Nestled in the western foothills of the Jura Mountains, at the gateway to Lyon in the region of Ain, Jujurieux is one of the twelve stages of the Route du Bugey. What to do, what to see in Jujurieux, follow the guide!
A picturesque village at the foot of the Bugey Massif
30 km away from campsite Signal, at the foot of the Bugey, on the heights surrounding the Plaine de l'Ain and the Dombes, Jujurieux is a small village of some 2,000 inhabitants that attracts visitors in search of history, culture and picturesque charm. Walking through the steep streets of Jujurieux town centre is like stepping back in time. The limestone houses bear witness to the village's winegrowing history with their vaulted cellars and small staircases in front. The vineyard, abandoned at the beginning of the 20th century, has regained its letters of nobility today with the famous Cerdon AOC Bugey.
The village with 13 castles
Jujurieux is also the village of castles. There are no less than 13 of them in the commune! Some of them are very old and today form mysterious ruins in the heart of a wild nature. Others, more recent, were built during the 19th century by rich merchants driven by the growth of the silk industry in Jujurieux. Of particular note is the Château des Echelles (13th century), famous for its Renaissance frescoes, and the Chenavel castle, built in the 14th century and restored in the 19th century.
The Bonnet Silk Museum
Jujurieux is also famous for its silk factory founded in 1835 by Claude-Joseph Bonnet, one of the largest silk factories in France in the 19th and 20th centuries. Around 1870, the production workshops employed around 2,000 people, with a school, a chapel, an infirmary and even a boarding school for young girls. A real city within a city! Today, the factory has become a museum open to the public from June to October. A great moment of industrial history to discover.
Outdoor activities
In a wooded and hilly environment, Jujurieux and its surroundings offer a wide choice of outdoor activities. Hikers can follow the many paths in the Ain valley and the Pays du Cerdon and discover the magnificent landscapes that surround the village.
Cyclists can cycle along the country roads and towpaths along the River Ain. The river also offers many opportunities for canoeing, kayaking and rafting. Fishermen can also indulge their passion upstream of the Allement dam. You can fish for carnivorous fish (pike, pike-perch, perch, etc.), not forgetting trout and the emblematic "common grayling". Are you a potholing enthusiast? Jujurieux has several caves to explore. Among them, the Courbatière cave, dug into the limestone of the Chaux anticline. It is now the most visited caving site in the department with almost 2,000 visitors per year.
photo@Noé, CC BY-SA 4.0, wikimedia
