Royal Monastery of BrouThis masterpiece of flamboyant Gothic art shines as much for its finely carved stone lacework as for the incredible story of its founder Marguerite of Austria at the dawn of the Renaissance. Voted “France’s Favorite Monument” in 2014, the Royal Monastery of Brou attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Royal Monastery of Brou
Royal Monastery of Brou
Royal Monastery of BrouFounded under Charlemagne in the 9th century, the Benedictine Abbey of Ambronay is a jewel of religious heritage. Nestling in the heart of a “Petite Cité de Caractère” (small town), its sober, elegant architecture is marked by centuries of prayer and silence. But Ambronay is also a lively place: every autumn, its walls resonate to the sound of the internationally acclaimed Festival of Baroque Music. Between spirituality, history and suspended notes, Ambronay offers a timeless interlude.
Red brick, carron, sober architecture that blends into the Dombes landscape as if it had always been there. Bossan, the genius behind Fourvière, designed this masterpiece in the 19th century. But here, it’s all about rhythm: work, prayer, nature. The monks shaped the place and nourished their bodies with musculine, a meat-based recipe halfway between remedy and feast. Today, the community perpetuates the gesture: honey, jams, cheeses…
Notre Dame des Dombes
The MadonnaIn Miribel, the Mas Rillier is home to two little-known treasures: a majestic 32-metre-high Madonna, perched on a hill and watching over the Ain plain, and a 50-bell carillon, one of the largest in Europe. The Madonna, erected in 1941, can be reached via an interior staircase offering a breathtaking panoramic view. The carillon, installed in 1947, still rings out during ceremonies and events, adding a musical touch to this spiritually charged site. A site as impressive as it is peaceful.
