©Gorges de l'Ain seen from Mont Balvay|J. Arco/ Haut Bugey Tourisme

Rivière d'Ain, between gorges and valley

Want to see some stunning scenery? Nothing could be simpler! Follow the course of the River Ain! From gorges to valleys, the river makes its way from north to south, offering picturesque landscapes ideal for discovery and leisure.

Rivière d'Ain : water cuts the stone, history clings to the banks

It gives its name to the department of Ain, and not for nothing. The River Ain has sculpted the landscape, patiently carving a picturesque passage through the limestone relief. From downstream to upstream, cliffs spread apart, valleys open up and villages spring up. Some follow it by canoe, others prefer to see it from above, from a path clinging to the slope. But in the end, everyone takes the time to stop and contemplate the river, marvelling at the landscapes shaped over thousands of years.

Viewpoints and hikes : The easiest way to measure its size is to overlook the river...

With 50 km of high, astonishing karst cliffs, the gorges de l’Ain are revealed from viewpoints. In front of you: a landscape both raw and unspoilt, where nature imposes its strength and beauty.
Downstream, the landscape softens, the water unwinding its sinuous ribbon between mountains rounded by time. From here, everything seems clearer.

Where can you go to enjoy the view? Find on ain-outdoor.com hiking trails to enjoy the view...

Rocher du JarbonnetPanorama of the gorges

©Gorges de l'Ain, views from Mont Balvay|© J. Pruniaux/ Haut Bugey Tourisme

Mount BalvayThe valley in all its splendour

Belvédère des RochesView of Île Chambod

CROSSING HISTORY ALONG THE RIVER Villages & castles

To follow the River Ain is to go back in time without leaving the landscape. Villages cling to the cliffs, castles dominate the valley, gently sloping vineyards await the harvest and every stone tells a story. You walk along cobbled streets where the footsteps of ancient travelers still echo, cross a bridge that has replaced a vanished ferry, look up at a fortress frozen in its last stand.

©Château de la Cueille, seen from the River Ain|Baptiste Lacueille

Ports of call not to be missed

At the crossroads of influences, the Ain surprises…

©Poncin, medieval town|JF Basset/ Cerdon Vallée de l'Ain

PoncinMedieval city

©Château de la cueille and Bugey Cerdon AOC wine|Maison Bottex

Château de la CueilleOpen to the public for rare events.

CerdonThe cradle of Bugey sparkling wine

VarambonDiscreet village & its castle

STONE, STEEL, ELEGANCE Cize-Bolozon viaduct

Some bridges are functional. This one is a spectacle. A double row of arches spanning the river, a blend of strength and finesse, a balance between engineering and landscape. Built in 1875, blown up in 1944, rebuilt in 1950, it has seen it all, been through it all. Today, it still allows trains and cars to pass over it, because some structures are built to last.

From the lookouts or on a canoe trip, you’ll discover a landscape that’s both raw and unspoilt, where nature imposes its strength and beauty.

Fun on the water

COMMON QUESTION

Why is the Ain department named after the river?

Bordered by the Saône, the Rhône and the Jura mountains, a name was needed for this multi-faceted territory, which follows borders defined since the Middle Ages.

After the French Revolution, there was a need to break away from the old provinces of the kingdom. Names of rivers or mountains were chosen to rename the 83 departments. Today, of France’s 101 départements, some 60 are named after rivers…

Here, we’ve chosen the one that runs through them all. When Ain became a department in 1790, the river was a natural choice. It links the Jura massif to the Rhône plains, draws a line between Bresse, Dombes and Bugey, and unifies a territory that only needed a common thread.