Brégnier-Cordon: ViaRhôna, trails and heritage

The ViaRhôna, a cycle route along the Rhône from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean, runs through Brégnier-Cordon. When planning your trip, you can also consider walking and themed trails of varying lengths and difficulty, as well as natural and cultural sites. If you’re looking for a hotel in Brégnier-Cordon, you can plan your stay around these interests: cycling, a particular hike or the history of the area.

Cycle route and walking trails

The Sentier des Îles et Lônes du Rhône is an easy 3.3-kilometre walking trail starting in Brégnier-Cordon. It leads through the municipal forest to a viewpoint overlooking Île de Noyer. The trail therefore connects a starting point in the village with a clearly identified destination in the landscape.

The Sentier de l’eau offers a different experience: this moderately difficult circular trail is 7.2 kilometres long and takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes. It starts in Brégnier-Cordon; you can set off near the church or from the car park at Cascade de Glandieu. As an interpretive trail, it explores the influence of water on landscapes and people’s lives. Compared with the easy 3.3-kilometre walk, it is longer and described as moderately difficult; the approximate duration helps you factor the time required into your day’s plans.

Water and nature

Cascade de Glandieu is 60 metres high and easily accessible to visitors. It is designated as a protected site and forms part of the Natura 2000 area “Milieux remarquables du Bas-Bugey”. The area around the waterfall offers opportunities for hiking, fishing and caving. In addition to visiting the waterfall, you can enjoy a range of activities in the area.

Archaeology and heritage

Grotte de la Bonne Femme is an undeveloped rock shelter listed in the inventory of historic monuments. Archaeological excavations there uncovered numerous worked flints dating from the Magdalenian period. Along the Route Tour du Mont de Cordon, the rock shelter can be seen on the shore of Lac de Pluvis, now a feeder canal.

If you’d like to discover the heritage of Bugey’s villages by car, the Route du Bugey is a tourist driving route. The tourist office also offers a guided tour about the history of the hamlet of Glandieu. It is available by prior reservation only; keep this requirement in mind if you’d like to include the tour in your plans. The driving route focuses on the heritage of Bugey’s villages, while the guided tour covers the history of the hamlet of Glandieu. The two experiences therefore differ in their regional and local focus.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Alban, Pirajoux, Reyrieux, Crozet, Confrançon, Saint-Étienne-Du-Bois, Asnières, Montmerle-Sur-Saône.

For the broader travel overview: Ain.