After checking into our AirBnB we are quite hungry and have no provisions so we leave to explore Cremieu, the nearby larger village that has restaurants and supermarkets. Unfortunately it is getting close to 8:30OM when the supermarket closes so while one of us is looking for parking the other one is entering the supermarket as the last customer buying provisions for tomorrow. Parking is relatively easy to find with a bit of luck and we will have luck every time when we come into town during the next days to explore the many historic sights like the castle looming over the town.
For dinner we find a nearby crepe restaurant that closes at 9PM that still serves us and is soooo good that we immediately decide to also take our relatives here after they arrive.
After our relatives arrive we return multiple times to the town to explore the many historical sights. Chief amongst them is the Chateau Delphinal on a hill overlooking the city that can luckily also be accessed via car. The castle was the property of the Baron de la Tour then of the Dauphin, protecting the Dauphine region from invasion. Now it is in ruins after being used as a quarry for years and can be entered for free through the impressive gate.
Inside however there is not much left, just foundations and some areas protected for the bees to collect honey.
However the views from above of the town are special, we really enjoy overlooking the area and we completely understand why this castle was so important for so many years.
There are some old guns on the ramparts, all non functional and some buildings that were restored but are private.
We really enjoy our walk however it is quite hot in the sun so we decide to return to the car and shade.
However first we do some geocaching exploring a nearby trail that passes an old farm house and goes through the forest to a relatively easy find. Returning we explore the ruins along the way which also have a historical significance as they were the location of the printing press of one of the major newspapers for the French resistance during WW2 before they were discovered and destroyed by the Germans.
While here we also buy some birthday cakes to celebrate multiple birthdays that either occured or will soon occur. At least we have a great choice of cakes and all are quite good when we enjoy them at the AirBnB.
The old center of Cremieu is full of impressive buildings and we explore them during the days we visit the town.
All of them are arrayed around the huge and impressive market hall built in the 15th century. One of Cremieu claims to fame is that it was a major market town for years with Wednesdays still being market days up to now.
While exploring the town we notice Ukrainian flags everywhere, quite cool for a small city so far from the conflict.
There are churches and pharmacies, everything you need to survive in this small city however it is getting late so today we decide to skip visiting the church, we will do that next time.
Another place we visited multiple times during our stay is the Carrefour market, it is our preferred place for resupply here and also to get gas from the convenient gas station. On the outskirts of town is a mineral museum housed in a former Templar castle, we intend to visit it but never have time to do it during our stay.
What we have time to revisit is the crepe place where we ate on the first day, we really wanted to take our relatives also to this special place.
The crepes again are excellent and both us and our relatives leave the restaurant full and happy.
This is the last day for our relatives so we spend a bit more exploring the town and just wandering the streets.
Today is also time to visit the historic church. While not as impressive from outside it is quite huge and cool inside and as usual in smaller towns there is no one else inside.
We spend some time exploring the church and cooling down before continuing on through the town.
There are many narrow streets to explore and we do just that walking through a few of them and enjoying the quiet and beautiful houses.
There are even a few “secret” passages that allow easy access from the outskirts to the inner city and we take them to return back towards the parking and car.
But before leaving we do one more check of the many types of window shutters here. There are so many possibilities that we are surprised that the US mostly has none or one type, quite surprising. And then it is back to the car and AirBnB as our relatives prepare to leave France later in the day.
