La Balme-des-Grottes is located some 32 km east by north-east of Lyon and 11 km south of Ambérieu-en-Bugey on the right bank of the Rhône. The Rhône also forms the departmental border between Isère and Ain. Access to the commune is by the D65 road from Leyrieu in the south which passes through the length of the commune and the village and continues north to join the D1075 west of Vertrieu. The D52B branches from the D65 in the commune and goes south to Saint-Baudille-de-la-Tour. The D52C also branches from the D65 at the same intersection and goes south-east to Charette. The commune is mixed forest and farmland with dense forests in the north-east.[3]
The Rhône river forms the entire western border of the commune with no crossing points anywhere in the commune. The commune is covered by a network of canals linked to the Rhône and the Ruisseau de Laye which is a minor loop of the Rhône.[3]
From about 4000 BC, Neolithic farmers colonised the region leaving their polished axes, flints, and pots in Louvaresse and Travers. Collective graves and vases have also been found in the cave from that time. It was especially at the end of the Bronze Age that they left very important remains (1250-950 BC): numerous tombs with cremation urns and animal offerings have been found in crevices and under boulders in a large part of the cave. It is an underground necropolis of the Urnfield culture notable for its wealth of ceramic vases.[4][dead link]
Part of the archaeological material from all eras is displayed in the Heritage House at Hières-sur-Amby where it was sent in 1985 by the excavators.
Heraldry
Arms of La Balme-les-Grottes
The official status of the blazon remains to be determined.
Blazon: Party per bend sinister wavy, at first Argent a dolphin Azure; at second Vert, an entry to a cave Argent charged with a church proper of 3 levels with the sinister wall mouvant windows open and a slope proper mouvant to dexter, over a path in bend sinister of Azure mouvant to base, with another path in bend sinister proper to dexter mouvant to base, in chief wavy of Azure; at the bend sinister wavy debruised by a bend sinister wavy of Azure charged with 6 ribbands wavy of Argent.
The Town Hall / School at Route de Lagneu (1882)[11]
The Chateau de Salette (13th century).[12] The remaining buildings of the former Carthusian monastery of Salette. The facades and roofs of the chateau are from the 19th century. In October 1299 Dauphin Humbert I of Viennois founded a monastery for women of which three buildings remain. During the French Revolution the monastery was sold and is home for some time to an earthenware factory. The chateau was built around 1870-1880 and preserves some decorations from that time.
The Chateau d'Amblérieu (ruins) (14th century)[13]
The Chapel of Notre-Dame of the Grotto (12th century)[25] The Chapel contains a large number of items that are registered as historical objects.[25]
The Parish Church of Saint Peter (12th century)[26] The Church contains a large number of items that are registered as historical objects.[26]
Environmental heritage
The entrance to the Cave
The Grotte de La Balme (La Balme Cave) is one of the Seven Wonders of Dauphiné. It is a formation of an "amphitheatre of small basins". The caves were a hideout for Louis Mandrin. They were visited by François I and contain an apocryphal portrait of him. The caves contain several items that are registered as historical objects:
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