Discover Ain: Nature, Trails and Gastronomy

Wetlands, dry grasslands, caves and high-altitude forests show the diversity of Ain’s natural landscapes. When planning your trip, it is therefore worth first considering what you would like to experience: trails and viewpoints, seasonal activities, or local cuisine and culture. These interests can also help you choose the right base for your hotel stay.

Nature between lowlands and mountains

The natural heritage includes lowland and mountain areas as well as wetlands, dry grasslands, high-altitude forests and caves. Nature trips in Ain are therefore not limited to mountain scenery: open habitats and waterways are also part of the département’s landscape. In total, 40 Espaces Naturels Sensibles (ENS) have been designated, covering more than 15,500 hectares. This figure may change if areas are added or reclassified.

A tourist map and an activities calendar for the ENS are updated annually. They help you choose natural areas and activities; check the current edition before your trip. One specific example is the 422-hectare ENS of the Gorges de l’Oignin. The protected area there encompasses a mosaic of different habitats with exceptional biodiversity. Fishing, hiking, mountain biking and golf are among the activities available at the Gorges.

The Grotte et reculée de Corveissiat also has several types of protected status: it is a classified site, part of the Natura 2000 network and subject to biotope protection. In the Haute Vallée de l’Ain, activities range from fishing, swimming and climbing to canoeing and kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, rowing, horseback riding, canyoning and caving. Local landmarks include the Cize-Bolozon Viaduct, the Ain Loop, the Belvédère des Roches and the Rochers de Jarbonnet. Before planning, check the local conditions for each activity.

Hikes and activities throughout the seasons

The hiking landscapes change with the seasons. They include flowering meadows on the Plateau de Retord, the lakes of Haut-Bugey, the ridges of Bugey and, in winter, the Jura Mountains. These differences can help you decide which landscapes you would like to experience on your trip. Mountain guides can accompany visitors on trails and point out wildlife and features of the landscape; availability varies by provider.

In Ain’s mountain areas, winter activities include cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding and skating on frozen lakes. Snow and operating conditions change, so check them before planning. Monts Jura offers seasonal summer activities such as summer tobogganing, mountain biking, golf, paragliding, a large zip line and hiking in the Haute Chaîne du Jura nature reserve. Availability depends on the season and providers. Winter mountain activities and summer pursuits thus offer distinct reasons to visit.

Culture and local cuisine

The Royal Monastery of Brou is a flamboyant work of 16th-century Gothic architecture. Margaret of Austria had it built in memory of her husband. The Château des Allymes tells a story spanning seven centuries, linked to the conflicts between Dauphiné and Savoy. The two attractions offer different ways to explore the past: one is a clearly identified building with a memorial purpose; the other has a long history shaped by political conflicts.

Cuisine also offers ways to shape your trip. Ain’s culinary profile includes Bresse poultry, quenelle with Nantua sauce, Galette de Pérouges, Comté, Bleu de Gex, Morbier and Bugey wines. Bresse poultry is produced according to strict traditional breeding requirements; a Bresse chicken is raised for 120 days. These details give an idea of how local specialties are linked to specific production traditions.

Choose a hotel in Ain to suit your travel interests

When looking for accommodation, you can use the themes of your trip as a guide: natural areas and hiking, seasonal mountain activities, or culture and local cuisine. Ain offers a variety of interests, and no single type of trip needs to define your entire stay. For example, if you mainly want to spend time outdoors, you can focus on the seasonal landscape and suitable activities; if you are interested in history and food, you will find distinct themes to guide your planning. Choose hotels in Ain with your planned activities in mind, and check seasonal conditions for specific outings.

Discover more destinations: Buellas, Montmerle-Sur-Saône, Treffort-Cuisiat, Béligneux, Chézery-Forens, Ars-Sur-Formans, Miribel, Villebois, Belley, Pont-De-Vaux, Giron, Lalleyriat, Cormaranche-En-Bugey, Lélex, Pont-D’ain, Vonnas, Châtillon-Sur-Chalaronne, Thoiry, Saint-Maurice-De-Beynost, Saint-Genis-Pouilly, Replonges, Oyonnax, Monthieux, Massieux, Ferney-Voltaire, Échenevex, Prévessin-Moëns, Nantua, Cerdon, Niévroz, Artemare, Château-Gaillard, Saint-Bernard, Montréal-La-Cluse, Chaneins, Jayat, Collonges, Coligny, Malafretaz, Bâgé-La-Ville, Thil, Saint-Nizier-Le-Bouchoux, Poncin, Champagne-En-Valromey, Lhuis, Saint-Trivier-De-Courtes, Champfromier, Biziat, Jasseron, Sainte-Euphémie, Cleyzieu, Villieu-Loyes-Mollon, Misérieux, Saint-Maurice-de-Gourdans, Châtillon-la-Palud, Curciat-Dongalon, Chanoz-Châtenay, Ornex, Blyes, Saint-Didier-sur-Chalaronne, Journans, Jassans-Riottier, Ambérieu-en-Bugey, Chazey-sur-Ain, Grilly, Saint-André-de-Corcy, Simandre-sur-Suran, Saint-Laurent-sur-Saône, Dagneux, Massignieu-De-Rives, Péron, Saint-Bois, Dompierre-sur-Chalaronne, Mionnay, Chavannes-Sur-Suran, Ramasse, Valeins, Ambérieux-en-Dombes, Peyrieu, Francheleins, Chevillard, Oncieu, Neuville-Sur-Ain, Saint-Alban, Vongnes, Bohas-Meyriat-Rignat, Vescours, Mogneneins, Druillat, Viriat, Gorrevod, Reyrieux, Neyron, Civrieux, Lagnieu, Jujurieux, Ambronay, Messimy-Sur-Saône, Culoz, Maillat, Relevant, Pérouges, Bellignat, Priay, Beynost, Hotonnes, Divonne-Les-Bains, Villars-Les-Dombes, Saint-Vulbas, Échallon, Saint-Didier-De-Formans, Montrevel-En-Bresse, Châtillon-En-Michaille, Montluel, Confort, Sainte-Julie, Saint-Étienne-sur-Reyssouze, Confrançon, Sermoyer, Servignat, Loyettes, Ruffieu, Thoissey, Saint-Jean-Le-Vieux, Saint-Rambert-En-Bugey, Bény, Cessy, Lompnieu, Le Grand-Abergement, Tramoyes, Samognat, La Boisse, Versonnex, Trévoux, Montagnat, Mijoux, Bourg-En-Bresse, Bellegarde-Sur-Valserine, Asnières, Arbigny, Aranc, Ardon, Gex, Servas, Attignat, Corbonod, Marchamp, Mantenay-Montlin, Pirajoux, Tossiat, Chanay, Saint-Étienne-Du-Bois, Meximieux, Segny, Hauteville-Lompnes, Évosges, Bourg-Saint-Christophe, Cormoranche-sur-Saône, Fareins, Brégnier-Cordon, Hautecourt-Romanèche, Crozet

For the main travel overview: Rhône-Alpes.