An unusual natural feature in Sermoyer is Dunes des Charmes: far from the sea, they were shaped into dunes by wind and high water. Other points of interest include the old course of the Seille, the “Dunes and bocage” cycling loop, and two statues in the Church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul. The highlights thus range from landscapes and trails to religious art.

Dunes, plant life and the Vieille Seille

The habitats of Dunes des Charmes include dunes, ponds and wooded areas. Dune plants grow there alongside the marsh clubmoss (Lycopodium inundatum), which is characteristic of montane peat bogs. This combination brings together two different botanical associations: dune flora alongside a species linked to mountain peat bogs. The natural landscape can therefore be appreciated not only through the formation of the dunes, but also through the contrast in plant life.

The Vieille Seille adds an earlier course of the Seille to this landscape’s history. Over the course of history, it became a dead end and is occasionally fed by floodwater. While wind and high water shaped Dunes des Charmes into dunes, the focus here is on a former river course and its intermittent water supply. Sermoyer thus brings together two distinct natural features: the formation of dunes and the history of an earlier course of the Seille.

Trails and route distances

The “Rendez-vous with the Seille” walking trail begins at Sermoyer’s village church square, passes through Sermoyer’s meadows and leads to the old Seille. The route is easy to follow: village church square, meadows and former river course. If you want to focus on the Vieille Seille as a natural feature, this walk connects the subject with a specific route.

The “des Charmes” tour is 10.7 km long and passes by Dunes des Charmes. The “A l’assaut des dunes des Charmes” Explor'games trail is about 2.5 km long. Comparing the routes by their stated distances, the trail is considerably shorter; the Tour des Charmes offers the longer route, with a focus on the dunes. The two options therefore differ both in length and in their stated format.

Another option is the family-friendly “Dunes and bocage” cycling loop. It passes through the Bresse bocage and offers a way to discover the sensitive natural area of Dunes des Charmes in Sermoyer. The loop is free to access every day throughout the year, weather permitting. Keep this weather condition in mind when planning your visit.

Religious art in Sermoyer

The Church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul in Sermoyer is also a notable cultural site. It houses a statue of Saint Peter; the statue of Saint Paul dates from the 18th century. The statue of Saint Paul anchors the art in a specific historical period, while the statue of Saint Peter depicts another saint in the same church. This gives Sermoyer’s focus on nature and trails a clearly distinct sacred dimension.

Discover more destinations: Jujurieux, Treffort-Cuisiat, Misérieux, Chazey-sur-Ain, Gex, Crozet, Châtillon-Sur-Chalaronne, Brégnier-Cordon

For the broader travel overview: Ain.