Crémieu

Crémieu is a small town with 3357 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) in the department of Isère in the Rhone-Alpes region, situated approximately 40 km east of Lyon.

The special importance of this city is based on the numerous, sometimes very old houses that have been restored in recent years in many places very detailed. On many fronts, different building techniques and architectural details can be studied. Very helpful are numerous extensive explanatory panels which point in French, English and German to situations that you would not notice in passing.

The story begins in the 12th century Crémieus with the settlement of Benedictine monks on the rock of St. Hippolyte in the east of the city. In 1315 the city will be awarded a free letter. Economic prosperity is the result of two centuries. A 2 km long city wall with nine gates and 14 towers will be constructed. 1357, a coin is built. Under Louis XII. (1498-1515), the city due to its strategic position on the road to Savoy, a center of the grain trade. In the 17th century the economic importance is declining. Several monasteries are built. In the 18th century, the leather and fabric production is dominant, but after that, the city is insignificant.

Highlight of Crémieu is a very large market hall dating from the 15th century with a massive roof of flat stone that is also still used for the market. To the east is located on the hill behind the clock tower of St. Hippolyte an extensive and very well tended to ruin the city.

Still Crémieu is not a tourist, but rather introspective and quiet. Crémieu is a good stopover on the way to the south of France or as a base for exploring the surrounding area, such as the caves of Grottes Balmes or the medieval church in Saint-Chef.

Partnerships

Crémieu maintains partnership relations with the German community hut mountain.