Île Barbe holds no more secrets for you; you’ve taken your photo with the Gros Caillou and you know the traboules like the back of your hand—in short, you have that satisfying feeling of having seen everything the city has to offer (for now). Don’t worry! Just 60 kilometers away lies a “mini-Lyon” that perfectly blends culture, gastronomy, and heritage—a place where one of its most illustrious painters settled for 28 years to spend the rest of his life there and let his talent shine…
Morestel, a mosaic of colors and flavors
Located at the northern tip of Isère, the town of Morestel and its 4,500 residents live in a stunning natural setting known as the Balcons du Dauphiné, nestled between the mountains and the countryside. It’s a peaceful place, to say the least. Given its unique (and strategic) characteristics, our ancestors didn’t wait long to settle here. Traces of human habitation dating back to antiquity can be found here.
Just like the magnificent Crémieu, located just a few kilometers away, Morestel’s heritage dates mainly from the Middle Ages. A square keep from the 14th century, a magnificent 15th-century church, and ramparts surrounding the entire town… here’s a taste of what you’ll discover here. Add to that just the right amount of gardens, narrow alleyways, and panoramic views to immerse yourself in a scene straight out of a movie.
Fruits, vegetables, cheeses, flowers, and other local products await you every Sunday morning starting at 8 a.m. at this exceptional market right in the city center. Just like the one in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne, it’s often cited as one of the most beautiful in France. Located in Isère, yet not far from Savoie, the Rhône, or even Ain, one can only imagine the variety of products in shoppers’ baskets as they leave the market… Don’t forget to try the local specialty, the ravier, named after our dear Lyonnais, the man at the center of it all…
François-Auguste Ravier, the Lyon native who fell in love with Morestel
François-Auguste Ravier was born in 1814 in Lyon and developed a keen interest in painting from a very young age. He went to Paris and Rome to study, but spent more time with a paintbrush in hand than sitting in university classrooms. He decided to return to the Lyon region to start a family and settled in a large house in Crémieu in 1849. The family moved to Morestel in 1867, where Ravier was utterly captivated by the beauty of the landscapes and their colors.
Most of Ravier’s works are on display at the Louvre (26 paintings in total) alongside those of other great painters of his time. In Lyon, no fewer than 15 of the artist’s paintings can be seen (and revisited) at the Museum of Fine Arts. If his work captivates you, be sure to visit his home in Morestel, where several paintings are also on display. Transformed into a museum dedicated to the artist’s life, it’s a must-see on your journey.
