Saint-Nizier-le-Bouchoux: Hiking and Heritage
Accommodation in Saint-Nizier-Le-Bouchoux
Saint-Nizier-le-Bouchoux combines hiking trails with architectural heritage: these include ponds, a fishing lake, a Romanesque church and a Bresse farm with a Saracen chimney. Demonstrations in a workshop are also among the town's attractions.
Hiking by route length and mode of travel
The three circular trails are 6.5 km, 12.3 km and 14.7 km long. The longest route is more than twice as long as the shortest; the middle one is 5.8 km longer than the shortest and 2.4 km shorter than the longest. This lets you compare the routes by distance if you are including hiking in your travel plans.
The hiking trails can be used on foot, by bicycle, mountain bike or on horseback. You can therefore consider the mode of travel as well as the distance. On the hikes, you can discover around a dozen ponds away from the trails. The circular routes differ in length; the ponds add another landscape feature to the hiking experience.
Fishing at the Plan d'eau de MĂ©pillat
Fishing at the Plan d'eau de MĂ©pillat is permitted from sunrise to sunset. Check the seasonal fishing regulations before your trip if you plan to take part in this activity. The time window follows the course of the day rather than fixed hours.
The church and Bresse architectural heritage
The Romanesque church of Saint-Nizier-le-Bouchoux was built starting in the 11th century. Its features include a galonnière and an elaborate altarpiece, a retable, depicting the Resurrection. Its construction and furnishings offer different points of interest: on the one hand, the Romanesque style of the church building; on the other, a religious theme in its furnishings.
Ferme Bourbon is the only surviving one of four Bresse farms with a Saracen chimney in Saint-Nizier-le-Bouchoux. Comparison with the other three farms makes its state of preservation a specific part of the town's history. La Mitra also has its own historical chapter: it was rebuilt around 1950 after its hood and hearth had disappeared.
The FĂŞte du poulet de Saint-Nizier-le-Bouchoux, a chicken festival, began in 1984 and adds another historical connection to the architectural heritage. At workshop demonstrations, steel, copper and brass are worked. Alongside church architecture and Bresse building styles, crafts and working with materials are also themes to explore during a stay in the town.
Plan your stay
If you are looking for a hotel in Saint-Nizier-le-Bouchoux, you can narrow down the purpose of your trip: would you like to compare the circular hiking trails mainly by distance and mode of travel, or are you more interested in the church, Ferme Bourbon and the workshop? Fishing at the lake is another option; keep the time window and seasonal regulations in mind.
Discover more destinations: Viriat, Jasseron, Sainte-Euphémie, Misérieux, Attignat, Poncin, Bellignat, Loyettes
For the broader travel overview: Ain.
