Romans-sur-Isere

Visit Romans-sur-Isere, Rhone-Alpes

Romans-sur-Isere is a large town 18 kilometres north-east of Valence in the Drome region and with the Vercors mountains in the distance. The town is best known for it’s longstanding tradition of shoe making.

Romans (pronounced without the S) is divided from its sister town of Bourg-de-Peage by the pretty fast-flowing Isere River.

Exploring Romans-sur-Isere

Whilst not a typical tourist destination, there are certainly enough attractions to warrant an afternoon visit.

Collegiale of Saint-Bernard

The most important monument in the town is the Collegiale of Saint-Bernard. This church was built on the banks of the river Isere in the 12th century after an earlier church had been destroyed by fire. While parts of the original roman style church can still be seen, much of what we see today is a substantial 13th century reconstruction in gothic style, and a further rebuilding from the 16th century onwards after the church was damaged during the Wars of Religion.

Unfortunately the adjacent cloisters were damaged in the years after the revolution, and then demolished to make way for a port on the river. The facade, belltower and decorative stonework of the entrance are the highlights outside, while inside the church it is the 'mise a tombeau' (with the characters still painted) and several 16th century frescoes and paintings in the Chapel of Saint-Sacrement that are of most interest.

Other highlights

Another monument in Romans-sur-Isere is the Jacquemart Tower. Originally a 12th century gateway through the town ramparts to enter the fortified town, the ramparts have now disappeared, and in 1429 the gateway was blocked up and the tower turned into an imposing clocktower. Jacquemart refers to a clocktower where an automated character emerges to strike the time each hour - hence the bell and spire on top of the tower.

Within the rest of the old town you can see various medieval and renaissance style houses dating from the 14th to 16th centuries.

Among the more unusual highlights is the International Shoe Museum, housed in a wonderful former convent with Italianate architecture and a large decorative courtyard, and containing hundreds of examples of master craftsmanship dating from ancient times to the modern day.

Aside from the numerous shoe factory outlets selling the high-quality footwear normally reserved for Paris boutiques, Romans is a haven for dedicated followers of fashion. Marques Avenue is one of the two large discount shopping complexes in the town, offering many international brands such as Le Creuset , Levis and Puma at bargain prices.

Another tasty attraction of the town is the famous Pogne. This ring shaped orange-flower bread is a tradition of the town and where better to discover it than the Museè de Pogne located in the town! A perfect accompaniment to a picnic whilst you relax in the riverside park, and sample some of the peaches and apricots this region is also famed for.

The weekly market in Romans-sur-Isere takes place on friday and sunday mornings.

Local attractions

Particularly recommended is the very extensive collection of statues and other religious artefacts at the Museum of Sacred Art, in a roman style church at Mours-Saint-Eusèbe just north of Romans-sur-Isere.

To the south of the town you can visit the unusual circular village of Alixan. The three rings of the village circle around a raised central area that once held a castle, now replaced by a church (a small part of a castle tower can still be seen, now part of the mairie).

This article is in part a guest contribution for france this way by Helen Kirwan

Tourist classifications for Romans-sur-Isere: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 2*;

Suggested places to visit near Romans-sur-Isere, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Palais Ideal 23km; Crest 35km; Mirmande 42km; Desaignes 42km; Malleval 45km; Privas 50km; Pelussin 51km; Vienne 55km; Grenoble 55km; Provencal Drome 58km; Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez 59km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Romans-sur-Isere

Romans-sur-Isere tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Jardin japonais - remarkable garden (11km) : Montelier - ville fleurie 4* (12km) : Cathédrale Saint-Apollinaire (Valence) - religious monument (18km) : Parc Jouvet - remarkable garden (18km) : Grottes de Choranche - site of natural beauty (27km) : Vercors - regional natural parc (33km) : Saint-Gervais - ville fleurie 4* (38km) : Cirque d'Archiane - site of natural beauty (49km) :

French version: see Romans-sur-Isere (Francais)