Saint-Étienne-sur-Reyssouze walks

A pleasant walk taking you along a variety of paths – tarmac, stony and grassy – with sections crossing small streams and passing through small hamlets.

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.

A lovely walk along the canals of Pont-de-Vaux, partly to reach the lock near the campsite, from where you can return to the village via tarmac and stony paths.

The Pérouse route will allow you to discover an authentic manor house (de la Pérouse) and an old mill alongside which flows the Pérouse leat. Built in half-timbered style, the manor house dates from the16th century. The church at Dommartin is notable for having its chancel facing west. The niche above the doorway houses a 15th-century statue of the Virgin and Child.

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.

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

Starting from Bâgé-la-Ville town hall. This route allows you to explore the arboretum, passing through market gardeners’ fields and various farms.

Walk around the ponds of Montrevel-en-Bresse.

Mountain bike route no. 3, a very pleasant route combining woodland, tarmac and stony paths, running alongside the lake at the La Plaine Tonique leisure centre.A route where walkers, cyclists and horse riders share the path on certain sections.

This route takes you around the Grand Lac de la Plaine Tonique. It is a family-friendly route that does not cross any roads. Green signpost No. 1 is clearly visible.

As you wander along the quiet, shaded paths, you’ll encounter a succession of magnificent views and gems of the local heritage, such as the Romanesque church of Saint-André-de-Bâgé, the châteaux of Montépin and La Griffonnière, the remains of the ramparts of Bâgé-le-Châtel, the chapel of Aigrefeuille and beautiful country houses nestled in the valleys.

Hike through the heart of the village of Sancé and its surrounding countryside to discover the three castles in the commune: Château du Parc (private), Château de Châtenay (private) and Château Lapalus (communal property).

This circular route allows you to discover all that Cuisery has to offer: the village centre, the aerodrome, the countryside (pond, woods, fields), including wildlife: Bresse poultry farms, horses in the meadows or at the riding school, birds by the pond, and occasionally hares or roe deer in the fields.

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.

A short walk to enjoy with the family on a sunny day. Views over the town of Pont-de-Veyle and the Mâconnais hills.

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.

This walk will take you from Royer to Brancion via the Chemin des Moines, at the heart of the Romanesque route linking the abbeys of Tournus and Cluny. Perched on a rocky outcrop, the village of Brancion has been inhabited for 3,000 years. Brancion welcomes you and invites you to discover an idyllic medieval world: a fortified gate, a keep overlooking the village and the Romanesque church, exceptional views and leisurely strolls through a completely pedestrianised area. Nestled in lush greenery, the castle is a place where time seems to have stood still.

Discover Brancion, a small medieval village with a trip to "paradise".