La Bresse
La Bresse is in the north-west part of the Ain region, it'is an area with plenty of attractive features – gastronomic, sporting, heritage and cultural !
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La Bresse - land of wooded countryside
La Bresse is in the north-west part of the Ain region, bordered to the east by Le Revermont in the foothills of the Jura, and to the west by the River Saône. It is an area with plenty of attractive features – gastronomic, sporting, heritage and cultural !
Start your discovery on the plain where farming is an ancestral tradition. There are many poultry farms and Bresse poultry are the only ones in Europe with a PDO label. The farms are typically built of brick and earth and often topped with a chimney known as a « sarrasine ». Look carefully and you may see round dovecotes, a powerful reminder of seigniorial times.
Bourg-en-Bresse is the capital of the Ain region. Its showpiece is the Royal Monastery of Brou, voted “France’s favourite monument” in 2014, and an absolute must to visit. Margaret of Austria, Regent of the Netherlands, ordered it to be built to house the tomb of her late husband, Philibert Le Beau. This jewel of Flamboyant Gothic architecture was built by Flemish master builders.
Further to the east, Le Revermont in the foothills of the Jura is the site of some lovely walks. Follow the Route des Monts to the top of Mont Mion to watch paragliders launch themselves into the wind. Finally stop off at the medieval village of Treffort, then at Meillonnas.
Bresse - a gourmet destination for foodies !
Bresse is steeped in gourmet traditions led by the Michelin-starred chef Georges Blanc at Vonnas. Numerous restaurants serve delicious chicken with cream and morels (poulet à la crème et aux morilles), the area’s signature dish ! In December, poultry of exceptional quality are given pride of place at the ‘Concours des Trois Glorieuses’ competition held in Montrevel, Bourg-en-Bresse and Pont-de-Vaux. Batches of capons and fattened chickens are rigorously examined by a jury of experts and the winner receives a vase of Sèvres porcelain presented by the President of France, who receives the winning batch of poultry in exchange…
But Bresse isn’t just about gastronomy… It is also a centre for craftsmanship, notably enamelwork, furniture and china. Although Bresse enamel had its heyday during the 19th century, a workshop in the city still produces it mainly for pendants, necklaces and bracelets. The enamel is poured onto a gold or silver support then decorated with gold leaf and sometimes enamel beads. Bresse furniture has its particularities too, made from locally-sourced wood, often spalted beech, and richly decorated with wide, elegant mouldings.
As for china, Meillonnas bone china was one of the finest during the 18th century and was characterized by the use of manganese blue and delicate floral decoration. Several collector’s items can be seen in the museum at Brou. Don’t hesitate to cross the Bresse region to the banks of the Saone to explore the little village of Pont-de-Veyle, known as the « Venice Bressane », or take a boat trip from Pont-de-Vaux where you can also visit the Musée Chintreuil, named after a very talented 19th century, local artist.
If you like visiting museums, Bresse has quite a few. As well as the Brou Fine Arts Museum at Bourg-en-Bresse and the museum at Pont-de-Vaux, there are several devoted to regional traditions such as the Musée de la Bresse at Saint-Cyr-sur-Menthon and the Musée de Revermont at Cuisiat. Plenty to choose from… ! "
