Cremieu & nearby

Our 'base' for the past week has been the small town of Cremieu, 30-40 mins east of Lyon. It's an unusual spot, in that it serves as a commuter town, but also has a middle of nowhere small village vibe. A bit like Enniskerry.

Similar to Enniskerry it is surrounded by natural beauty and several historical sites. An old chateau overlooks the town, while the centrepiece of the main square is a long covered market building dating back to the 15th century. A market takes place each Wednesday, offering everything from cheese, gifts, cheese, clothing, and some more cheese.

Our apartment for the week is located right on the main square (middle picture above was taken from the window) and is the largest of the places we've stayed in so far. It's also very close to a nice brewery bar, so of course we can't resist trying out their tasting tray.

Around an hour south of Cremieu lies the tiny village of Hauterives. It was here in the late 1800s that a local postman, inspired by books and magazines, decided to construct a fantastical palace out of pebbles and stones. He spent 33 years on his labour of love, which occupied most of his free time. The result, known locally as the Palais Ideal, features images of exotic animals, far-off palaces and even stone palm trees, and is one of the most bizarre places we've ever visited. There is one internal passageway and a balcony on the first floor, so you get a close up look at the incredible level of detail that Mr. Cheval put into his work.

Northwest of Hauterives is the old Roman town of Vienne. It features a vast site that outlines the old town, clearly showing the roads, market square, and some of the larger houses. The museum next door houses an impressive collection of mosaics from the time.

Moving on from Cremieu, it's time to head northeast towards Alsace, via the city of Besancon.