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La Frette is a small town in the Department of Isère, about 9 km from La Côte-Saint-André, on the way from Lyon to Grenoble. Nowadays the bus from Grenoble stops there on its way to La Côte.
In Berlioz’s time La Frette was the nearest stage coach stop to La Côte coming from Lyon. During a visit to Lyon in July 1845 where he was giving concerts Berlioz made a trip on the 9th to visit his father in La Côte. A letter of his to his sister Nancy is extant in which Berlioz mentions his passing through the town; in a postscript to the letter he writes:
It would be very kind of Camille [Camille Pal, Nancy’s husband] if he could send me some vehicle to bring me from la Frète to la Côte; otherwise I will make the journey on foot despite the sun.
(Correspondance générale no. 975, dated 7 July 1845, from Lyon)
In the event Camille Pal was unable to send the requested vehicle to La Frette, and Berlioz had to walk the distance to La Côte to see his father. Presumably the same applied to his return journey from La Côte to Lyon, which was done at night.
La Frette ca. 1907
This postcard shows the Place de la Mairie (Town Hall Square), Route de Lyon; it is in our collection.
La Frette in the early 20th century
This postcard, also from our collection, shows La Place (the Square), Route de la Côte-Saint-André.
© Monir Tayeb and Michel Austin for the picture and information on this page.
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