Saint-Laurent-du-Pont is located in the Chartreuse Regional Nature Park between Grenoble and Chambéry. At the same time, the Guiers Mort runs through the town after flowing through the Guiers gorges descending from the area around Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse.
Those looking to rent a holiday apartment in Saint-Laurent-du-Pont can tailor their search to their own travel plans.
Landscape
A 12-kilometre stretch of the Guiers Mort, from its source near Perquelin to the Fourvoirie site in Saint-Laurent-du-Pont, bears the “Site Rivières Sauvages” label.
The peat bogs of l’Herretang extend across Saint-Laurent-du-Pont and Saint-Joseph-de-Rivière and form the largest wetland in the Chartreuse Regional Nature Park. The discovery trail through the peat bogs explains the history of the wetlands and includes an observation centre, Camargue horses and the area’s wildlife.
Culture
The former Chartreuse distillery of Saint-Laurent-du-Pont is located in Fourvoirie. It is listed as a Monument historique and has been protected since 20 September 1993. The former distillery of the Carthusian fathers includes a partly ruined building with eight stills, as well as vaulted cellars with groins and square pillars.
The Pont de la Petite Vache, also known as the Ponceau des Agneaux, is a bridge built in the 16th century on the historic route between Saint-Laurent-du-Pont and the Grande Chartreuse monastery; it has been classified as a Monument historique since 1923. The historic Pont Pérant bridge, which also dates from the 16th century, forms part of the route between Saint-Laurent-du-Pont and the Grande Chartreuse monastery; it is 15 metres long and stands 14 metres high.
The Ferme de l'Echaillon is a farm dating from the late 17th century. Its timber framework, built around 1675, is considered representative of the scattered settlement architecture of the Chartreuse Massif. The property also includes a bread oven built in the 17th century; the Ferme de l'Echaillon has been listed as a Monument historique since 2003.
The present-day Chapelle Notre Dame du Château was built in 1852 on the site of the old keep and former castle. The chapel offers a unique panorama of the hills around Miribel-Les-Échelles and the Guiers valley. The Saint Laurent church stands out for its size, neo-Gothic architecture and remarkable façade.
Trails
The themed trail to the Pic de l’Oeillette runs through the forest from Pont Saint Bruno to the Pic de l’Oeillette and explains the heritage of the Carthusian order using around ten information panels. The tourist office’s “Circuit historique” historical tour leads, among other places, to the Chapelle Notre Dame du Château.
The “D'une distillerie à l'autre” hiking route starts in Saint-Laurent-du-Pont, is 13.2 kilometres long and follows a circular route. It leads to the Fourvoirie distillery, which was a production site for Chartreuse liqueur from 1862 to 1935, with an interruption from 1903 to 1929. The trail is currently closed because of a significant water leak.
The Grotte des Eugles in Saint-Laurent-du-Pont was temporarily used by humans during the Middle Paleolithic and is located at an altitude of 850 metres.
The traditional summer cultural festival “Les Jeudis de Saint Lau” in Saint-Laurent-du-Pont includes, or included, circus, concerts, theatre and cinema for a broad audience.
Further destinations to compare: Vertrieu, Chichilianne, Veurey-Voroize, Château-Bernard, Moirans, Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, Saint-Étienne-De-Crossey, Pontcharra.
