A château in ruins and a hike along the Suran Valley give Bohas-Meyriat-Rignat two distinct points of interest. The Château de Bohas was built in the 14th century by the lords of Buenc; after its destruction, romantic ruins remained. Château Pinel also dates from the 14th century. This gives you a choice of cultural history or scenery when planning your trip. The Bohas et la Vallée du Suran hike follows the Suran Valley and includes an out-and-back route to the Gué de la Biolière.

Châteaux and their history

The Château de Bohas was built in the 14th century by the lords of Buenc. After it was destroyed, it was not restored; romantic ruins remain. Its construction, destruction and lack of rebuilding therefore belong to distinct chapters of its history. The ruins bring both the building’s transformation and its medieval origins into focus. This contrast is particularly revealing from a historical perspective: the château appears as a ruin, not as a restored property. Château Pinel also dates from the 14th century. The two buildings thus share a historical period but offer different points of interest: alongside its construction date and builders, Bohas is notable for its romantic ruins; Pinel offers a second château from the same era. Their shared century makes comparison possible without equating their histories.

Hiking along the Suran Valley

The Bohas et la Vallée du Suran hike follows the Suran Valley. It therefore draws attention to the valley rather than to the châteaux’s architectural history. The hike includes an out-and-back route to the Gué de la Biolière. When planning, allow for both sections of the route: the way to the ford and the return. Conditions at the ford can vary; check them before your visit. This lets you account for that specific section when planning your day, while the Suran Valley provides the broader landscape setting for the hike.

There are numerous fords on the Suran, made of large stones laid across the current. This arrangement makes the fords a distinctive feature of the river landscape and sets this view of the scenery apart from the medieval architectural history. If you are interested in landscape details, look out for the interplay between the watercourse and the stone crossings. The fords are a recurring feature of the Suran, while the hike focuses on the course of the valley as a route.

Choose the focus of your trip

When looking for a holiday rental, you can first consider what kind of outing you would like to shape your stay: exploring the history of the châteaux or hiking in the valley. This priority helps organize your trip planning without requiring you to settle on a fixed daily schedule. If you are interested in culture, the two châteaux from the same century offer different points of interest. If you are focused on hiking, the valley route, the out-and-back journey and the variable conditions at the ford provide practical points of reference. Start with the subject that matters most to you and plan the rest of your trip around it.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Curciat-Dongalon, Saint-Nizier-Le-Bouchoux, Chevillard, Francheleins, Oncieu, Saint-Genis-Pouilly, Lagnieu, Prévessin-Moëns.

For the broader travel guide: Ain.