Montpont-en-Bresse walks

Before being renamed Montpont-en-Bresse in 1961, the town was first known as “Mons Pavonis” and then “Montpaon”. Dotted with ponds, streams and rivers, it also boasts a large area of woodland. The charm of this countryside lies in the diversity of its heritage, fine examples of which can be found in the village centre, with its brick church, its town hall housed in a former manor house, and its library set in a traditional Bresse-style building.

Sornay, a rural village of 2,000 inhabitants situated near Louhans-Châteaurenaud and Branges, is bordered by two rivers: the Sâne Morte and the Seille. The latter, popular with anglers and boaters, features a towpath perfect for exploring the wetlands and their characteristic flora and fauna.

Bruailles boasts a well-preserved heritage: the bishop’s house, the vicarage, the church and the bakehouse. The bakehouse was once used by the villagers to bake their bread. Situated in the heart of the village and close to the town hall, it is brought back to life several times a year during various village events. Two rivers wind their way through the village, flowing between floodplains and wooded countryside: the Vallière and the Solnan.

This walk in the heart of the town offers a real breath of fresh air and allows you to discover the flora and fauna that have found a suitable environment in which to thrive. It’s the perfect family walk to enjoy after exploring the old medieval town and its main street, lined with 157 arcades – one of the longest in France. On Monday mornings, there’s a large market, including a poultry market, situated just on the other side of the railway line.

A route along easy paths in the Bresse region, starting from the traditional village of Romenay.

Surrounded by waterways, Louhans, of Burgundian origin, means "pleasant place by the water". Over the centuries, the town has developed thanks to trade. The medieval town has preserved its main street with 157 arcades, one of the longest in France. On Monday mornings, there is a large market, including a poultry market.

A path linking the Cuisery Water Sports Centre to the Loisy Water Sports Centre along the banks of the Seille. It’s a very pleasant round trip through the countryside and along the riverbank.

In the heart of the Burgundian Bresse region, Vincelles is bordered by the non-navigable stretch of the River Seille, which is a delight for anglers. Close to Louhans-Châteaurenaud, the trails are easily accessible and will take you on a journey through nature, passing through woods, fields and meadows.

In the heart of the Burgundian Bresse region, Vincelles is bordered by the non-navigable stretch of the River Seille, which is a delight for anglers. Close to Louhans-Châteaurenaud, the trails are easily accessible and will take you on a journey through woods and meadows to discover the natural surroundings. In the village, you can admire the private mills that dot the Bresse countryside.

Simandre, on the banks of the Saône and close to Cuisery, is a lively village with many shops. Its Romanesque church and lava stone roof are listed in the Bâtiments de France inventory. You can observe the flora and fauna at the various ponds along the way.

Simandre, on the banks of the Saône and close to Cuisery, is a lively village with many shops. Its Romanesque church and lava stone roof are listed in the Bâtiments de France inventory. You can observe the flora and fauna at the various ponds along the route.

On the edge of the Jura and the Ain, the village of Condal as it stands today is the result of its merger with the commune of Saint-Sulpice in 1809. Although it is crossed by the A39, known as the ‘Green Motorway’, Condal has retained its landscape of green hills overlooking the River Solnan. Watermills, wash houses and Bresse-style farmhouses – whose architecture resembles that of the Ain region due to the village’s location – come into view as the paths wind their way through the countryside.

An easy walk to discover the peaceful countryside of the Bresse Bourguignonne. The route passes through farmland, a beautiful lake, meadows and woods, finally following a small river. Here and there are scattered Bresse farms, some still in operation.PR®® (yellow) signposts all along the route.

It is undoubtedly the sand dunes that represent the most striking feature of the Nature Reserve. Shaped 5,000 years ago by the wind, these shifting sands are partially covered in mosses and lichens. Only species adapted to arid environments manage to colonise them. Just a few metres from this desert-like environment lies a waterlogged area stretching over 5 to 6 hectares: a wooded peat bog, the presence of which at an altitude of just 200 metres is surprising. A third, very different environment can be seen not far from there: Étang Fouget, whose surrounding marsh takes the form of a vegetative labyrinth and attracts numerous birds.

This is an easy walk with little elevation gain, featuring fountains and six wash houses along the route. Walk on tarmac roads and dirt tracks.

A lovely loop on the first slopes of the Jura massif, above the Bresse plain (Revermont). A largely forested route, with viewpoints and panoramas, typical villages, monuments and heritage sites.

A very pleasant walk, with some sections where caution is required. It initially runs alongside the Besançon river. (This walk is not recommended during periods of high water). Along the route, you will discover an old spinning mill, a waterfall, two viewpoints, the ruins of the Château de l'Aubépin, a chapel and old wash houses. The route is well shaded and can be enjoyed in summer without any problems.

A route with little elevation gain, offering the chance to explore part of the Reyssouze Valley near Chavannes. A lush cattle-rearing region in the heart of the Bresse.

On this route, you’ll discover the vast floodplain of the Saône, stretching as far as the eye can see. Once you reach the banks of the Saône, you can see Île de la Motte, which has been designated a Sensitive Natural Area. Île de la Motte is home to colonies of herons: the little bittern, the little egret and the cattle egret, which can sometimes be sensitive to disturbance during the breeding season. The island’s presence on the river also helps to maintain fish diversity. Sediments carried by the Saône have been deposited and accumulated at La Motte, gradually creating small islets and secondary channels. Together, these form a mosaic of natural habitats that is home to an exceptional diversity of species.Beavers are present on the site and, indeed, contribute to its management by cutting branches from willows and poplars to eat their bark.

The Saint-Amour region offers small villages with charming traces of the past: wash houses, chapels and the L'Aubépin tower with its breathtaking views. An easy and short walk, but it involves climbing from the plain up to the crest of the first Jura hill. Mainly good stony paths.

This circular route takes you through several small villages around Nanc-lès-Saint-Amour and offers several beautiful panoramic views.

In the north-east of the Burgundian Bresse, Frangy-en-Bresse stretches from east to west for around 10 km. It shares a natural border with the Jura via the River Seille. A Natura 2000-designated wetland area, between the Seille and the Seillette, created for the preservation of wildlife, is particularly rich in bird and plant species. Along the trail, you can pass through the commune’s many hamlets and discover fortified houses and Bresse-style farmhouses.