Maillat brings religious art and local history together with a clearly defined hiking option. The sculpture Vierge de Pitié is housed in the Chapelle Saint-Clair; the Saint-Irénée church stands in the town center. The Boucle de Maillat adds a hike with its own time and distance profile to these cultural and historical landmarks. The Fête du four, held annually in July, is another recurring event. This means you can plan a visit to Maillat around different interests: its monuments, a particular festival weekend, or a hike.

Art and Architectural History

The Vierge de Pitié is housed in the Chapelle Saint-Clair, also known as the Chapelle des Rochers and Notre Dame des sept Douleurs. The sculpture and the chapel have different heritage protection dates: the sculpture is classified as a protected object; it was listed on January 30, 1975. The chapel has been listed as a historic monument since 1931.

The Saint-Irénée church is in the town center and was inaugurated in 1901. These dates refer to different events: 1901 for the inauguration of the church, 1931 for the chapel’s protection, and 1975 for the sculpture’s protection. If you are interested in Maillat’s religious architecture and art history, you can distinguish these three milestones chronologically.

The Fête du four in July

The Fête du four is held every year on the last weekend in July. The festival includes an event at the communal oven, performances by musical groups, and a procession of the school-year groups. If you want to plan your trip around this event, check the specific dates for that year in advance; the program may change from year to year. As a reason to visit, the festival is tied to a particular weekend, while the hike can be planned using its distance and duration details.

Hiking the Boucle de Maillat

The Boucle de Maillat is 10 km long, with a stated duration of three hours. The route also includes 240 meters of elevation gain. The starting point and finish are at the Place de la Mairie in Maillat. When planning, consider the distance, duration, and ascent separately: 10 km describes the length, three hours is the stated time, and 240 meters is the elevation gain. This makes it possible to treat the loop as a separate activity without inferring the time required from the distance alone.

The watercourse in the Combe du Val

In the Combe du Val, the Borrey flows north through Maillat; beneath a bridge, this river becomes the Oignin. The watercourse, called the Borrey in Maillat and the Oignin beneath the bridge, is considered the only river in the Jura that flows entirely north. Its name therefore changes at the bridge, while the northward direction characterizes the continuous watercourse. For travelers interested in a place’s geography as well as its culture and hiking, this change of name offers a specific point of interest.

Discover more destinations: Curciat-Dongalon, Saint-Maurice-De-Beynost, Neyron, Grilly, Aranc, Vonnas, Chézery-Forens, Saint-Étienne-Du-Bois

For the broader travel overview: Ain.