Saint-Geoire-en-Valdaine

History

The local region has long been inhabited, with ancient settlements at nearby Lake Paladru and a Druid Dolmen at Merlas (Pierre a Mata, the "Mother stone"). Its recent history covers the rivalries and alliances between Dauphine and Savoyard nobles in the feudal period around the historical frontier between France and Italy, the reformation, revolution and second world war. Every year a medieval "renaissance" fair is held in the village. The famous pilgrimage route of Santiago of Compestala from Geneva across France to Spain passes close by, with walking trails from Les Abrets and along Lake Paladru.

Geography

The Ainan river leads to a waterfall in the village, once the site of a mill. The river's ecosystem is exceptionally pristine, containing many protected species.

Most-observed species

• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,372
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,260
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,177
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,110
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,007
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  968
• Common Pipistrelle

  Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schreber, 1774) · Mammalia
  775
• European Goldfinch

  Carduelis carduelis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  749

Most recent

• M 3.6 — 2026-01-12
  4 km SSW of Les Houches, France
• M 3.3 — 2025-05-06
  8 km W of Chapareillan, France
• M 4.5 — 2022-03-12
  3 km S of Faverges, France
• M 3.2 — 2017-11-17
  10 km NNE of Saint-Rémy-de-Maurienne, France
• M 3.4 — 2013-04-06
  1 km SSW of Poisy, France
• M 4.3 — 2010-06-30
  3 km NW of Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, France