Home to 1,000 ponds, the Dombes region reveals an unexpected and ever-changing landscape to visitors. A veritable kingdom of ponds, it is France's leading freshwater fish-farming region and a land of ancestral traditions.
This bird paradise is home to exceptional flora and fauna in the heart of unspoilt nature.
In the Middle Ages, the landscape of the Dombes was one of vast marshes with clay soils. In those days, the inhabitants had few resources to feed themselves, lacking arable land and meadows for livestock. As early as the 11th century, monks shaped this land by creating the first ponds in the Dombes region, which served as fishponds.
Faced with a growing demand for freshwater fish, the number of these ponds multiplied, transforming the area over the long term.
Pond water comes from precipitation. To manage the water, man has created ditches to collect rainwater and circulate it from one pond to another.
Ponds are therefore often interconnected, forming a veritable network.
Ponds are organized according to the topography of the land. Some are higher than others. To move water from one to the other, you have to empty the lowest pond, open the thou of a pond further upstream and let the water flow. Water circulation and management are therefore very important. This helps to save and reuse water, a precious commodity in the Dombes region, many times over.
An empty pond doesn't have to be full. It can be left without water for a year: this is known as assec. This phase allows work to be carried out in and around the pond. The reach is cleaned out to remove the muddy earth that has settled during the years of evolution and which hinders fishing. Structures such as the thou and water inlets are inspected and repaired if necessary. It's also during the dry season that the farmer can sow cereals in the pond: oats and especially corn. These two activities - checking the works and farming - help to maintain, clean and enrich the pond.
The one-year dry period alternates with the "evolage" (pond in water), the duration of which has increased over time, from 2-3 years to 4-5 years.
The ponds produce carp, roach, rotengles, tench, pike and sometimes pike-perch.
Fish farming produces 1,500 tonnes of fish a year. The Dombes region is France's leading producer of pond fish. But before the fish can be tasted, they have to be raised, fished and transported.
Every year, the pond is emptied and the fish caught. The fish that have reached the right size are sold to the trader. The others are put right back into the pond to grow until the following year's catch.
Pond fishing generally takes place from October/November to the end of February. The pond must be emptied before fishing. To do this, the thou is opened to let the water drain out and the daraise (grid) prevents the fish from escaping. Emptying the pond, i.e. draining off the water, takes varying amounts of time, depending on its size. As the water flows out, the fish follow the current. On the day of fishing, all the fish are gathered in a bowl called the "pêcherie". Fishing takes place in several stages and requires the use of several tools: the arvot, the filochon, the fork, the gruyère...
The ponds of the Dombes region are a haven for birdlife. Whether sedentary or migratory, over 286 species of birds find refuge in this exceptional environment.
From sunrise to sunset, the ponds come alive with the aerial ballet of mallards, redheads and tufted ducks, while warblers, teals and pochards combine their songs to create an unforgettable spectacle.
Six Dombes ponds have been classified as Espaces Naturels Sensibles (ENS) for their major ecological role.
This label guarantees their protection and makes them open to the public thanks to their birdwatching facilities.
In 2023, the Dombes was officially designated a site of international importance for the conservation and wise use of wetlands: it was awarded the Ramsar label.
Its thousand ponds, age-old traditions and incomparable biodiversity make it a unique territory. Until now, however, the Dombes has enjoyed no international recognition.
This is now a reality, thanks to the Ramsar certification obtained on Wednesday March 22, 2023. The Dombes is the first Ramsar site in the Ain department.
In the Middle Ages, the landscape of the Dombes was one of vast marshes with clay soils. In those days, the inhabitants had few resources to feed themselves, lacking arable land and meadows for livestock. As early as the 11th century, monks shaped this land by creating the first ponds in the Dombes region, which served as fishponds.
Faced with a growing demand for freshwater fish, the number of these ponds multiplied, transforming the area over the long term.
Pond water comes from precipitation. To manage the water, man has created ditches to collect rainwater and circulate it from one pond to another.
Ponds are therefore often interconnected, forming a veritable network.
Ponds are organized according to the topography of the land. Some are higher than others. To move water from one to the other, you have to empty the lowest pond, open the thou of a pond further upstream and let the water flow. Water circulation and management are therefore very important. This helps to save and reuse water, a precious commodity in the Dombes region, many times over.
An empty pond doesn't have to be full. It can be left without water for a year: this is known as assec. This phase allows work to be carried out in and around the pond. The reach is cleaned out to remove the muddy earth that has settled during the years of evolution and which hinders fishing. Structures such as the thou and water inlets are inspected and repaired if necessary. It's also during the dry season that the farmer can sow cereals in the pond: oats and especially corn. These two activities - checking the works and farming - help to maintain, clean and enrich the pond.
The one-year dry period alternates with the "evolage" (pond in water), the duration of which has increased over time, from 2-3 years to 4-5 years.
The ponds produce carp, roach, rotengles, tench, pike and sometimes pike-perch.
Fish farming produces 1,500 tonnes of fish a year. The Dombes region is France's leading producer of pond fish. But before the fish can be tasted, they have to be raised, fished and transported.
Every year, the pond is emptied and the fish caught. The fish that have reached the right size are sold to the trader. The others are put right back into the pond to grow until the following year's catch.
Pond fishing generally takes place from October/November to the end of February. The pond must be emptied before fishing. To do this, the thou is opened to let the water drain out and the daraise (grid) prevents the fish from escaping. Emptying the pond, i.e. draining off the water, takes varying amounts of time, depending on its size. As the water flows out, the fish follow the current. On the day of fishing, all the fish are gathered in a bowl called the "pêcherie". Fishing takes place in several stages and requires the use of several tools: the arvot, the filochon, the fork, the gruyère...
The ponds of the Dombes region are a haven for birdlife. Whether sedentary or migratory, over 286 species of birds find refuge in this exceptional environment.
From sunrise to sunset, the ponds come alive with the aerial ballet of mallards, redheads and tufted ducks, while warblers, teals and pochards combine their songs to create an unforgettable spectacle.
Six Dombes ponds have been classified as Espaces Naturels Sensibles (ENS) for their major ecological role.
This label guarantees their protection and makes them open to the public thanks to their birdwatching facilities.
In 2023, the Dombes was officially designated a site of international importance for the conservation and wise use of wetlands: it was awarded the Ramsar label.
Its thousand ponds, age-old traditions and incomparable biodiversity make it a unique territory. Until now, however, the Dombes has enjoyed no international recognition.
This is now a reality, thanks to the Ramsar certification obtained on Wednesday March 22, 2023. The Dombes is the first Ramsar site in the Ain department.
Rates
Rates
Free access.
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Openings
Openings
All year 2025 - Open everyday
Location
Location
Spoken languages
Spoken languages
Environment
Environment
- In the country
- Lakeside or by stretch of water
- Waterside
