Tarare offers several ways to explore culture and architectural history: the Viaduc de Tarare has 20 arches, the Place du Marché is surrounded by 15th-century half-timbered houses, and the town’s textile heritage is linked to mousseline and Tergal. Churches with distinctive architectural features and the Musée Toccata broaden the picture. You can plan your stay around architecture, textile history or keyboard instruments.

Textile history as a subject in its own right

Tarare’s cultural heritage is connected to the town’s textile industry, including mousseline and Tergal. This industrial perspective differs from looking at individual buildings: the focus here is the town’s connection with the textile industry, not the form of a particular structure. The names mousseline and Tergal give this connection a concrete point of reference, while other historical themes can be explored primarily through the buildings. If you would like to organise your cultural interests, you can distinguish between industrial history and architecture.

Buildings through scale and time

The Viaduc de Tarare has 20 arches, is 373 metres long and 26 metres high. Together, these details convey the structure’s form and scale: the arches define its construction, while its length and height describe two different dimensions. The viaduct therefore offers a concrete starting point if you would like to consider a structure not only by its name, but also by its form.

The Chapelle de Bel Air takes you into a different historical period. It dates from the 12th century and was rebuilt in 1757. The chapel offers a remarkable view of Tarare and the surrounding landscape. A hiking trail leads directly there. If you would like to combine a walk with a clearly defined destination, this trail links the chapel with a scenic viewpoint; this also sets the stop apart from the churches and buildings described in the townscape.

Square, churches and the Renaissance

The architecture at the Place du Marché is not limited to a single house: the square is surrounded by old 15th-century half-timbered houses. Looking at the houses around the square makes the square itself an architectural subject in its own right. The churches offer other features to explore. The Eglise Sainte-Madeleine has columns reminiscent of Greek architecture. The Eglise Saint-André is 30 metres high and towers over Tarare. Comparing them takes you from a stylistic reference in the columns to height and prominence above the town: at Sainte-Madeleine, the columns are the focus; at Saint-André, it is the scale and its relationship to Tarare.

The Tour de la Prébende des Martin is considered the most important testament to Tarare’s Renaissance history. This designation adds a historical-artistic point of reference to the churches’ specific formal features. The tower can therefore be considered as a subject in its own right, without equating it with the Greek-inspired columns of the Eglise Sainte-Madeleine.

The history of keyboard instruments

The Musée Toccata focuses on the history of keyboard instruments, including clavichords, pianos, harpsichords, organs, harmoniums and accordions. Unlike the buildings, the subject here is explored through a group of instruments. This offers a change of perspective: rather than the townscape, architectural form or industrial connections, the history of the instruments takes centre stage. If keyboard instruments are among your interests, the Musée Toccata is a distinct cultural highlight alongside the historic buildings.

Getting there and choosing what to focus on

Tarare is located on the A89 motorway and on the railway line connecting Lyon with Roanne and Clermont-Ferrand. If you are travelling by train, check the specific connection and timetable for your travel date. You can focus your stay on architecture, textile history or keyboard instruments. These different themes can help you choose what to visit based on your interests.

Discover more destinations

Dareizé, Cours-La-Ville, Charnay, Vaux-En-Beaujolais, Saint-Pierre-La-Palud, Ampuis, Lancié, Pommiers

For the main travel overview: Rhône.