Well here she is folks the Town of Bourgoin Jallieu: Pop 23,000

A more conventional view of the approach to  Bourgoin Jallieu, Looks a great place to visit.

There are two possible origins of the name "Bourgoin` Bergusia, inscribed on a piece of gold Merovingian, or Breg-Osio, "wears mountains," of both Celtic and Latin. The original Celtic and Latin Breg-Osio "makes no sense and was invented in the late twentieth century. We can not, given the location of Bourgoin in the open country, Lower Dauphiné, with no mountains in sight, believe they would have given it that name.

 However a slogan of the tourist town of Bourgoin-Jallieu, published shortly before, said "Bourgoin-Jallieu, Porte des Alpes," which quite justifiable in an era of modern road transport, as Bourgon - Jallieu is at the junction of highways 2 in the direction of the mountains of Savoy, Chambéry and mountains or Dauphiné Isere, Grenoble.

As to that of Jallieu, it would come from Jalliacum: jaillissantes waters or simply "sources" because sources were numerous in the Jallieu marshes before the water table  decreased under, the work of urban planning and drought.

Museum: Rue Victor-Hugo

Built in the 13th century, the Commanderie des Antonins became a chapterhouse for the monastic order in the mid-14th century. Under Charles VII, sessions of the bailli—or administrative court—were held for the Viennois and Terre de la Tour regions until responsibility was transferred to the bailli in Vienne in 1457. A chapel was added in 1503.

The Commanderie is the oldest building in Bourgoin-Jallieu. It was used as a girls’ school and then as a hospital before being purchased in 1929 by Senator-Mayor Robert Belmont, who turned the old chapel into a museum with the help and support of painter Victor Charreton.

The museum was completely renovated in 2000 and is now dedicated to the history of textile embellishment.

Culture

The city of Bourgoin-Jallieu nurtures creative endeavours and artistic education and also provides outlets and opportunities for all its citizens to get a taste of popular culture. Its infrastructures include the Jean-Vilar theatre, a multi-media library and a museum dedicated to fabric embellishment, the fine arts and the cultural heritage of the North Isère region.

The city is also proud of its Abattoirs Scène de Musiques Actuelles structure and its national school for music, dance and the dramatic a

A heritage to be discovered

Home of the Anglancier de Saint-Germain family Place du 23 août 1944 In the 16th century, Bourgoin began to grow, and magnificent houses were built around the perimeter of Pourcherie square, including one belonging to the Anglancier de Saint Germain family. Its entrance gate on République Street is one of the few vestiges spared by the ‘Grande Peur’ uprising of July 1789. History books remember Claude Anglancier de Saint-Germain as a friend of philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), who lived in Bourgoin and Maubec for nearly two years.

Great Organ

Built in 1879 by Joseph Merklin’s ‘Manufacture des Grandes Orgues d’Eglise’, the organ in Saint-Jean-Baptiste church was completely restored between 2002 and 2004. The organ is classified as an historical monument.

Notre-Dame Church:Address : Rue de la Libération

The present church was built in 1859 on the site of the original 12th century church. On the lintel of a side door visitors can read an inscription dating back to the revolution.

The French people believe in the existence of the supreme being and the immortality of the soul», while the portico has a Gallo-Roman funeral inscription (on the floor, to the right of the door when entering) that probably dates back to the time of Adrien (117-138) and is dedicated to Pompeia Junicilla by her father. From the original church, only the small columns in the two side chapels remain.

A city of natural beauty

There may be nothing spectacular in Bourgoin-Jallieu’s natural environment, but what is striking is the omnipresence of nature in this city built on what was once marsh and riparian forest lands. Twenty-five kilometres of well-marked trails have been developed on the outskirts of the city for the use of nature-lovers, hikers and joggers, and over 25 hectares of manicured parks overflowing with flowers grace the city itself. In addition to the trails described below, interested hikers can also discover the various ponds used for educational purposes (Montbernier, Charbonnières), the Sétives marsh site and the Villieu wood.

Hiking trails

Rosière

This loop trail, which begins at Rosière pond, crosses the hills overlooking Bourgoin-Jallieu, traverses the humid Loudon prairie and wanders through woods to castles. The sometimes steep path takes hikers on a natural and historic journey to the castles of Thézieu, Petit Mont, Rosière and Champfort. When Jean-Jacques Rousseau stayed in Bourgoin, he often gathered plants and flowers near Rosière Castle with his friend Luc-Antoine de Champagneux, who was once Mayor of Bourgoin. The gravesite of Luc-Antoine Donin de Rosière de Champagneux, marked with a simple wrought-iron cross, can still be seen in the Rosière woods.

Champ-Fleuri – The Marshes

This path, which begins at the Champ-Fleuri neighbourhood centre (‘Maison de Quartier’) and crosses now-drained marshland, leads hikers along canal banks and through poplar groves, beside sand quarries and fields planted with corn and sunflowers. Hikers can opt for shorter or longer distances on this well-marked, relatively flat and easy trail.

Planbourgoin Loop

This trail climbs from Bourgoin’s Jardin de Ville Park to the Planbourgoin plateau where hikers discover Beauregard Castle. The castle, now in ruins, served as Bourgoin’s stronghold in times of trouble up until the middle of the 14th century.

Guided tours

From Bergusia to Bourgoin-Jallieu.

The city at the time of the Allobroges, Romans and Burgands – from its origins to the Middle Ages. A 2½ hour walk through history to discover vestiges from feudal times. Explanations and stories on everything from St. Anthony’s Fire (ergot poisoning) to the Black Death, major religious currents from the 11th to the 17th century, the French Revolution and the city’s economic rise in the19th century.

In the footsteps of the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau

This guided tour takes you to the Auberge de la Fontaine d’Or, to the home of the Anglancier de Saint-Germain family and then to Rosière to visit the grave of Luc-Antoine de Champagneux, to Maubec on the heels of the Marquise de Césarges and to Montquin farm. Length of the visit: 2½ hours – Car required

Saint-Jean-Baptiste church

Upon reservation. Tourist bureau 1, place Carnot,F-38300 Bourgoin-Jallieu. Tel. +33 (0) 474 934750. Fax: +33 (0)474 937601, E-mail: ot@bourgoinjallieu.fr

www.bourgoinjallieu.fr

Discover Nearby

Saint-Chef en Dauphiné

Architecture typical of the Dauphiné region Romanesque frescoes representing earthly and celestial paradises. Final resting place of novelist Frédéric Dard Maison du Patrimoine (museum, information, tours) : Tel. +33 (0) 474 925992

Tourist bureau: Tel. +33 (0) 474 277383

http://mairie.orange.fr/saint-chef/

E-mail: sy.saint-chef@wanadoo.fr

Morestel

City of painters and colour La Maison de Pays (tourist information, exhibitions)

Tel. +33 (0) 474 803930

www.morestel.com

E-mail : infos@morestel.com

Crémieu

Medieval city with a rich historical heritage stretching from the 12th century to the present day.

Tourist bureau:

Tel. +33 (0) 474 904513

www.ville-cremieu.fr

E-mail: office.tourismecremieu@wanadoo.fr

Hours

Monday from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m. to6:00 p.m.

Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Tastebuds’ delight

Brioche de Bourgoin

On 18 October 1447, Louis II, Crown Prince of France, entered Bourgoin by the Porte Neuve mounted on a superb black horse. The future King Louis XI came to Bourgoin several times, and it was in his honour that the town’s bakers created a cake in the form of a crown. The Bourgoin brioche is made of flour, milk, honey, eggs and leaven and is decorated with pralines and red and white sugar sprinkles.

Chaudelet

This flat bread was created at the end of the 19th century by a Bourgoin baker named Pitrougnard who, it is said, kneaded his dough with his feet. The Chaudelet is a pancake-shaped bread made of savoury ‘short pastry’ and flavoured with aniseed. Frédéric Dard, who liked the specialty, always stocked up on chaudelets whenever he was in Bourgoin-Jallieu.

Grande Dauphine

This liqueur, a jewel of the Dauphiné region, is made from both sweet and bitter oranges according to a recipe dating back to 1855. It won its current acclaim, however, in 1935, when Maurice Chavin decided to add cognac to the original recipe to accentuate its finesse.

Famous people from Bourgoin-Jallieu

Frédéric Dard

Everyone has heard of Frédéric Dard, who grew up in Jallieu and Saint-Chef, where he asked to be buried. At number 75, Rue de la Libération, a sign indicates his boyhood home. Just a few metres away, a café that he inaugurated

bears the name of the mythical character and author San Antonio. Frédéric Dard was born in 1921. He spent his youth in Jallieu with his parents and in Aillat, a small village near Four, with his grandmother. It was she who gave him a love for words. In interviews and books, the father of San Antonio clearly demonstrates an attachment to his native region with a number of references: family names, accents, foods (the famous ‘chaudelets’ described below) and linguistic forms that appear in his works like so many winks at his childhood.

Objet-Dard

Near the Library an ‘anti-burial monument’ gives the titles of 174 San Antonio novels, including L’année de la moule, Du bois dont on fait les pipes and Morpion Circus. The titles are engraved and painted in bright pink on a background of dark green granite. Created by Bertrand Lavier, an internationally renowned contemporary artist, the Objet-Dard represents the first public homage to Frédéric Dard. Lavier’s playful tribute to the author assumes its conceptual heritage with strong references to Marcel Duchamp.

Brahim Asloum

His heart in his hands One Saturday in September 2000, Bourgoin-Jallieu’s Brahim Asloum, known as the “Little Prince of Boxing“, astounded the world of sports by carrying off the Olympic title in Sydney in the light flyweight (-48 kg) category against the Spaniard Lozano (23-10). Asloum, born in Bourgoin-Jallieu on 31 January 1979, is fourth in a family of ten children.

Courthouse

Rue du Tribunal

In 1643, the ‘Pénitents Blancs’, a group of laymen dedicated to charity and altruism at a time when the Black Death was ravishing the continent, founded a brotherhood in Bourgoin. They built a chapel in the Doric style in 1658 and turned it over to the city in 1790. The building was first put to use as a courthouse in 1791. In 1854, the main building was rebuilt on the same site and in the same style as the original chapel.

Les Halles - Covered Marketplace

Place Grenette The ‘Halles’ have been in the same site since the Middle Ages, when they were the centre of the city’s social and financial life. In the 16th century the building was consolidated with oak pillars, and in 1847 was enlarged and reconstructed in stone. In 1902, Bourgoin’s municipal government installed an upper floor that was used for various purposes until 1994, when the entire building was renovated. Today the ancient covered marketplace is known as ‘Espace Grenette’ and is used for prestigious exhibitions, conferences, seminars, trade fairs, etc.

Bourgoin Castle

Place du Château

The Delphinal council bought this massive building in 1379, during the Hundred Years’ War. The castle, set against the town’s boundary walls at the time, is now lost in the mass of the city’s less ancient buildings. The Dauphin of France, soon to be crowned King Louis XI, stayed at the castle several times between 1446 and 1452, while learning how to rule the Dauphiné region. He also convened the Etats Généraux du Dauphiné in the Bourgoin castle. The castle’s three-story hexagonal tower holds a wide spiral staircase with light from mullioned windows. A corbelled turret at the top of the tower was shortened by a few meters when it was restored.

Bourgoin-Jallieu’s City Hall

Address: Rue de l’Hôtel-de-ville The present city hall was built in 1870 by Joséphine Seignoret and her husband Louis Antonin Lupin. Visitors to the city hall can still see the couple’s initials entwined in the wrought ironwork on the two large entrance doors facing the courtyard and the gardens, as well as on the fireplace in the hall where weddings are celebrated. Woodwork in the home’s former hall and dining room (now used for weddings) was made from wood found on the banks of Lake Paladru. The couple’s bankrupt son later sold the ‘castle’ to Mr. Patricot, a solicitor by profession, who passed it on to a businessman named Mr. Arribert. In 1927, the building was acquired by the town of Jallieu and municipal government offices were transferred there. When the town of Jallieu merged with neighbouring Bourgoin in 1967, the ‘castle’ became the city hall of Bourgoin-Jallieu

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