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Tucked neatly away between Lyon and Geneva, the Ain department in the Rhône-Alpes region sits in the heart of a vast transport network: the area is served by two nearby airports (Lyon St Exupéry and Geneva-Cointrin) and the high-speed TGV Trains (Paris is less than two hours away by TGV from Bourg-en-Bresse, the main town in the department) but also by a network of motorways (A6, A39, A40, A42 and A46).

The Ain remains, however, a unique, protected natural environment, with 198,400 hectares of forests, 3,060 km of rivers, over 1,000 ponds in the Dombes area, 268,361 hectares of agricultural land and the highest peaks in the Jura Mountains.

The Ain also owes its unique character to its wide diversity of landscapes, culture and heritage.

The area is split into two distinct geographical environments, the mountains and the plain, which are themselves each divided in two, forming the Ain’s four natural areas.

In the north-west: Bresse

An area of hedged farmland and wide open spaces, Bresse is a fertile region used for arable and livestock farming. Its finest produce is its poultry, the only product of its kind in the world to have been awarded an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) status.

As there is water throughout the region, the low, half-timbered, wattle-and-daub farmhouses are scattered across the countryside, without any villages having really grown up around them.

The Bresse region is also highly favoured by the gourmet gods, and is home to a wide range of specialities, including chicken in cream, potato-based crêpes vonnassiennes, chicken liver cake and many more. There are numerous restaurants and inns alongside some truly great chefs, such as Georges Blanc. The region has likewise retained many traces of its history through its Romanesque churches, mysterious farmhouses with their traditional “Saracen”-style chimneys and the jewel in the crown, the Royal Monastery of Brou.

Find out more about the Ain

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Our region is the perfect stopover en route to your holiday destination

Leisure amenities at the hotel

Spa, indoor pool, Jacuzzi, hammam, fitness room, massage rooms, relaxation room and more.
Heated pool
Tennis courts with lights for evening play
Mountain bike hire
Walks
Museum of Carriage Driving and Coach-building (50 m from the hotel)
Houses and farmhouses in bloom trail.

Leisure amenities in the area
Several 18-hole golf courses, less than 15 minutes from the hotel (La Salle, La Commanderie, La Bresse and Le Gouverneur courses).
Plenty of opportunities for 1/2 day or full-day trips.

Bresse area: The Route de la Bresse: plenty of features of architectural interest (Saracen chimneys, half-timbered farmhouses and Romanesque churches), Bourg-en-Bresse (15th century old town, Royal Monastery of Brou (16th century), church and museum, collegiate church of Our Lady), La Teyssonnière botanical gardens in Buellas, Bresse Museum, Les Planons estate in Saint-Cyr-sur-Menton.

Dombes area: Route de la Dombes - the route of 1,000 ponds, bird centre in Villars-les-Dombes, Châtillon sur Chalaronne (Porte de Villars, 15th century market halls, apothecary's shop, "4 flowers" Village in Bloom), mediaeval town of Pérouges, Trévoux (former seat of the parliament of the Dombes area), Ars (village of the Holy Priest of Ars) and much more.

Bugey area: Route du Bugey: Nantua Lake (Museum of the Resistance) Upper Ain Valley, Cerdon vineyards and copperworks, Episcopal city of Belley

Mâcon area: Mâcon wine route, Solutré and the Museum of Prehistory, Lamartine trail, Mâcon (old bridge, Saint-Vincent district), major centres of Romanesque art (Cluny, Tournus, Paray-le-Monial, Autun), Château de Cormatin, Azé and Blanot caves and more.

Beaujolais area: Beaujolais wine route, Le Hameau en Beaujolais wine park, Romanèche-Thorins zoo, Château de Corcelles, Golden Stones Trail and more.

Major tourist cities in the region: Lyon (45 min), Geneva and Annecy (1 hr 15), Chamonix (2 hr), Beaune (1 hr). Please contact reception for further information.

Bourg-en-Bresse official website
www.bourg-en-bresse.org