Sainte-Euphémie: Church, Art and Walking Trails

Several specific cultural and natural features can help you plan your trip to Sainte-Euphémie: the parish church, Tour du Boujard, Croix du Machard, Château du Boujard estate and walking trails. This can help you decide whether architectural history and religious art, local symbolism or walking should be the main focus of your stay.

Parish Church: Architectural History and Sacred Art

The present-day parish church of Sainte-Euphémie was built in 1874 and 1875 by Lyon architect Jean-Marie Thoubillon. Some of the materials from the former church were reused in its construction. It stands on a landscaped terrace above the town centre and faces south rather than west. Architectural history and location are two distinct aspects to consider: the dates and architect refer to its construction, while the terrace and orientation relate to its setting.

Inside is a large mural on a gold mosaic background. It depicts Christ, the twelve apostles and twelve saints or martyrs. The mural adds sacred visual art to the church’s construction date and orientation: the figures depicted and the golden background are at the centre. This allows the architecture and artwork to be considered as distinct cultural and historical themes.

Tour du Boujard: Heraldic Motif and Painting

Tour du Boujard features in two cultural contexts: it is depicted in the coat of arms of the commune of Sainte-Euphémie and inspired the painter Maurice Utrillo. In September 1929, Utrillo depicted the tower in a gouache on paper. The coat of arms and the painting offer two different ways of understanding the tower: as a local symbol and as the subject of a dated artwork. This is a different perspective from that of the parish church, where architectural history and the mural are the focus.

Croix du Machard: Imagery and Dating

The Croix du Machard stands beside the CD 88 departmental road, at the entrance to an unpaved path leading to the hamlet of Roussillon. The front depicts Christ on the cross, with a titulus plaque above him; the reverse features the Virgin and Child. The cross probably dates from the second half of the 17th century. Two different points of reference complement each other at this monument: the imagery on both sides and a probable date. For your trip planning, the Croix therefore differs from the Tour du Boujard’s connections to a coat of arms and a painting.

Estate and Walking Trails

The Château du Boujard estate includes a park, a chapel, a dovecote, a farm and a well. Here, the cultural perspective shifts from a single monument to an estate comprising several distinct features.

Sainte-Euphémie has walking trails and a natural and cultural heritage suited to local tourism. The Circuit d’Ars circular trail first takes walkers towards Les Bruyères de Sainte-Euphémie, then continues towards Le Baderand and Trévoux. If walking is the focus of your plans, this route takes precedence alongside the individual buildings and visual motifs. Check the signage and access before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Mogneneins, Loyettes, Priay, Neyron, Simandre-sur-Suran, Saint-Bernard, Saint-Jean-Le-Vieux, Ars-Sur-Formans

For the broader travel overview: Ain.