Are you planning your next camping holiday in the Ain? Here is a selection of the best things to do and see during your stay.
1. The Parc des Oiseaux in Villars-les-Dombes
The Parc des Oiseaux, located in Villars-les-Dombes, is a must-see for budding birdwatchers (and others). The animal site invites you to discover 3,000 birds from all over the world of 300 different species. Numerous activities are offered throughout the year to observe parrots, toucans, flamingos, ibises, cranes, and many others up close.
2. The medieval village of Pérouges
The only village in the Ain region to be awarded the "Most Beautiful Village in France" label, Pérouges is a magnificent medieval town that has retained its old-world charm. The ramparts, the cobbled streets, the half-timbered houses and the church-fortress plunge us into a setting worthy of the best cloak-and-dagger films.
3. The Basilica of Ars
Ars-sur-Formans, a small village of less than 2,000 inhabitants near Lyon, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. The reason? The Basilica of Ars is a major place of pilgrimage for Catholics from all over the world. It houses the tomb of Saint Jean-Marie Vianney, the Curé of Ars, famous for his communicative faith, his devotion and his spirit of sacrifice.
4. The Royal Monastery of Brou in Bourg-en-Bresse
A veritable Taj Mahal of Bresse, the Royal Monastery of Brou is a pure jewel of flamboyant Gothic art. Built in the 16th century by Marguerite of Austria in homage to her late husband Philibert le Beau, it houses a mausoleum sculpted in white marble, as well as cloisters decorated with frescoes. A magnificent, superb, breathtaking site for history and architecture lovers.
5. The house of the children of Izieu
In the south of Bugey, the Izieu Children's Memorial is a place of remembrance dedicated to the 44 Jewish children and seven adults arrested and deported by the Gestapo on 6 April 1944. The site, which houses a permanent exhibition, allows us to remember these victims of the Shoah and to reflect on the values of tolerance and peace. A moving visit to the darkest hours of our history.
6. The Bresse Museum in Saint-Cyr-sur-Menthon
At the gates of Lyon, the Bresse Museum in Saint-Cyr-sur-Menthon is a farm-museum dedicated to the rural traditions and crafts of the Bresse region. On a 40-hectare estate, it presents collections of costumes, farming tools, furniture and folk art objects, offering a fascinating insight into daily life in Bresse from the 18th century to the present day.
7. CERN in Saint-Genis-Pouilly
CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), in Saint-Genis-Pouilly, is the largest particle physics centre in the world. It welcomes scientists from all over the world to conduct research into the origins of the universe and the properties of elementary particles. It is possible to visit the Synchrocyclotro
