Voiron is a
communeThe commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. The French word commune appeared in the 12th century, from Medieval Latin communia, meaning a small gathering of people sharing a common life; from Latin communis, things held in common.French communes are roughly...
in the
IsèreIsère is a department, in the Rhône-Alpes region in the east of France named after the river Isère.- History :...
department in south-eastern
FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
.
Voiron long formed part of
SavoySavoy is a region of Europe on the western flank of the Alps that emerged following the collapse of the Frankish Kingdom of Burgundy. The historical land of Savoy is shared between the modern republics of France and Italy.-Background:...
, but in 1355 was exchanged (with the rest of the region between the
RhôneThe Rhone is one of the major rivers of Europe, originating in Switzerland and running from there through the south-eastern corner of France...
and the
IsèreThe Isère is a 286 km long river in southeastern France, in the Rhône-Alpes région. Its source is in the Alps on the border with Italy, near the ski resort Val d'Isère. It flows into the Rhône River in Pont-de-l'Isère, a few km north of Valence...
, watered by the Guiers Mort) by the count with France for
FaucignyFaucigny is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.Historically, Faucigny was a region in Savoy which included the area of the modern département of Haute Savoie and the municipalities of Chamonix, Argentière, and Les Houches.-Geography:In the...
and
GexGex is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.It lies from the Swiss border and from Geneva. It is the capital of Ain.-History:...
.
Historical population:
Voiron stands at a height of 950 ft., on the Morge (a tributary of the
Isère RiverThe Isère is a 286 km long river in southeastern France, in the Rhône-Alpes région. Its source is in the Alps on the border with Italy, near the ski resort Val d'Isère. It flows into the Rhône River in Pont-de-l'Isère, a few km north of Valence...
).
The fine church of St Bruno was built 1864-1873 at the expense of the monks of the
Grande ChartreuseThe Grande Chartreuse is the head monastery of the Carthusian order. It is located in the Chartreuse Mountains, to the north of the city of Grenoble, in the commune of Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse in the Isère département of France. Originally, the house belonged to the see of Grenoble, and Saint...
.
Voiron is a
communeThe commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. The French word commune appeared in the 12th century, from Medieval Latin communia, meaning a small gathering of people sharing a common life; from Latin communis, things held in common.French communes are roughly...
in the
IsèreIsère is a department, in the Rhône-Alpes region in the east of France named after the river Isère.- History :...
department in south-eastern
FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
.
History
Voiron long formed part of
SavoySavoy is a region of Europe on the western flank of the Alps that emerged following the collapse of the Frankish Kingdom of Burgundy. The historical land of Savoy is shared between the modern republics of France and Italy.-Background:...
, but in 1355 was exchanged (with the rest of the region between the
RhôneThe Rhone is one of the major rivers of Europe, originating in Switzerland and running from there through the south-eastern corner of France...
and the
IsèreThe Isère is a 286 km long river in southeastern France, in the Rhône-Alpes région. Its source is in the Alps on the border with Italy, near the ski resort Val d'Isère. It flows into the Rhône River in Pont-de-l'Isère, a few km north of Valence...
, watered by the Guiers Mort) by the count with France for
FaucignyFaucigny is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.Historically, Faucigny was a region in Savoy which included the area of the modern département of Haute Savoie and the municipalities of Chamonix, Argentière, and Les Houches.-Geography:In the...
and
GexGex is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.It lies from the Swiss border and from Geneva. It is the capital of Ain.-History:...
.
Historical population:
Geography
Voiron stands at a height of 950 ft., on the Morge (a tributary of the
Isère RiverThe Isère is a 286 km long river in southeastern France, in the Rhône-Alpes région. Its source is in the Alps on the border with Italy, near the ski resort Val d'Isère. It flows into the Rhône River in Pont-de-l'Isère, a few km north of Valence...
).
Sights
The fine church of St Bruno was built 1864-1873 at the expense of the monks of the
Grande ChartreuseThe Grande Chartreuse is the head monastery of the Carthusian order. It is located in the Chartreuse Mountains, to the north of the city of Grenoble, in the commune of Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse in the Isère département of France. Originally, the house belonged to the see of Grenoble, and Saint...
. Voiron is the starting-point of the steam tramways to
Saint-Laurent-du-PontSaint-Laurent-du-Pont is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France. It was the site of the Club Cinq-Sept fire, which killed 146, in 1970.-References:*...
, 12 m. (for the Grande Chartreuse), and to
CharavinesCharavines is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France....
, 105 m. (for the
Lac de PaladruLake Paladru is a small lake located in the Isère département, near Charavines, in France.The lake was formed by the glacier of the Rhône. It is 6 km long and 1.2 km wide when full. Maximum depth: 33m.-External links:*...
).
Economy
Voiron is a manufacturing town, and it contains numerous factories. Some produce a cloth named after the town, and there are also silk-weaving factories (2000 looms, with an annual output of eight to nine million yards). There are also paper-making factories in the town. Other companies:
RossignolSkis Rossignol S.A., or simply Rossignol, is a French manufacturer of alpine, snowboard, and nordic equipment as well as related outerwear and accessories, located in Isère, France. Rossignol was one of the first companies to produce plastic skis. The company also owns the brand Dynastar as well...
(
skiA ski is a long, flat device worn on the feet designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now primarily used for recreational and sporting purposes...
s), Radiall Connections, Antésite (a
liquoriceLiquorice or Licorice is the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra , from which a sweet flavour can be extracted. The liquorice plant is a legume , native to southern Europe and parts of Asia...
-flavored drink), Chartreuse liquor cellars, Allaman (manufacturing and transporting of petrol tanks).
External links and references