection for hikers. In the forest of Vaulnaveys-le-Haut, you can walk along marked trails, go snowshoeing or plan mountain bike rides. These activities involve different ways of getting around, so first decide whether you would like to travel on foot, on snowshoes or by mountain bike. Check trail conditions before setting out, as they may change.
A wetland as a landscape feature
The Etang du Clos adds a distinctive landscape to the activities: it is the largest of Vaulnaveys-le-Haut’s 14 wetlands and covers more than three hectares. The pond highlights the scale of a landscape, while the trails and woodland activities focus on how you get around. This means you can explore the natural surroundings not only through activities, but also through a named landscape feature.
Cultural history across several periods
The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church stands in the village centre and is mentioned in a papal bull confirmed on 20 March 1095. The Chapelle de Belmont offers a different historical reference point: built in 1666, it is the only one of the five former chapels of Vaulnaveys-le-Haut to survive to this day. The church is notable for its early documentary mention, while the chapel stands out for its construction date and its survival as the only one of the five former chapels.
At the Site de Prémol, landscape and monastic history come together. This area in Vaulnaveys-le-Haut consists of meadows and woodland, with the ruins of the former Chartreuse de Prémol. The Chartreuse was a convent founded by Béatrice de Montferrat in 1234. The Moulin de la ville adds a rural heritage perspective: it is documented from 1328 as one of six mills along the Gorge and Vernon streams. The timeline therefore runs from the papal bull confirmed on 20 March 1095, through the convent’s foundation in 1234 and the mill’s documentation in 1328, to the chapel’s construction in 1666.
Local connections and the weekly market
Vaulnaveys-le-Haut shares part of the Uriage-les-Bains thermal spa resort with Saint-Martin-d’Uriage. The market in the village centre takes place on Fridays from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. If your travel dates include a Friday, check the date before you arrive, as recurring schedules may change.
Discover more destinations: Tullins, Cras, Rives, Saint-Guillaume, Saint-Just-de-Claix, Miribel-Les-Échelles, Saint-Alban-Du-Rhône, Janneyrias.
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