Ars-Sur-Formans: Basilica, Museums and Pilgrimage Routes

Ars-Sur-Formans brings together the history of the Saint Curé d’Ars and religious buildings, exhibitions, and routes through the surrounding area. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus mainly on exploring the cultural sites or also make time for a guided tour and a hiking or cycling route.

Basilica, Chapels and Historic Traces

The Basilique Saint-Sixte is classified as a historic monument. In the Chapelle Sainte-Philomène inside the basilica, you can see ex-votos from the 19th and 20th centuries, including wooden crutches, engraved marble plaques and embroidered pictures. The varied objects give the collection a tangible form; their dates show that it spans two centuries.

The buildings’ history offers another way to discover the area. The Basilique Sainte-Sixte was built in the late 19th century by Pierre-Marie Bossan on the foundations of a Romanesque chapel dating from the 12th century. This building therefore brings together two periods separated by many centuries: the older chapel as its foundation and the later church. The Maison du Saint Curé d’Ars, by contrast, is an 18th-century house preserved in its original condition. It displays furniture, liturgical objects and personal belongings of the Saint Curé d’Ars.

The Chapelle du Cœur dates from 1930. It houses a bronze reliquary with ivory inlays, containing the heart relic of the Saint Curé d’Ars. Another distinctive building is Notre-Dame de la Miséricorde: this underground church dates from the 20th century. Together, these sites offer a range of historical and architectural points of interest, with buildings from several different periods.

Museum and the History of Pilgrimage

The Musée de cire d’Ars devotes part of its exhibition to the life of Jean-Marie Vianney from 1786 to 1859 and places it in its historical context. Listening stations also present the history of the pilgrimage and its impact on the village in an immersive format. At the museum, you can explore both an individual life story and the development of the pilgrimage site.

Another point of interest is the Monument de la Rencontre. The monument symbolizes the Curé d’Ars’s arrival in the parish he would serve. From the viewpoint there, you can see the village and basilica, as well as the Monts d’Or and Beaujolais. The site thus connects the memory of a specific moment with views over these named landscapes.

On Foot, by Bike or in a Group

The walk to the Monument de la Rencontre and back is listed as taking 45 minutes. For a longer option, follow the signposted “Le Chemin du Curé d’Ars” circular route. It is 16 kilometres long and can be travelled on foot or by bike along the route used by the Saint Curé d’Ars between Ars and Montmerle-sur-Saône. The time given for the round trip to the monument and the distance of the circular route are different planning measures, so consider which route and mode of transport you prefer.

Cycling routes from Ars-sur-Formans lead to the Via Rhôna. As route conditions may change, check the latest details locally. For groups of ten or more, the Ars tourist office offers guided tours of the village of Ars-sur-Formans. The tour lasts approximately one hour and 30 minutes. Check availability before booking. This lets you distinguish the longer guided tour offered to groups from the independently described walking and cycling routes.

The options described differ in content, duration and mode of transport, giving you specific points to consider when planning your day.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Maurice-De-Beynost, Mogneneins, Villieu-Loyes-Mollon, Prévessin-Moëns, Fareins, Cormaranche-En-Bugey, Ruffieu, Mijoux.

See the overview of destinations in the region: Ain.