Retour à la carte [EN]
14 The Louze Plateau
 |
Geography |
 |
An agricultural zone dominated by orchards and vineyards forms a belt around the Péage-de-Roussillon urban area, which is cut by the N 7, the motorway and a railway line.
Moving eastwards, the orchards gradually give way to cropland, but urban pressure is great everywhere.
The suburb of Péage-de-Roussillon is located on the easily accessible Louze Plateau. It has the disjointed appearance typical of areas of rapid, poorly controlled growth, as do many other areas on the edge of the Rhône Valley.
 |
Landscape |
 |
The orchard on the plateau is the second largest in Isère, after that on the Vinay Plain,
and contrasts starkly with the grain-producing plain of Chonas-l'Amballan, which is of relatively comparable size, and from which it is separated by only a few hundred metres above the sinuous course of the Varèze.
The orchards occupy the entire space. Apple and peach trees, vineyards, blackcurrants and many other kinds of small fruit
are found alongside the roads, cutting views of the distance to a minimum. Only at Assieu
, on the plateau's east side, can one get a view of the whole area.
What is most important for the landscape here is to ensure a proper setting for these orchards, using the garden model, by properly handling transitions with the roads. The roadsides often give the impression of uncontrolled growth, undermining the image of the straight or staggered rows of trees and fruit bushes. A second important issue is urban sprawl on the Assieu hill, where diffuse urbanisation alternates with patches of undergrowth.