Saint-Symphorien-D'ozon: Culture, Nature and Historic Routes

Saint-Symphorien-D'ozon offers a range of options for a stay: historic buildings, culture at La Villa Louvier, as well as trails and landscapes. If you are looking for a hotel, you can plan your stay according to whether architectural history and exhibitions or nature and trails are your priority.

Architectural History and Culture

The Hôtel de Mélat, also known as the former town hall, was built between 1775 and 1779 to plans by Joseph-François Desarnot. It is partially protected as a historic monument. The protection covers the façades and roofs, the staircase with its wrought-iron railing, the former reception room and former dining room on the ground floor, as well as the decorated gallery on the first floor. The Église Saint-Symphorien brings together several building periods: its choir dates from the late Middle Ages, the nave from the 18th century and the west façade from the 19th century. The church was first mentioned in 1153 as a possession of Ainay Abbey. Its architectural details include remarkable vaults in the sacristy and sculpted corbels. The construction history of the Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Mariniers spans the 15th to the 19th century.

The La Villa Louvier heritage centre presents the history of the commune, traditional crafts such as clog-making and fabric printing, and the area's natural habitats. It also hosts temporary exhibitions of photographs, paintings and sculptures. On Saturdays from 2 to 5 p.m., except on public holidays, you can visit La Villa Louvier independently. Guided tours for groups of 10 to 19 people are available by appointment. As visiting hours may change, check them before your visit.

Trails and Landscapes

In its third edition, published in January 2025, the historical and urban walking tour features 26 stops. The Chemin de la Vautière offers numerous views of the Ozon Valley and the Lyon metropolitan area, reaching as far as Mont-d’Or. For a different perspective on the commune, the Circuit des hauteurs reaches its highest point at 304 metres. The hills of Crapon offer sweeping panoramic views. The Les Grandes-Terres plateau is devoted to cereal farming, adding a glimpse of agricultural land use to the landscape.

The Marais wetland is also among the area's natural features. It includes one of the last five planted reed beds in the Rhône department. Ornithologists value the site for its biodiversity and the protection it offers to numerous bird species.

Treasure Hunts and Local History

“À la pêche au Dauphin” is a geolocated treasure hunt through the historic town centre. The 2025 visitor guide gives its length as two kilometres and its duration as one to two hours. The Gnolu treasure hunt can be completed alone, with friends or with family using a free mobile app that can be downloaded. Check in advance that the app is available. Guided tours of the old town centre can be arranged for groups on request.

A Market with a Long History

The Saint-Symphorien-D'ozon market was established in 1672 and is one of the oldest markets in the region. Along with the buildings and the historic walking tour, it adds a long market tradition to the area's cultural history.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Didier-au-Mont-d'Or, Soucieu-en-Jarrest, Arnas, Charnay, Bully, Saint-Cyr-Au-Mont-D'or, Saint-Genis-Les-Ollières, Saint-Clément-Sur-Valsonne

Go to the main travel guide: Rhône.