Chatte is a town in Isère, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, 25 km north-east of Romans and west of the town of Saint-Marcellin which it borders on.
Its territory of 22 km² extends from 164 to 443 m above sea level, bordered to the south-east by the course of the Isère. Belonging to the South-Grésivaudan country, separated from Grenoble by the Vercors, forming the "southern" limit of the Chambaran plateau renowned for its woods and its ecological wealth, the locality presents a landscape made up of green hillsides dominating the Isère valley. within which the village developed.
Historically, however, it was around a stately castle overlooking the valley from a hillock, east of the present-day center, that Chatte was established in the 11th century.
Later, the establishment of a silk milling factory ensured the prosperity of the small town, also appreciated by gastronomes for its production of ravioli from Dauphiné and cheeses from Saint-Marcellin, its neighbor.
Now with 2700 inhabitants, the town has a range of interesting leisure activities reinforced by the proximity of Saint-Marcellin and of course Vercors.
In terms of heritage, Chatte has preserved a varied heritage. It thus remains of the vestiges of the seigneurial castle built in the 11th century and then reworked in the 14th and 15th centuries and which belonged to the Boffin family, also lords of the Sône then to the Marquis de la Roque before the Revolution. After this, the site was seized and then sold as national property. Several individuals of modest condition shared the area which was henceforth called the "castle of the Poor"... However, therefore, certain remains still visible, away from the center of the village, attest to its former grandeur.
In a completely different register, the former site of the La Soie de la Galicière milling plant is listed in the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments. The spinning building, the silkworm farm and the hydraulic installations have indeed been preserved. An association of enthusiasts programs activities and guided tours to better understand this part of local history: contact on +33 4 76 38 85 77.
A walk in the form of heritage discovery will then include the parish church of Saint-Vincent, in neoclassical style (19th century), the Sainte-Philomène chapel, built on a promontory, in a clearing to the west of the village (neo-Gothic style, 1880), but also old fortified houses, opulent residences from the 19th century century, fountains and oratories…
On the cultural side, note that the media library regularly offers events (meetings, readings, workshops). Information on +33 4 76 38 46 24. In addition, the Vincendon-Dumoulin space hosts shows and concerts throughout the year. For more information, call +33 4 76 38 45 30.
One of the city's major assets in terms of tourism is the Jardin Ferroviaire, located on the route de Lyon, which opened its ports in 1987. Some 200 species of trees and plants have enabled the development of a Japanese-inspired garden that invites meditation. But the owners' tour de force is to offer in parallel on this 1300 m² garden a set of reconstructions with miniature characters and sets of scenes from the daily life of yesteryear in the Dauphiné and a large rail network (models and scale models). Invitation to a change of scenery in space and time in an extraordinary plant setting, the garden appeals to young and old! Open to the public from early February to mid-November. Price: from 8 to 11 euros. Information on +33 4 76 38 54 55.
For athletes, it is possible to book a tennis court with the local club (contact on +33 6 86 41 60 19) or to learn about scuba diving and swimming with fins (join the association CPSG 38 at +33 6 12 39 68 36).
The Olympide intercommunal aquatic center is also located in the town, which has swimming pools, play areas and equipment (such as slides) but also well-being (sauna, spa). Price: from 3 and 4.80 euros. Information on +33 4 76 38 35 38.
For hiking enthusiasts, the Isère valley, the nearby Chambaran plateau or the Vercors Regional Nature Park are accessible via marked trails and loops marked out with panoramas and environments of great ecological richness. Maps and information on 04 76 385 385.
The 3rd weekend of July, over three days, votive festivals with balls and concerts, pétanque competition, garage sale, fireworks.
Every Sunday morning, a farmers' market showcases the rich terroir of Dauphiné.
