Dombes

Visit Dombes, Rhone-Alpes

The Dombes is a plateau in the Ain department (Rhone-Alpes region) north-east of Lyon and south-west of Bourg-en-Bresse, centred around Villars-les-Dombes, Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne and Marlieux.

At around 300 metres above sea level the Dombes plateau is an extensive flat area (more than 500 square kilometres) that is covered with small lakes and villages and a good number of historical monuments and castles - a unique environment in France.

The region is especially renowned as a bird-watching and fishing region - there is an enormous diversity of birdlife to be seen and apparently more than 130 species of bird nest here. The more than 1000 lakes here are man made, dug for the large part by monks wishing to use the clay (the French word étang better describes the environment than lake, because it describes small man-made lakes).

Exploring the Dombes

The Ain tourist department propose several different routes to follow when exploring that start either from Chatillon-sur Chalaronne (the north and west circuits) or Villars-les-Dombes if you are exploring the southern part of the region.

You can see full details of the suggested routes by visiting Ain Tourist Routes and selecting North Circuit, South Circuit or West Circuit at the top of the map. Many of the towns and villages along the suggested routes are also starting points for walks and nature trails in the surounding countryside, have unique monuments to visit, or feature birdwatching facilities nearby.

The 'west circuit' is the shortest at 60 km so is also ideal as a bike route - the other two are around 100 kilometres long.

Towns and villages and sights

The most important town within the region itself is the historical town of Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne, although many of the smaller towns and villages will also capture your attention.

The main towns to visit on the edge of the Dombes region are Lyon itself, which reaches as far as the south-western limit of the Dombes plateau, also Trevoux and the very picturesque village at Perouges (one of our favourite villages in France) to the east, and Bourg-en-Bresse to the north.

The bird park at Villars-sur-Dombes is a great introduction to the birdlife of the region for both aduls and children alike.

Note that the Dombes plateau can have 'unpredictable' weather, and rain, fog and low-lying cloud are not unknown.

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

Suggested places to visit near Dombes, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Bourg-en-Bresse 29km; Lyon 29km; Theize 30km; Bagnols 32km; Oingt 33km; Eveux 35km; Cremieu 36km; Macon 36km; Solutre-Pouilly 39km;

Dombes tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne - recommended detour (14km) : Trevoux - recommended detour (19km) : Parc du château de Laye - remarkable garden (23km) : Vonnas - ville fleurie 4* (24km) : Jardins du Château de Saint-Bernard - remarkable garden (25km) : Parc de la Tête d'Or - remarkable garden (27km) : Parc de Gerland - remarkable garden (29km) : Saint-Vulbas - ville fleurie 4* (29km) :

See more places and a map at places near Dombes