ラ・シャペル・デュ・シャテラールのおすすめウォーキング＆ハイキングルート

Dombes, a land of a thousand ponds, is a vast freshwater fish-farming area. This land of ancestral traditions, particularly pond fishing, is home to exceptional flora and fauna in a pristine natural setting.

Located in the heart of Dombes, Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne, formerly Châtillon-les-Dombes, is a medieval town full of character. Listed among the Most Beautiful Detours in France, it stands out for its preserved medieval heritage and unique architecture. Take the time to stroll through its busy streets and discover its traditional market, which takes place every Saturday morning if you have the opportunity.

pretty town

very beautiful historic center with the unmissable market halls

Sandrans Castle was mentioned in writings as early as the 13th century. It was then the property of the Sandrans family who left it its name. This building is made up of a brick tower flanked to the west by a quadrangular building. The cylindrical keep, with a diameter of 11 meters, would have been built in the 14th century, and many architectural elements were added two centuries later. This castle was built on a circular mound "poype" 10 m in diameter, surrounded by a ditch filled with water. The extracted earth was used to raise the construction in order to make it a strategic observation post. The two turrets called watchtowers, framing access to the mound, appear to be a later decorative addition. The old farmyards have only been very partially preserved; one is occupied by the farm and the other has almost disappeared. The castle is restored and awarded by the heritage foundation. The “poypes” are a curiosity of Dombes. These are mounds of earth made by human hands, topped in the Middle Ages with a wooden tower which served as a watchtower and defense. Château de Sandrans 01400 Sandrans, private property, cannot be visited.

Fortified house dating from the 14th century. Curious beveled shape of the cylindrical tower, topped during the Revolution.

Bouligneux castle is a typical example of fortified houses built in the Dombes and Bugey regions in the 14th century. During the revolution it was almost demolished, but the local municipality saved it and used it as a farm. The fortified tower was a compromise, however, and it was reduced by one storey, hence the displaced shape of the tower's roof.

The 14th century fortress, remodeled at the beginning of the 17th century and whose towers, feudal symbols, were trimmed during the Revolution is a fine example of a fortified house in Dombes. The castle built by Girard de La Palud remained in the family for four centuries: set on a cliff, four towers and a round keep connected by curtain walls, all in Savoyard squares, characteristic of military or private construction. in Bresse. If it survived the Revolution, it was because the commune then turned it into a grain store.