Things to see and do Rhônes-Alpes

The house of Accordions and Ancient Instruments preserves in its walls a beautiful collection of five hundred instruments of different eras. For two hours you will be able to admire them under all the seams, they are within your reach, aligned with tables, so it is easy to compare the different models while carefully following the explanations that will allow you to better restore their evolution over time. It will inevitably create some vocations, advice to amateurs!

Count Guy IV of Forez orders the construction of the castle of Chalmazle from 1231 that he finances at his expense. In the Renaissance, this building became the property of the Marquis of Talaru, which returned from the wars of Italy, projecting embellishments in Renaissance style: Skeleton facade, interior courtyard galleries and paintings of the chapel, sculptures… before leaving in 1533 this castle due to the harsh winters. For a few years it is the sisters Saint Joseph who will occupy him and carry out numerous restorations. In 2002, the new owners decided to open it on the visit and create guest rooms. In medieval terms, it presents elements of the strong house of origin and of all the styles that have passed over the centuries: meurtrières, donjon, ronde, galleries, chapel…

The natural and cultural heritage of the Chartreuse is particularly rich. Shared between Isère and Savoie, the Chartreuse Regional Nature Park, created in 1995, offers fantastic landscapes that are easy to discover. From the limestone mountains with their magnificent perched synclines to the cradle of the Carthusian order founded by Saint Bruno in the ^11th century, it's hard not to be fascinated by this massif. The Chartreuse is all about the water that sings in the many basins in each of the small villages scattered across the mountain, or the water that gushes in cascades and then rumbles in the ravines of the Guiers Mort and Guiers Vif. There are also beautiful forests and the scent of wood cut in sawmills. In fact, Chartreuse wood, used in construction, has been awarded the AOC label. It is produced from fir and spruce trees grown in the Chartreuse mountains. The Chartreuse Regional Nature Park is also home to a few morels lurking on the banks of a shady stream, a sabot-de-vénus lurking at the bend in a path or a black grouse chuckling as it flees the hustle and bustle of hikers. Chartreuse is not for eating: it's for savoring.

Bordered to the south by the cluse de Grenoble and to the north by the cluse de Chambéry, the Chartreuse appears like another limestone fortress. It offers hikers a number of peaks that exceed 2,000 m in altitude, the highest being Chamechaude at 2,082 meters. It is recognizable by its molar-like appearance, and is sometimes nicknamed "Gargantua's tooth". The Chartreuse also boasts a number of caves and galleries, popular with speleologists. In one of these caves, La Balme à Collomb, a little-known historical treasure has been discovered: a natural cave bear cemetery, over 20,000 years old! To date, 10% of the site has been excavated, and 12,000 bones or bone fragments have been found. The remaining areas have been left open to researchers. Of course, it's not possible to visit the original cave, but a reconstruction of the site provides a fascinating insight into the subterranean world where cave bears reigned supreme. It's hardly surprising that, with such an exceptional environment in terms of flora and fauna, the whole massif has the status of Regional Nature Park. This exceptional biodiversity is due in no small part to the great diversity of natural environments found in the massif. Its mountain forests, made up mainly of beech and spruce, are home to deer, chamois, lynx and owls, while its mountain meadows are home to numerous insects such as butterflies and beetles that thrive on the grasslands.

The Chartreuse, which Stendhal dubbed "the Emerald of the Alps", is a necklace whose every pearl must be admired. At its heart, the cirque de Saint-Même is one of the highest points in the Entremonts. The Cirque de Saint-Même is wild and unspoilt, offering a unique experience of nature, crowned by sheer rock faces and the sound of the wind running through the tall trees. Several hiking possibilities on site. At the heart of the cirque, right on the cliffs, the waters of the Guiers Vif escape from the bowels of the Earth and tumble down in a succession of great waterfalls. The most impressive of the passages leading over the cliffs to the upper plateaus is the Pas de la Mort, with its evocative name and long, overhanging ledge. It's the ideal place to hear the heartbeat of the Chartreuse! Another gem is the Grottes de Saint-Christophe (or Grottes des Échelles). These two caves, reached via a natural route, are home to thousand-year-old limestone rocks sculpted by water over time. The visit lasts an hour and a half. For the full experience, you can also try your hand at caving (from age 6) or acrospeleology (from age 12) in this unique setting.

And if you're looking for a bit of height, the Chartreuse also offers some breathtaking lookouts, such as the Sangles lookout overlooking the Guiers Mort gorges and the Grande Chartreuse monastery. But the most impressive viewpoint is undoubtedly at the end of the Petites Roches plateau, on the eastern face of the massif. This is a veritable balcony-belvedere, overlooking the Isère valley upstream from Grenoble by 800 m, and itself dominated by the cliffs of the Dent de Crolles and its northern extensions by 1,000 m. Today, the Plateau des Petites Roches is a world-famous venue for hang-gliding enthusiasts. Every September, the Coupe Icare brings the sport's greatest champions to Saint-Hilaire. It's another way of seeing the Alps, as you glide gently over them on the wings of the wind, like one of those majestic birds above the Chartreuse. The Chartreuse Regional Nature Park offers a wide range of sporting activities. In summer, take advantage of the many signposted trails to discover the richness of the forests, cliffs and reliefs on foot. In winter, put on your snowshoes or skis and head for the ski resort of Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse.

Visitors with the sea foot will be able to embark on this one day getaway from Trévoux towards Pont-de-Vaux. Travelling through the Saône and touching at the passage two locks, the day of navigation is punctuated by a meal and ends by visiting the museum Chintreuil in Pont-de-Vaux. Other short stroll (2 h) are also organised from Trévoux. Information at the Tourist Office.

140 km circuit through the coniferous forests, picturesque villages, lakes and pastures surrounding Bobois-Lompnes.

If its castle was abandoned in 1601, the town of Jasseron is still dominated by the dungeon and some walls are still visible today. Several circuits allow to discover on foot, the city and its landscapes, its washing machines, its church, its reservoir, Notre-Dame-des-Rhone chapel, or the calvary of the hamlet of sanciat. A heritage developed since 1973 by the Friends of Jasseron, an association that has published a book depicting the 2 000 years of history of the commune, for sale to the village's press.

Meeting with wildlife! As a matter of course, it is quite likely that you will take a few beautiful specimens on the path of swans, pêcheurs, mallard or wild stilts that have settled in the surrounding area. hard to get tired of the show! However, flora also has serious assets of seduction: iris, house, damasonies, wicked renoncules… What no longer know where to give your head! As for the circuit, you will cross over the hamlets of the Sablonnière, Migeline or Verfey, before passing on to the Chemin Castle.

Tariff: free.

Duration: 2 h.

Difficulty: .

If you live Bressolles, probably have you ever participate in the famous "days pies" around the ovens? Well, we offer this time you a quite different way - but equally friendly - to discover the architectural heritage of the village: a pedestrian loop. You will discover successively the ovens of Paillot, Verfey, the Main Street, the oven in France, those of Bichon and Léchère, then you can finish by oven in the Bonnet, before joining church square, your starting point. Restored at the end of the last century, it deserves a penetrates; on the way to admire its typical walls, made of pebbles, bricks and stones.

Price: free.

Distance: 3.8 km away.

Problem: easy.

Camping Domaine de la Dombes is a 4-star campsite located in Saint-Paul-de-Varax, 15 km from Bourg-en-Bresse and 45 km from Lyon. It offers services such as free Wi-Fi, breakfast included, free parking, disabled access, an outdoor swimming pool and child-friendly facilities. The campsite's reception and store are also open at the same times. The campsite is close to the Parc des Oiseaux and offers regular news and special offers.

A product of excellence, Poissons de ^Dombes® are the result of a unique landscape shaped by man for centuries, the thousand ponds of the Dombes region, and of ancestral know-how handed down and improved from generation to generation. Raised in a preserved environment for 3 years, Poissons de ^Dombes® benefit from a remarkable environment to become, over the years, high-quality gourmet products with a unique taste. For over a century, the men and women of the Poissons de ^Dombes® chain have been committed to guaranteeing exceptional quality, from pond to plate. Present in the fresh waters of the Dombes region since its origins, carp is prized for its tasty flesh and can be prepared in a wide range of gourmet recipes! On the website, you'll find ideas for a variety of dishes, starters and aperitifs. Carp, pike and pike-perch can be found on the shelves of your local stores, supermarkets or farm stores, as well as on the region's finest tables. Original and innovative, Cuir de carpe de ^Dombes® products are made from carp from the Poissons de ^Dombes® specifications. High-quality leathers tanned in Lyon, transformed by passionate craftsmen into magnificent leather goods, jewelry, accessories and sneakers. Buy online at www.cuir-de-carpe-de-dombes.fr. Whether at home or in a restaurant, Poissons de ^Dombes® offers the best of its native terroir and inimitable savoir-faire.

The beach of Mama is a unique opportunity to practice naturism in Lyon. Instead, to be precise north of the Grand Parc of Méribel-Jonage. Between G and H benchmarks at the restaurant La Mama, 200 meters of public beach welcomes you. The specificity of this corner: The pleasure of practicing naturism in all simplicity by city order dating back to 2009. All generations come to relax, enjoy the beautiful days in a friendly and friendly atmosphere.