Discover Vescours: Church, Farm and Wetland

Vescours can be explored through a variety of historic and natural sites: the Church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption, the Ferme de Montalibord and the Etang et marais des Paccauds wetland. A moderately difficult circular hike adds a longer walking route to these themes. When planning your visit, it is worth distinguishing between the individual sites and their visiting arrangements.

Church and local history

The Church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption in Vescours was handed over to the Chapter of Saint-Vincent de Mâcon. A new bell tower was built on the facade of a church in Vescours in 1884–1885. These events belong to distinctly different periods: one concerns the historic transfer of the church, while the other is a later structural alteration. Anyone interested in the history of the area can use this example to distinguish between its medieval connection and a later intervention on the same building.

Ferme de Montalibord

The Ferme de Montalibord was built in the mid-15th century and extended in the 16th century. A striking feature of the estate is its unusually shaped Saracen chimney. Its square, pyramidal cap, iron cross and triangular decorations give it a distinctive appearance. Alongside the history of the church, this offers a glimpse of a farmstead with its own architectural feature.

In the restored museum building, visitors can learn about rural life in 19th-century Bresse and the history of a family that has lived there for three generations. The ecomuseum is open to visitors daily; paid guided tours are available on request. If you plan to take a tour, confirm the arrangements before your visit. This will help you place the museum visit in context, from the history and architecture of the building to the interpretation of rural life in the past.

The Etang et marais des Paccauds wetland

The Etang et marais des Paccauds site in Vescours covers 9.2 hectares and includes a pond and marshland. Woodland surrounds the area, which contains various natural habitats. The wetland merits protection for its wildlife, plant life and natural habitats. Animal species with particular protection and conservation needs include the yellow-bellied toad, the grey heron and the purple heron.

The site can receive visitors as part of supervised educational outings. For this type of visit, confirm the current programme in advance. Traditional fish farming also continues at the site. At Paccauds, protected habitats coexist with ongoing traditional fish farming.

Hiking and Etang Morel

The Etangs bressans de Vescours et moulin Morel hike is a moderately difficult circular route starting in Vescours. It is 14 kilometres long and takes about three hours on foot. Along the way, the route passes the Ferme de Montalibord and the 28-hectare Etang Morel. Etang Morel is known as a place with numerous birds and a mill. The route thus combines a longer walk with the farmstead and a pond distinguished by these two features.

For orientation, it is helpful to distinguish between Paccauds and Etang Morel: Paccauds refers to the wetland with its pond and marsh areas, while Etang Morel is a destination on the circular hike. The distance, approximate duration and moderate difficulty rating give you concrete information for planning your time. Check the trail conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Lhuis, Brégnier-Cordon, Ambérieu-en-Bugey, Prévessin-Moëns, Biziat, Neyron, Villebois, Reyrieux.

For the regional travel overview: Ain.