This small French city in eastern Ain has a 16th-century old town, traditional bistros, and the Renaissance-era Musée de Brou displaying local art and artifacts.
Bourg-en-Bresse sits 70 kilometers northeast of Lyon in eastern France. You'll find Gothic stone carvings at the Royal Monastery of Brou, medieval timber-framed houses along Rue du Palais, and active markets where local farmers sell the region's famous Bresse chickens. The town's 16th-century Notre-Dame Cathedral rises above narrow streets lined with Renaissance mansions and old merchant houses.
Royal Monastery of Brou
The Royal Monastery dates from the early 16th century and stands in the Brou suburb. Margaret of Austria ordered its construction to honor her husband, Philibert le Beau of Savoy. The church's facade includes detailed stone carvings and sculptural work, while the interior contains artworks from 1532, including marble tombs and religious sculptures. Three cloisters wrap around the main building, with carved columns and vaulted passages. Visit the Museum of Brou to see its collection of 16th and 17th-century paintings.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
A square-based tower with an octagonal section and dome marks the cathedral in the town center. The 16th-century building has pointed Gothic arches and a classical Renaissance main facade. Inside, carved wooden stalls line the walls, and stained glass windows create light patterns on the stone floors.
Markets and Local Cuisine
Over 200 vendors set up at Place du Champ de Foire for the Wednesday and Saturday morning markets. Local farmers sell seasonal vegetables, regional cheeses, and Poulet de Bresse - the only chicken in France with its own appellation d'origine contrôlée certification. In December, the Bresse chicken festival fills the town center with cooking demonstrations, food tastings, and agricultural displays.
Historic Town Center
Walk through the Porte des Jacobins to reach streets with 15th to 18th-century buildings. The Maison Hugon and Maison Gorrevod on Rue du Palais show traditional timber-framing methods. At Hotel Marron de Meillonnas, you'll see Louis XV balconies and an interior courtyard. The 17th-century Hotel-Dieu contains an apothecary museum with hundreds of original medicine containers, surgical tools, and pharmaceutical equipment.
Bouvent Park
This 56-hectare recreational space includes a 21-hectare lake for water sports from mid-May to late August. The park has a 9-hole golf course, fitness trails, and orientation courses. A 5-kilometer path circles the lake through oak and maple trees. In summer, a lakeside facility rents paddleboards, kayaks, and small sailboats.
