Royal Monastery of Brou

Love and beauty

As soon as you arrive, the building with its Burgundian glazed tile roof and delicately carved gables makes a statement. Inside, the magic continues: fine sculptures, delicate stone lacework, fine statues, elaborate stalls… Every detail is important, helping to create the feeling of eternity that grips you in the face of such splendor and balance.

At the center of the mausoleum lies the recumbent body of a man who was dearly loved, mowed down in the prime of life and watched over by the two women who loved him most of all, his mother and his wife Marguerite of Austria. The mausoleum is brimming with hidden meanings to be discovered along the way. Will you be able to see all the omnipresent monograms where the P and M (the initials of the legendary couple) intertwine, decipher their history in the stained glass windows and detect all the signs?

This is THE monument to visit in the Ain! It really deserves to be discovered. There’s so much to say about it, you’ll want to come back regularly… A guided tour is a great way to learn about the history behind the creation of this sanctuary dedicated to Love. In summer, during the nocturnes, it’s a thrill to find yourself almost alone in the middle of the monument. The sculptures are incredibly delicate, a veritable stone lace.

Art, the heart of emotion

The monastery was built on an ancient site containing Burgundian tombs. After its construction, the splendid church and its three cloisters were home to Augustinian monks, who watched over this treasure trove of beauty until the French Revolution.

On the first floor, Bourg-en-Bresse’s municipal museum exhibits a collection of fine religious statues, paintings from the 16th to the 20th century, and modern art installed in the monks’ former cells.

The museum’s fine collection is a tribute to Marguerite of Austria, lover and patron of the arts, and a patron of the arts perfectly in tune with her times.

3hearts

in the center of the church

1stmonument

voted France’s favorite

1 à 2hours

visit

11euros

adults (<26 years: free)

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31€

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GOOD TO KNOW

Story of a powerful woman

The Monastère de Brou was born of the will of a powerful woman: Marguerite of Austria, daughter of an emperor, Duchess of Savoy, ruler of the Burgundian Netherlands, godmother and aunt of Charles V.

After breaking off her engagement to the future king of France, Marguerite was married to the child of Spain, Jean d’Aragon, in 1793. She was widowed in 1797, six months after her marriage.

In 1501, she married Philibert le Beau, Duke of Savoy, who introduced her to the Ain region. The marriage was a success, and Marguerite made her mark on the duchy. But this happiness was short-lived: Philibert died in a hunting accident on September 10, 1504, at the age of 24. Marguerite was widowed.

Echoing a wish made by Marguerite d’Aragon, Philibert’s mother, to erect a monument to her husband, the young widow launched the construction of the Monastère de Brou, between 1506 and 1512, which was later enlarged by Flemish architect Louis van Bodeghem. He drew up the plans in pure Brabant Gothic style.

Although this woman, regent of the Low Countries, had her apartments fitted out in the monastery, she never had the opportunity to enjoy them. She now rests there with the great love of her life, Philibert.

Royal Monastery of Brou

Elevation : 241m

63 boulevard de Brou, 01000 Bourg-en-Bresse

04 74 22 83 83

www.monastere-de-brou.fr

Spoken languages

Environment

Close to a motorway
Town location
Close to a public transportation
Bus stop < 500 m

Access

Bourg-en-Bresse TGV station (Paris 1h50, Lyon 45 min) 15 min by bus, 10 min by bike or 25 min on foot; 35 km east of Mâcon, at the intersection of the Mâcon/Geneva and Dijon/Lyon routes; From Mâcon and Geneva: A40 exit no. 7; From Lyon: A42-A40 exit no. 7; From Strasbourg, Besançon and Dijon: A39 exit no. 6; Mâcon river port 23 km; Lyon St Exupéry airport 77 km.