Discover Bourg-En-Bresse

If you’re looking for a hotel in Bourg-En-Bresse, the sights and green spaces can help you plan your stay around your interests. Highlights range from architectural history at Monastère royal de Brou and other historic buildings to cultural venues and programs, green spaces, and a circular cycling route. You can tailor your plans to your interest in architecture, collections, performing arts, green spaces, or cycling.

Monastery and architectural history

On a self-guided tour of Monastère royal de Brou, you can visit the church, the fine arts museum, and the three cloisters. As the visitor offering may change, check the details before your trip. Construction began in 1506. Architectural features include glazed roof tiles and a stone rood screen (jubé) separating the nave from the choir. The roof design and the layout of the church interior provide two specific architectural highlights on the tour.

Bourg-En-Bresse has preserved medieval half-timbered houses and townhouses from the 17th and 18th centuries, including Hôtel Marron de Meillonnas. Porte des Jacobins is a 15th-century gate from the former Dominican monastery. It has been protected as a historic monument since August 24, 1927. Notre-Dame Co-Cathedral is also a building with a long construction period: it was built between 1505 and 1696. These examples differ in form and period—from the gate and half-timbered house to the townhouse and co-cathedral.

Cultural venues and programs

At Apothicairerie de l’hôtel-Dieu, a laboratory, a back room, and a dispensary have been preserved. The dispensary features Louis XV wood paneling; the collection includes faience and small bottles. Here, the focus is on interiors and decorative details, not just façades and architectural forms.

Micro-Folie Bourg-en-Bresse is a cultural venue with a digital museum, a FabLab, and the Little Café. It also has a virtual reality area. Théâtre de Bourg-en-Bresse offers a changing program of circus, puppetry, theater, dance, and music, as well as public talks, participatory projects, and exhibitions. The cultural offering therefore spans different artistic disciplines as well as discussion and hands-on activities.

Green spaces and circular cycling route

At Jardin des Quinconces, symmetrically arranged flower beds can be seen in front of a 19th-century bandstand. Parc de la Visitation has a different character: it is a wooded area in the city center, surrounding a hill topped by a single column. Parc de loisirs de Bouvent includes a fitness and orienteering trail, a children’s play area, and picnic areas. The green spaces described thus range from a symmetrically designed garden to a wooded area and designated recreational facilities.

Vélo-promenade entre ville & nature is a 10 km circular cycling route that starts at the Bourg-en-Bresse tourist office. Plan it as a round-trip bike ride and check the current route before setting out, as route details may change.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Replonges, Saint-Trivier-De-Courtes, Villieu-Loyes-Mollon, Collonges, Belley, Thoissey, Mantenay-Montlin, Nantua.

For the regional travel overview: Ain.