Pelussin

Visit Pelussin, Rhone-Alpes

Pelussin is a small town in the Parc naturel regional de Pilat in the Loire department of the Rhone Alps, 27 km from Vienne and 55km from Lyon.

Exploring Pelussin

The town of Pelussin is quite spread out and there are three distinct sections to visit.

The Quartier des Croix is the main commercial centre of the town and the shops are spread out around a large main square called the Place des Croix. The square is lined with London Plane trees and has a stone cross at one end and a 19th century church at the other. From here head uphill towards the Quartier de Virieu.

The Quartier de Virieu is the most interesting section. Here there is the Chateau de Virieu which started life as the 'Villa de Virius' and was transformed into a chateau in the Middle Ages. In the early 14th century a chapel was attached to the building. The ensemble is very attractive, there is even a large pool of water next to the castle and a pleasant grassy area. Strangely though, the ground flour of the chateau appears to be lived in but the upper floors are clearly empty with broken windows and bricked up openings. It seems strange when this is the nicest part of the village.

The pool of water is filled by a stream and not only served as the water supply for the castle but was important for the developing silk industry in Pelussin in the 16th century.

Just below the castle is the ancient halle which originally served to shelter the silk as it dried. The silk was hung from the woodwork and the floor of the hall has a slope to allow the water to run away from it.

The third quarter is the Quartier Notre-Dame and here there is the Mairie and the church of Notre-Dame. This was the original church of the town and when in the 19th century it was proposed to build a new church between the Quartier Notre Dame and the Quartier de Virieu there was an outcry. The parishioners of Notre Dame took their bell and hid it in a well and threatened to all turn Protestant and bring in a new vicar if they continued to try and close their church. Eventually resolution was reached by splitting Pelussin into two parishes each with their own priest.

Below the village of Pelussin are its viaducts, built in 1917 to extend the railway line. Some say the viaducts were built by German prisoners of war whilst others say there were only two prisoners of war working on the viaducts.

Pelussin is well known for its cheese - the Pavé d'Affinois, be sure to try it while you are here.

The tourist office for Pelussin is in the Quartier de Virieu and is also the tourist office for this part of the Pilat Natural Park - known locally  as the Pilat Rhodanien.

Attractions nearby

The beautiful village of Malleval is just a short and scenic drive away.

The Parc Naturel Regional de Pilat is well worth an explore.

See Rhone-Alpes for more travel ideas...

Photos of Pelussin

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Suggested places to visit near Pelussin, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Palais Ideal 33km; Lyon 40km; Tournon-sur-Rhone 41km; Tain-l'Hermitage 41km; Eveux 45km; Desaignes 49km;

Pelussin tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Oeillon Crest - site of natural beauty (6km) : Pilat - regional natural parc (8km) : Perdrix Crest - site of natural beauty (9km) : Eglise de Saint Estèphe (Roullet-Saint-Estephe) - religious monument (22km) : Saint-Etienne - town of art and history (23km) : Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise - recommended detour (29km) : Chaponnay - ville fleurie 4* (30km) : Saint-Galmier - recommended detour (34km) :

See more places and a map at places near Pelussin