Bourg-en-Bresse

Pleasure and art of living

With its city center and old quarters, its islands of greenery and its fine restaurants, Bourg-en-Bresse is a destination for pleasure. Art de vivre and gourmet delights are the hallmarks of a town that has survived the centuries since Roman times. Although it has changed allegiance several times between France and Savoy, it has preserved its identity as a generous town where life is good. Don’t be fooled: beneath its debonair provincial air, it hides a real character and offers many surprises to those who take the time to discover it.

Between gentle urbanity and nature, there’s something for everyone. A trip to Bourg-en-Bresse will convince you that the Burgundian capital has everything you need for a stay rich in small pleasures and big emotions!

Between the many events organized throughout the year, the network of shopkeepers in the heart of town, and recent developments, Bourg is literally a town on the move.

The beauties of the past

Bourg-en-Bresse boasts magnificent corbelled houses and 18th-century townhouses. Follow the Tourist Office walking tour to soak up the town’s atmosphere. Take time to admire the Belle Époque neoclassical buildings (former Post Office, theater, bandstand or high school).

Don’t miss a visit to the wonderfully preserved apothecary of the Hôtel Dieu. Another Burgundian treasure: the Monastère Royal de Brou will leave you speechless.

After this journey through time, you’ll enjoy a nature break in the Seillon forest or the Bouvent leisure park. The kids will thank you!

Guided tours

40 000residents

Population of Bourg-en Bresse

170hectares

Nature and green spaces

220 à 273meters

Altitude

Vélo Promenade in Bourg en Bresse

With a little time on your hands, there’s no better way to discover every aspect of the town than on a bike tour, which will take you from small islands of greenery to pockets of nature: from the Parc des Baudières behind the Monastère de Brou to the Bouvent leisure park, crossing the pretty Seillon state forest.

It’s a 1.5-hour loop that takes you gently around the town for a lovely afternoon in the fresh air!

Visit the Apothecary's

A unique place with the scent of encaustic and medicinal plants… The guided tour will reveal all the medical secrets of the nuns who cared for patients at the Hôtel-Dieu…

Visit

BouventLeisure Park

Around a lake, the meeting place for sports enthusiasts and families. For a stroll, a breath of fresh air, kayaking, an introduction to sailing or simply a picnic, the Bouvent park is a delight for young and old alike.

Discover

GOOD TO KNOW

Bourg-en-Bresse, torn between Savoie and France

At the confluence of the Bresse, Dombes and Revermont regions, evidence of human settlement around Brou dates back to Gallo-Roman times. In the 13th century, marriages brought Bourg-en-Bresse into the hands of the Duchy of Savoy, where it prospered under its protection. In 1506, Marguerite of Austria had the Monastère de Brou built, testifying to the importance the House of Savoy attached to the regional capital.

But in 1536, François 1er, with claims to the Duchy of Savoy through his mother, Louise de Savoie, claimed the succession of the Duke of Milan. He entered Bourg-en-Bresse.

In 1559, the town was retaken by Emmanuel-Philibert de Savoie, who turned it into a stronghold that withstood the French siege.

Under the Treaty of Lyon signed in 1601, Bourg-en-Bresse became part of the French kingdom.

The old quarters of Bourg-en-Bresse

Au coeur de la ville, 01000 Bourg-en-Bresse