Famous for its AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) poultry and delicious cuisine, Savoyard Bresse, located in the north-west of the department of Ain, is dotted with typical heritage buildings, a reminder of a rural past full of traditions. The land of gastronomes in the peaceful Bresse countryside, with landscapes of hedged farmland, woods and rivers, is also a choice destination for lovers of peace and quiet and freshwater fishing.
The Bresse Route, a tourist trail through the hedged farmland of Bresse, is an ideal way of discovering the riches of the local area: floral villages, Romanesque churches and Bresse farms are some of the attractions you can admire during your journey. Must-see sites of interest include the farms with Saracen chimneys in Courtes, Saint-Cyr-sur-Menthon and Saint-Trivier-de-Courtes, the Romanesque Church of Saint-André-de-Bâgé and its beautiful octagonal bell tower, the character village of Bâgé-le-Châtel, the small town of Pont-de-Veyle, known as the Venice of Bresse, and the gastronomic stop of Vonnas.
Don't miss the Departmental Museum of Bresse - Domaine des Planons, in Saint-Cyr-sur-Menthon, where a 15th-century farm (a listed historic monument) and a contemporary building contain exhibitions on the relationship between humans and nature, habitat, culinary traditions, costumes and finery.
Another top destination in Bresse is the Forest Farm-Museum in Courtes, an old half-timbered 16th-century farm which is remarkable for its architecture, Saracen chimney, Bresse furniture and collection of old farming tools.
A stay in the land of Bresse is a chance to savour delicious regional produce, such as the famous Bresse poultry, and enjoy traditional meals at local inns and restaurants.
The Glorieuses de Bresse, a famous contest for slaughtered poultry, takes place each year in mid-December in Bourg-en-Bresse, Louhans, Montrevel-en-Bresse and Pont-de-Vaux. Once the prizes have been awarded, the birds are sold to the public.
