What if this summer, you went to the Ain? A land of escape, where nature and culture are one and the same, the Ain has many trump cards up its sleeve to enable travellers in search of a family, peaceful or sporting holiday to have a good time. Are you interested?
The department of Ain takes its name from the river that runs through it. In the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, bordered by the Rhône and the Saône, the Ain truly enjoys a privileged geographical location. From Bresse to the Pays de Gex, through the Val de Saône, Revermont, Haut-Bugey and Bugey Sud, not forgetting the Dombes, you will quickly discover that the Ain has everything of the rural department par excellence, becoming a real Eden for lovers of nature and calm. Bordering Lyon to the west, but also the Jura and the Alps to the east, the Ain boasts a wide range of fantastic landscapes, a playground for adrenaline and hiking aficionados, the perfect activity to discover all the facets of the Ain.
Between museums, castles, churches, ponds and lakes, there is much to discover while visiting the Ain. Starting with its capital, Bourg-en-Bresse: a large town on a human scale, which organically mixes relaxation and history, Bourg-en-Bresse is worth a visit for its beautiful architecture and more particularly for its unmissable Royal Monastery of Brou. Built according to the will of Margaret of Austria during the 16th century, it is worth the detour for its magnificent ensemble and its 3 absolutely marvellous cloisters.
Following the example of this monastery, many majestic sites dot the department, sites not to be missed during your stay in the Ain. What should you see? The Benedictine abbey of Ambronay, the marvellous castle of Allymes in Ambérieu-en-Bugey, but also the basilica of art and the Saint-Curé, the Castle of Voltaire in Ferney-Voltaire, or the Fort l'Écluse in Léaz. As far as towns are concerned, the feudal city of Trévoux, capital of the Principality of Dombes, is worth a visit for its splendid districts spread out along the curve of the Saône, as are the small medieval towns of the Ain, such as Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne and Pérouges, a rich medieval trading town located on the Dombes plateau.
As far as nature is concerned, there are also many sites to add to your holiday "To Do List". Starting with the Valserine river! A right-hand tributary of the Haut-Rhône, the Valserine flows through the Ain department over more than 48 kilometres: a sensitive natural area, the river that can boast of being the first wild river in France has carved deep cavities and gorges in the limestone, creating majestic natural sites that you can discover in great numbers, from the Devil's Bridge to the Giant's Potholes, passing by the Bridge of Stones and the marvellous Valserine Pertes. Mountain biking, fishing, canoeing, horse riding, caving, paragliding, there are many activities to enjoy in the Ain, thanks to its exceptional natural heritage. Go hiking around Lake Genin, nicknamed the "Little Canada" of the Haut-Bugey, to admire its peat bogs in the autumn, fishing in the spring or scuba diving and ice skating in the winter. The Versoix marshes in Divonne-les-Bains, the Lavours Marsh Nature Reserve in Ceyzérieu, the superb Sylans Lake in Neyrolles, not forgetting the waterfalls on the Dorches and Vézéronce rivers, the Cerdon caves, the Glandieu waterfall... These are just some of the ideas for outings to be enjoyed during a stay in the Ain which will not fail to amaze the whole family!
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