Massieux: Local History and Cycling

Massieux offers ways to explore local history, enjoy walks along the Saône, and cycle on the Voie Bleue. Depending on your interests, you can focus on cultural history or on routes and mobility.

Location between the Saône and the Dombes

Massieux borders the Saône to the west. To the south, the Grand Rieu stream forms the natural boundary with Genay and the Rhône département. To the east, the area opens onto the Dombes plateau. The Saône and the Grand Rieu thus mark two municipal boundaries, while the Dombes is the landscape feature to the east. The geographical reference points therefore vary: waterways bound the area to the west and south, while it opens onto the plateau to the east.

Church of Saint-Barthélemy and history

The Romanesque Church of Saint-Barthélemy dates from the 12th century and was restored in the 19th century. Romanesque describes its architectural style and places it within medieval architecture; the restoration is clearly a later phase, distinct from the period in which it was built. Around 1176, the lordship of Massieux was under the authority of the lords of Villars. The church and the information about the lordship shed light on different aspects of the area: architecture on the one hand and political dependence on the other.

Walk and cycling route

The 14-kilometre towpath along the Saône is one of the popular walking routes among Massieux residents throughout the year. Conditions for visitors may vary depending on the season. If you plan to walk the route, check conditions on the day of your visit.

The Voie Bleue, Moselle-Saône à vélo, is a 700-kilometre cycling route included in the national cycling network under code V50. It connects the Luxembourg border with Lyon. Within the Communauté de communes Dombes Saône Vallée, the route follows the stretch from Fareins to Massieux. These endpoints indicate the route’s wider regional scope; Fareins to Massieux describes its course within the Communauté de communes. Motorised traffic is heavily restricted on the Voie Bleue; this restriction is part of the route’s design.

The distances refer to different scales: the towpath is 14 kilometres long, while 700 kilometres is the total length of the Voie Bleue. One figure refers to the walking route, the other to the entire cycling route.

There is a station on the Voie Bleue in Massieux for bicycle repairs and inflating tyres. A ramp for launching boats has also been renovated there. The facilities serve different uses: the station is useful to cyclists, while the ramp is for launching boats.

Bus service in Massieux

Bus route 184 connects Neuville-sur-Saône and Trévoux. In Massieux, it serves the Barrage, Genetière, Zone activité, Simply Market, and Bascule stops. The endpoints indicate the route’s regional scope, while the list of stops specifies the service within Massieux. Check the timetable for your travel date before setting off, and choose the stop relevant to your journey.

Discover more destinations: Montrevel-En-Bresse, Attignat, Château-Gaillard, Mogneneins, Ornex, Dagneux, Ferney-Voltaire, Maillat

For the broader travel overview: Ain.