Samognat: Lake, Golf and Local History

Samognat combines Lac de Samognat with golf, hiking and local history. The lake offers fishing from boats subject to a clear motor rule, while Golf du Haut-Bugey offers a 9-hole course. Le Tour de l’Oignin adds a circular hike with a stated distance, elevation gain and duration. You can tailor your stay around a specific focus: time by the water, golf or a hike, complemented by historic sites and buildings.

Lake and Golf

Fishing from a boat is permitted on Lac de Samognat as long as it has no combustion engine. If you are planning this activity, the motor rule is a specific point to keep in mind when preparing.

Golf du Haut-Bugey is also located by Lac de Samognat and has a 9-hole course. The facility includes 17 teeing areas, six of which are covered. These details describe different aspects of the golf offering: the course and the practice facilities. Golf du Haut-Bugey is also suitable for beginners. This gives you a clearly defined golf-focused option, distinct from fishing on the lake.

Circular Hike and Natural Sites

Le Tour de l’Oignin is an 8.1-kilometre circular hike. The route has a stated ascent of 112 metres and descent of 112 metres, and takes 2 hours and 20 minutes. These figures give you a clear idea of both the distance and the time required. The starting point is by the water near Golf du Haut-Bugey; the route is marked in yellow. The ascent and descent are equal.

The trail is open year-round. Maintenance, weather or safety restrictions may temporarily affect access. So check the conditions before setting out on your hike.

The Sauts et Marmites de Charmine are near Samognat. This landscape formation, classified as a natural site, was carved out by the river over centuries. This adds another natural feature as a distinct point of interest alongside the circular trail. The Gorges de l’Oignin in Matafelon-Granges are also used for hiking.

Craftsmanship and Local History

La Tournerie began in the 19th century as a workshop where locally cut boxwood was worked. It was made into chess pieces, draughts pieces and lottery game tokens. The story thus links a specifically named material with various products of local craftsmanship.

The church of Samognat also offers historic points of interest: it is Gothic in origin and entered through a 16th-century portal. In the hamlet of Royères, the so-called “grenier à sel” was used to store gabelle salt. The church and salt store add two further aspects to the workshop’s history: religious architecture and a former storage function.

Discover more destinations: Thoiry, Druillat, Nantua, Cerdon, Malafretaz, Jassans-Riottier, Loyettes, Brégnier-Cordon

For the regional travel overview: Ain.