An orientation board near the rectory draws attention to 17 surrounding church towers; along the Chemin des Fontaines, stone arches and enclosed springs go hand in hand. There is also the church, Grenay’s connection to the Priory of Sainte-Marie de Poulieu, and glacial landforms. When looking for a hotel in Grenay, it may help to make an initial choice: should your stay focus more on village history and architecture, or on geological features?
The Village and Its Layers of History
The village of Grenay lies on a hill at an average elevation of 300 metres and still retains the appearance of a 17th-century village. Grenay has been connected to the Priory of Sainte-Marie de Poulieu since the Middle Ages. The present-day church was built in 1862. These connections belong to different periods: a link dating back to the Middle Ages, the appearance of a 17th-century village, and a church built in the 19th century.
The Church and the View
The church has a Latin cross floor plan. Its single-nave hall comprises three bays, or three successive architectural sections; the bell tower contains three bells. The cross shape describes the overall layout, while the bays divide the nave. This distinguishes two different scales of the architecture: the shape of the building and the division of its nave.
The orientation board near the rectory offers a view of 17 surrounding church towers. It also provides a panorama of the Alps, including Mont Blanc. Visibility of the panorama depends on the conditions at the time. Two different viewing distances are therefore available: the nearby towers and the more distant Alpine panorama.
Stone Arches and Springs along the Chemin des Fontaines
The Chemin des Fontaines features two well-preserved stone arches. Enclosed springs still flow through them; the water flow may vary depending on the season. The path also includes a guard hut made of hewn stone. Here, different architectural forms can be found: the arches associated with the water, and another structure made of worked stone. For those interested in local architectural history, the Chemin des Fontaines offers not just one feature, but also a connection between the watercourse and stone construction.
Erratic Boulders, Moraines and Walking Paths
Grenay has numerous erratic boulders transported here by glaciers. Pierre Jacques is considered the largest erratic boulder in the area. According to geologist Penck, Grenay has a moraine amphitheatre. Moraine blocks can also be found in the Bois de Montmoiron. These features vary in scale, ranging from individual erratic boulders to blocks in the named woodland and a moraine amphitheatre as a landform.
Several footpaths run through the Forêt de Ballier for more than seven kilometres. As route details may change, it is advisable to check them before setting out. This allows you to consider route planning separately, while the erratic boulders and moraine landforms offer a different focus for exploring Grenay’s landscape.
Discover more destinations: Chirens, Le Monestier-du-Percy, Oz, Seyssinet-Pariset, Mizoën, Saint-Paul-Dʼizeaux, Le Freney-Dʼoisans, La Verpillière.
For the broader travel overview: Isere.
