Replonges: Discover culture and walking trails

Replonges combines sacred art and local history with municipal walking trails, walks along navigable waterways and the Prairie, classified as a Natura 2000 site. There are several ways to plan a stay: explore historic buildings and places of remembrance, or take the 21-kilometre circular trail, which is estimated to take about five hours.

Church art and local history

The Romanesque church of Replonges contains a remarkable 13th-century equestrian bas-relief of Saint Martin. The Église Saint-Martin also houses a 15th-century altarpiece of Saint Martin. The same saint appears in two forms of sacred art spanning several centuries: an equestrian relief and an altarpiece.

Architectural features of the Église Saint-Martin include a nave with exposed masonry and a two-storey roof frame. These architectural details provide further points of interest alongside the artworks. The nave is the main space of the church.

The Tour de Luysandres is a former circular dovecote. The Chapelle de la Madeleine was built during the era of the great pilgrimages to Vézelay and Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle. It was already in existence in the 16th century; after falling into disrepair, it was renovated in 1938.

People from Replonges are also part of the town’s history. Raymond Dumay, born in Replonges in 1916, is commemorated by a stele inaugurated in 2000. Near the Lavoir murals stands a monument to Louis Desnoyers (1802–1886), a novelist and journalist born in Replonges.

Walking trails, the Prairie and the riverbanks

Replonges has municipal walking trails. The Ripalonga circular trail begins at Place Limorin; there is a free car park near the starting sign. The trail is for pedestrians and closed to motor vehicles. It is 21 kilometres long and is estimated to take about five hours. It can therefore be included in your stay as a longer hike.

The Prairie of Replonges is classified as a Natura 2000 site. The traditional practice of “vaine pâture”, a form of communal grazing, is still maintained there. The conservation classification and traditional use are thus two aspects of the same Prairie. The banks of the navigable waterways are ideal for peaceful, relaxing walks, offering a different option from the longer circular hike.

Plan your stay in Replonges

Replonges is located at the junction of major road and motorway routes: RD 1079, RD 933, A40 and A406. When looking for a hotel in Replonges, you can plan your stay around your preferred focus: historic buildings and places of remembrance offer a cultural and historical experience, while the circular trail makes a longer hiking itinerary possible. This makes it easy to choose the destination based on whether local history or walking is the main focus of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Segny, Ferney-Voltaire, Hautecourt-Romanèche, Chézery-Forens, Saint-Rambert-En-Bugey, Montrevel-En-Bresse, Ornex, Saint-Vulbas.

View the broader travel guide: Ain.