Beynost: Cultural History and Nature

Explore Beynost through its cultural history, events and landscape. The Villa Monderoux and Saint-Julien Church are historic landmarks, while the plain, wooded slopes and arboretum shape the area’s natural character. When planning your trip, you can decide what to focus on: would you like to take an event into account, visit historic sites or spend time outdoors?

Cultural History and Events

The Villa Monderoux is a historic building dating from the 16th century. It hosts cultural and festive events throughout the year, including exhibitions and concerts. The programme may change, so check the dates if you would like to include an event in your travel plans.

Since it was established in 2019, the Théâtre de Verdure in Parc Monderoux has hosted performances and concerts. These are organised by the municipality or by local associations. If a particular play or concert is a deciding factor in your trip, check the upcoming programme in advance.

The first Saint-Julien Church in Beynost was built around the 12th century, near the Nantua–Lyon section of the Way of St James. It remained dependent on Île Barbe Abbey until 1769. Two dates are relevant here: the approximate construction date in the 12th century and the precisely dated end of this dependency in 1769.

The former Saint-Julien Church served as a place of worship for seven centuries, then as a function hall for 77 years. The shift between these uses gives the building’s history a long-term perspective. The church is also associated with a specific object: the Autel-cippe in Saint-Julien Church is protected as movable cultural property; it was listed on 18 November 2005.

Plain, Forests and Arboretum

The natural and agricultural plain south of the motorway is crossed by the Sereine and the Miribel Canal. It is rich in flora and fauna. On the slopes of the Côtière near Beynost, forests of hornbeam, beech and black locust shape the landscape. These areas have distinct characteristics: the plain combines natural and agricultural land use with two waterways, while the slopes are defined by their forest species.

The arboretum in Beynost was inaugurated in 1998. It covers several hectares and is home to hundreds of trees of different species. The arboretum is open to the public free of charge and is a place to stroll, picnic and relax. As access conditions may change, check them locally.

A footpath starts at the arboretum and leads to historic heritage sites connected with water and nature. It provides a specific starting point for a walk with a historical connection. Check the route conditions before setting off.

Getting There and Choosing Where to Stay

Beynost is accessible by car via the A42 and A432 motorways, and by TER regional train. Beynost station is served by the Lyon–Ambérieu–Culoz–(Chambéry) TER line; the journey to Part-Dieu station takes 18 minutes. Check timetables and journey times before departure so you can plan your arrival around current traffic conditions.

You can then plan your trip around what matters most to you: events, church history or the landscape.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Mantenay-Montlin, Cerdon, Versonnex, Maillat, Ornex, Hotonnes, Lagnieu, Jasseron.

For the broader travel overview: Ain.