Brégnier-Cordon can be explored through a variety of highlights: the ViaRhôna runs through the town, while walking and circular trails, a waterfall landscape and archaeological traces offer further attractions. The heritage of the Bugey villages also plays a role. When planning your visit, you can decide whether to focus on a Rhône cycling route, a walking trail or the history of the villages. The two walking trails offer specific points of comparison in terms of distance, difficulty and theme.

Rhône Routes and Walks

The ViaRhôna, a cycling route along the Rhône from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean, passes through Brégnier-Cordon. This makes the town an interesting stop for travellers planning their trip around a Rhône cycling route. On foot, you can choose between two trails with different profiles. The Sentier des Îles et Lônes du Rhône is an easy 3.3-kilometre walk. It starts in Brégnier-Cordon, passes through the municipal forest and ends at a viewpoint overlooking Île de Noyer. The Sentier de l’eau, by contrast, is a moderately difficult 7.2-kilometre circular trail that takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes. It explores the influence of water on landscapes and people’s lives. Possible starting points are near the church in Brégnier-Cordon or at the Cascade de Glandieu car park. In comparison, the first trail is easier and shorter; the second combines a longer loop with a focus on water.

Waterfall Landscape and Activities

The Cascade de Glandieu adds a striking waterfall to the area’s trails: it is 60 metres high and easily accessible to visitors. As a classified site, the waterfall is also part of the Natura 2000 area “Milieux remarquables du Bas-Bugey”. The surrounding area offers opportunities for hiking, fishing and caving. Alongside the waterfall itself, there are therefore various activities to choose from in the surrounding area.

Rock Shelter and Prehistory

The Grotte de la Bonne Femme also draws attention to the area’s early history. The undeveloped rock shelter is listed in the inventory of historic monuments. Archaeological excavations there uncovered numerous worked flints from the Magdalenian period. Along the Tour du Mont de Cordon route, the rock shelter can be seen on the shore of Lac de Pluvis; Lac de Pluvis is now a feeder canal. This brings together two aspects of the site: a visible rock formation in the landscape and the flints found during excavations.

Heritage in Bugey and Glandieu

The Route du Bugey is a tourist driving route for discovering the heritage of the Bugey villages. The tourist office also offers a guided tour about the history of the hamlet of Glandieu; advance reservations are required. While the route explores heritage at the village level, the tour focuses on the history of a single hamlet. For a culture-focused visit, you can choose between a broader look at the Bugey villages and the history of Glandieu.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Didier-sur-Chalaronne, Arbigny, Champfromier, Saint-Maurice-de-Gourdans, Cormoranche-sur-Saône, Relevant, Simandre-sur-Suran, Saint-Étienne-sur-Reyssouze.

See the regional travel overview: Ain.