Vonnas: Cuisine, Culture and Nature

Vonnas can be explored through three distinct themes: a local potato speciality, a cultural venue in a Romanesque church, and a trail through the Bresse bocage. Cuisine, architectural and archaeological history, and landscapes offer different starting points for tailoring your stay to your interests.

Culinary Tradition and Village Blanc

The Crêpe vonnassienne, also known as Crêpe parmentière, was invented by Elisa Blanc and is made from mashed potatoes. The two names refer to the same speciality; its potato base is a distinctive culinary feature of Vonnas. If you would like to discover the town through its cuisine, this dish offers a specific place to start.

Regional specialities offered in Vonnas include crayfish, pike and frogs from the ponds of the Dombes, as well as Bresse poultry and Burgundy snails. So the culinary experience extends beyond the crêpe: alongside it are other regional dishes and products that you can consider as interests in their own right when planning your trip.

The Village Blanc in Vonnas recreates an old village with a bakery, café, hotels, inn, boutiques, restaurants, cinema and wellness area. This mix brings gastronomy and shops together with culture and wellness, giving the village concept a varied character. If you plan to visit a particular establishment, check its current availability before your visit.

Church History and Cultural Venue

The Centre Saint-Martin is a cultural venue in a 12th-century Romanesque church. It brings together two aspects: historic architecture and its present-day use as an event venue. The Centre hosts performances, concerts, cultural events, conferences and receptions. Its programme therefore ranges from artistic events to meetings and celebrations.

A Merovingian sarcophagus was found in the foundations of the Centre Saint-Martin. This discovery adds an archaeological trace from an earlier period than the Romanesque church to the building's history. A cultural and historical perspective on Vonnas therefore encompasses both the 12th-century architecture and the find from the Merovingian period.

A Trail Through the Bresse Bocage

The circular trail “Escapade nature au coeur du bocage bressan” offers views of the Bresse bocage. It starts at Allée des Enfants de la Colonie d'Izieu in Vonnas. If you would like to include a landscape experience in your trip planning, the trail combines a specific starting point with views of the surrounding bocage.

Along the Renom lies the Moulin Burel, a former manorial mill belonging to the former lords of Marmont and Béost. This adds a specific historic site to the landscape theme. The trail can therefore be seen as combining two interests: views of the Bresse bocage and a mill with historical significance. This can help you decide whether the trail matches the focus you want for your stay in Vonnas.

Planning Your Trip to Vonnas

If you are looking for a hotel in Vonnas, the different themes can help you structure your trip planning. Consider whether the local cuisine, the history of the Centre Saint-Martin or the trail is what draws you most. The Crêpe vonnassienne and other regional specialities offer a culinary focus; the Centre Saint-Martin combines church history with a variety of uses, while the trail brings together landscapes and the history of the mill. This way, you can choose your stay according to the interests that bring you to Vonnas.

Discover more destinations: La Boisse, Mionnay, Ambronay, Nantua, Neyron, Ornex, Curciat-Dongalon, Massieux

For the regional travel overview: Ain.