Ain

Visit Ain

On the border with Switzerland, the villages around Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) are a popular Ain destination, while bird lovers will flock to the lakes of the Dombes plateau to appreciate the birdlife in this unique environment

Selected places to visit in Ain

Ain: an introduction

The Ain department is situated to the north-west of the Rhone-Alps region of south-east France (the Savoie department is to the east), and takes its name from the River Ain.

There are four distinctive regions within the department: Bresse, Bugey, Dombes and the Pays de Gex each with their own characteristics. the western part of Ain including the Dombes plateau and Bresse is much flatter while to the east it is more hilly, then mountainous as the Bugey and Pays de Gex head towards the Jura mountains to the north-east of Ain, and are separated by the Revermont region around Coligny.

Some of the highlights include:

- Bourg-en-Bresse, best known for its historical centre and the nearby Brou Royal Monastery. Bresse is an extensive region of small lakes, rivers and marshes, open green landscapes and traditional agriculture, mostly flat until it reaches the Revermont region, with lots of small unspoiled villages and hamlets to discover.

- the Dombes plateau north of Perouges and Trevoux is a predominantly flat region with hundreds of (man-made) lakes, that is a very popular destination for bird-watchers. Dombes is close to the important French city of Lyon.

- enthusiasts of the writer and philosopher Voltaire will be interested to visit the Voltaire Chateau, where he lived for 20 years - at Ferney-Voltaire

- Bugey has a 'pre-mountain' landscape with tree covered hills interspersed with vineyards and small villages, a quiet region to explore and discover. The town of Belley is also in the Bugey region

Exploring and nature in the pays de Gex, eastern Ain

The natural environment of the Pays de Gex, squeezed between France and Switzerland, is known equally for the chance to enjoy some very attractive scenery and as a winter ski destination. The Valserine Valley offers a picturesque alternative to the higher parts of the Pays de Gex region. The spa town of Divonne-les-Bains is also found here and makes a popular base for exploring.

See a list of all Ain communes

Page in French? See Ain (Francais)