Bresse farms | ADT Ain

Heritage & tradition Nuggets to discover!

Objects of curiosity as you stroll through the Bresse region, their famous, elegant Saracen chimneys distinguish them from one another, as no two are identical.

Each farmhouse has its own history linked to local traditions. Initially, the construction system, based on assembled pieces of wood laid on a brick base, enabled the relocation of all or part of a dwelling or its outbuilding, when several heirs inherited the property. The choice of location was strategic, taking care to avoid wet or marshy areas.

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©Know-how at the Maison de Pays en Bresse Ecomuseum|Jean-Paul Maître

Le Domaine des Saveurs - Les Planons Bresse panorama from the 15th century to the present day

It’s a nugget of museography in the Ain region, nestled on a former farm of over 40 hectares. You’ll discover a traditional Bresse farmhouse, listed as a historic monument, as well as a 3,000 m² museum space.

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La Ferme de la Forêt An unspoilt piece of Bresse

In Saint-Trivier-de-Courtes, Ferme de la Forêt tells the story of Bresse in days gone by. Typical of the 16th century, with its adobe walls and majestic Saracen fireplace supported by a beam weighing over 4 tons, it bears the memory of a rural lifestyle shaped by time. You’ll discover the gestures of yesteryear, everyday objects and the simple rhythm of farm life.

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La Ferme du Sougey The ancestor of Bresse farms

A magnificent half-timbered farmhouse, the oldest parts of which date back to 1461. The farm’s reputation extends beyond the borders of the Bresse region, thanks to the richness of its architecture and the personality of its last owner, Maria Favier, a storyteller and friend to the stars when visitors flocked by the busload from France and abroad. Classified as a historical monument in 1946, the farmhouse is now a major cultural center, with regular sound and light shows. We also love the“feathers in the bocage” interpretation trail, a family walk dotted with riddles and hands-on games.

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Please note

30 Saracen fireplaces

Bresse chimneys, known as “sarrasines”, topped most of the large farmhouses. Some thirty remain, some of them protected as historic monuments.
So named “in reference to certain orientalist forms” by local scholars of the 18th and 19th centuries.
A structure that is clearly located towards the center of the room. The reason for this central location? Certainly sociological. In those days, members of the household would sit around the fire, each with a place assigned according to his or her position in the family.