Journans: Chapel, Karst Spring and Wine

Journans combines architectural and cultural landmarks with a karst spring, hikes, and wine and cheese products. When looking for a hotel in Journans, these different highlights can guide your travel plans: village architecture, nature watching, or walking tours.

Chapel, church and village history

The Chapelle Saint-Valérien overlooks Journans. From there, views stretch across the village rooftops, towards the forest and over the Bresse plain. Its choir and nave may date from the 12th or 13th century. The Église Saint-Vincent also offers a distinct architectural point of interest: built from stone from the Revermont, it is considered an example of late 18th-century architecture. The church’s baptismal font dates from the 15th century. This brings together the architecture of the late 18th century and a much older furnishing in one building. Near the Église Saint-Vincent stands the linden tree known as “l’arbre de Sully,” considered to be 400 years old and attributed to Sully.

Source de la Reyssouze: spring, basins and washhouse

The Source de la Reyssouze emerges from a karst spring at the foot of a wooded slope. Its water fills two basins before flowing through a 19th-century washhouse. Here, nature and architecture form a discernible sequence along the same watercourse. The spring is considered a biodiversity site for salamanders, wagtails and dippers; sightings of these species may vary by season. As well as a view of the spring, the site offers a connection with nature, with wildlife sightings that can vary seasonally.

Two hikes with different profiles

“Journans – Les 4 clochers” is a signposted hike for walkers: a 12-kilometre circular route starting in Journans. The “Vignoble de Journans et Belvédère du Mont Rignat” hike also starts in Journans, but has a different focus: it leads to the summit of Mont de Rignat and offers a 360-degree panorama of the Revermont. Your choice of route can therefore be between a circular trail with a specified distance and a hike with a summit destination and panoramic views. These details can help you choose the route you want without treating the hikes as the same.

Exhibitions, wine and goat’s cheese

Dingues d’Art in Journans hosts temporary exhibitions and works by around 40 artists. The exhibition programme may change. Wine is also part of the local offering: Domaine de La Combes aux Rêves produces natural wines and sparkling wines. Check which products are currently available before your trip. Tastings of Cerdon and Bugey wines are offered in the cellar at Brendel René in Journans. As arrangements for visits may change, check in advance how a tasting is organised.

Chèvrerie du Mont Lovet traditionally makes goat’s cheese. Its products include fresh, semi-dry and dry cheese, as well as goat’s cheese bricks and goat’s tomme; the range may change. The selection thus includes various types of cheese as well as the wines mentioned above. Alongside hikes and cultural sights, this culinary focus can offer another specific reason to visit Journans.

La Clairière des petits lapins

La Clairière des petits lapins is a natural climbing and activity area for children. The play area is freely accessible to all children accompanied by an adult; the climbing wall is reserved for groups with certified supervisors. If you plan to visit, check the local conditions beforehand and bear in mind that access rules differ for the play area and the climbing wall.

Discover more destinations: Relevant, Hotonnes, Lompnieu, Champagne-En-Valromey, Mantenay-Montlin, Cessy, Blyes, Cleyzieu.

For the wider travel overview: Ain.