Vonnas between cuisine, culture and the bocage
If you use culture, regional cuisine and a walk as criteria for choosing a destination, Vonnas offers concrete points of interest: the Centre Saint-Martin, the Crêpe vonnassienne and the “Escapade nature au coeur du bocage bressan” trail. The themes are clearly distinct—from events and history to regional specialities and views of the Bresse hedgerow landscape. This can help you decide which focus should shape your trip.
Culture at the Centre Saint-Martin
The Centre Saint-Martin is a cultural venue housed in a Romanesque church dating from the 12th century. It is used for performances, concerts, cultural events, conferences and receptions. Historical context and present-day function come together here: the church provides the setting for a cultural venue with a range of uses. If you would also like to discover Vonnas through its cultural life, the Centre Saint-Martin is a concrete point of interest.
A Merovingian sarcophagus was found in the foundations of the Centre Saint-Martin. This discovery provides a second historical reference alongside the church’s 12th-century date. Here, you encounter two distinct periods: the Merovingian-era sarcophagus and the Romanesque church building. This archaeological trace in the foundations adds another dimension to the Centre’s role as an active cultural venue.
Crêpes, specialities and the Village Blanc
The Crêpe vonnassienne, also called Crêpe parmentière, was invented by Elisa Blanc and is made with mashed potatoes. Naming both the inventor and the ingredient tells you about its origins as well as a specific feature of its preparation. The two names refer to the same potato speciality, making it a clearly defined part of Vonnas’s culinary scene.
Vonnas also offers crayfish, pike and frogs from the ponds of the Dombes, Bresse poultry and Burgundy snails as regional specialities. Their origins range from the ponds of the Dombes to Bresse poultry and Burgundy snails. Vonnas therefore brings together several regional influences, rather than attributing all these products to the same regional cuisine.
The Village Blanc in Vonnas recreates an old village, with a bakery, café, hotels, inn, boutiques, restaurants, cinema and wellness area. The focus is on the recreated village as a whole, rather than on a single dish. By comparison, the crêpe represents a specific culinary speciality, while the Village Blanc is a village concept featuring a range of establishments.
Walking in the Bresse bocage
The “Escapade nature au coeur du bocage bressan” trail starts at Allée des Enfants de la Colonie d'Izieu in Vonnas and offers views of the Bresse hedgerow landscape. Its named starting point gives you a specific reference for planning, while the views of the bocage offer a different focus from the town’s cultural and culinary themes. If you would like to include a walk in your trip, this trail is a good point of interest.
The Moulin Burel, a former bann mill belonging to the former lords of Marmont and Béost, lies along the trail on the Renom. Its former role as a bann mill adds a historical dimension to the landscape. The trail thus brings together two distinct features: views of the Bresse hedgerow landscape and a former mill site with a specific historical context.
Discover more destinations: Niévroz, Confort, Curciat-Dongalon, Jassans-Riottier, Corbonod, Bâgé-La-Ville, Gex, Hauteville-Lompnes.
For the broader travel overview: Ain.
