Bourg-en-Bresse

Visit Bourg-en-Bresse, Rhone-Alpes

Bourg-en-Bresse is a town 60 km to the north of Lyon in the Ain department of the Rhone-Alpes.

It is the churches here that are the main attraction - both the church of Notre Dame in Bourg-en-Bresse itself and the important the church-monastery at Brou, which is now a suburb of the town - but be sure to also allow time to explore the old centre of the town while you are here.

Exploring Bourg-en-Bresse

Start your visit by entering the old town through the Porte des jacobins. In the town itself, Bourg-en-Bresse is centred around the pretty Place de l'Hotel de Ville, and the surrounding (largely pedestrianised) streets, and has some attractive 16th-18th century houses to see, several in colombage such as the 15th century Maison Hugon and the Maison Gorrevod on Rue du Palais, among others.

There are also some notable townhouses from the 18th century such as the Hotel Marron de Meillonnas (built 1774) - admire the facade with its intricate Louis XV balconies and stonework then pass through the entrance to see the interior courtyard.

In the 17th century hospital (Hotel-Dieu) there is an extensive apothecary with many items related to medicine collected over the centuries, while the Theatre in Bourg-en-Bresse is another building with a notable facade.

Cathedral of Notre-Dame of the Annonciation

With the earliest parts of the cathedral dating from the 16th century it combines elements of the original gothic church with more recent renaissance elements such as the main facade. inside it is the stained glass windows and the intricately carved wooden stalls and misericordes that are of particular interest.

Brou Royal Monastery

Brou church, built in the 16th century,  has a fine, decorated facade and decoratively coloured roof tiles while inside are several stunning works of art - to see particularly are the marble effigies in the mausoleums. Apart from the fine gothic decoration - some of the finest to be found in France - the cloisters, unusually stacked three high - are also very impressive.

The Royal Monastery of Brou is a National Monument and access details can be seen at Brou Royal Monastery visitor information.

Other information

The town is quite sizable and has a wide range of cafes and shops in a bustling town centre, with many other places of interest of note to discover as you explore, so allow plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere and relax in lively surroundings.

Close by you can also enjoy the substantial Bouvent leisure park, perhaps following the path that leads around the edge of the lake, or take a stroll in the Seillon Forest.

Photo shows a 16th century farm near Bourg-en-Bresse that is now open as the 'farm museum of the forest' at Courtes.

See Rhone-Alpes and Ain (the region and department for Bourg-en-Bresse) for more travel ideas...

Tourist classifications for Bourg-en-Bresse: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 3*;

Suggested places to visit near Bourg-en-Bresse, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Solutre-Pouilly 40km; Trevoux 46km; Tournus 47km; Brancion 49km;

Bourg-en-Bresse tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Brou Royal Monastery - national monument (0km) : Vonnas - ville fleurie 4* (18km) : Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne - recommended detour (23km) : Roche de Solutre / Roche de Vergisson - grand site of france (41km) : Saint-Vulbas - ville fleurie 4* (42km) : Chapelle aux Moines (Berze-la-Ville) - religious monument (42km) : Parc du château de Laye - remarkable garden (42km) : Trevoux - recommended detour (46km) :

See more places and a map at places near Bourg-en-Bresse