Between hedged farmlands and 1000 ponds

A wave of the senses for all!

The western part of the region, which includes Bresse and Dombes, offers a very complementary alternative to the mid-range mountains. The walks here are gentler and more accessible to the whole family. Activities lend themselves to day trips or short stays. The landscape offers visitors an unspoilt natural environment just a stone’s throw away!

On land, in the water or in the air, activities are available for young and old alike, in both sporting and contemplative modes, enabling visitors to discover unique landscapes. An unlimited range of possibilities for a holiday you won’t soon forget!

©Dombes ponds, seen from the sky|Colette Dubois/ Aintourisme

A balanced territory

From the Dombes to the Bresse, water and land unite in a harmonious landscape. Here, man has managed to work with nature rather than dominate it. Marshes have become ponds, creating an ecosystem where the sky is reflected in 1,100 mirrors of water, home to a rare wealth of migratory fauna. Further north, the Bresse region rolls out its carpet of lush grasses, between hedged farmlands and deep forests that are home to an exceptional terroir. Every hedge, every meadow, every furrow has been thought out, shaped and tamed. A balance between nature and the hand of man that spans the centuries.

HERITAGE A past that still resonates

Can you hear the rhythm of stone and the ancient stories that inhabit these landscapes? In the Dombes region, the ochre of the carrons creates a unique architectural framework, where castles and fortified houses stand like living vestiges of the Middle Ages. In the Bresse region, farmhouses with Saracen chimneys are intriguing, slender silhouettes emerging between hedgerows and meadows, bearing witness to a rural know-how that is as functional as it is aesthetic. At the heart of this territory, the flamboyant Gothic of the Royal Monastery of Brou marvels with its stone lacework, an eternal tribute to a lost love. Here, heritage isn’t just something to contemplate, it’s something to feel.

Looking for something different?

You’ve looked up at the castles, gazed at the reflections of the ponds, breathed in the smell of melted butter. Now you want to get moving? Take to the trails or let our heritage seduce you… Two options: walk or contemplate. It’s up to you!

Hiking & walking

Must-see sites in Ain

Taking the time to discover

Here, we stroll as much as we explore. Lose yourself in the narrow streets of a medieval town, marvel at the ballet of migrating birds, linger at a bustling market where local flavours are exchanged with smiles. It’s a region to be discovered through encounters and detours.

NATURE ON THE MOVE The Bird Park

In the heart of the Dombes region, the Parc des Oiseaux is a living crossroads, a stopover where species follow their own trajectory, drawing a perpetual ballet between earth and sky. Watch a pink flamingo stretch out in the morning light, listen to the flapping wings of a flamboyant ibis, follow the gaze of a bird of prey as it takes flight… Each visit is an immersion, a moment suspended in the fluid rhythm of nature.

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Towns and cities with character

Each town has its own character, each village its own soul, so many places to explore, so many atmospheres to experience.

Did you know? The Ain is a land of thrilling moments

The region’s festivals aren’t just cultural events, they’re open-air experiences. From Printemps de Pérouges to Cuivres en Dombes and Musicales du Parc, each event takes its place in the landscape, letting nature and heritage write the score.

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For the pleasure of your taste buds...

GASTRONOMY Flavours that stay with you

Slowly simmered poultry, butter that melts on the tongue, a sauce that stretches and prolongs the pleasure. Here, every bite is a gourmet wave that spreads long after the last fork.

MOVE FORWARD SMOOTHLY Follow the landscape effortlessly

Here, there’s no rush, just the rhythm of the land. Paths wind smoothly, rivers draw invisible routes, the wind gently pushes at your back. On foot, by bike, by boat, movement is a matter of course, not performance.