Discover Bessenay through its heritage trails, panoramic views and local produce. There are different ways to plan your stay: explore historical traces at the church and cross, choose trails with stated lengths, or consider options that require a guide or advance enquiry. This lets you focus on heritage, landscape or local products.
History at the Church, Cross and Fountains
The old Église Saint Irénée dates back to the Middle Ages and was first mentioned as Notre-Dame de Bessenay around 1645. The Croix de Jainon is considered the oldest cross in Bessenay. It has been impressively restored, and a QR code provides translations of the engraved texts. The cross thus offers its own way to discover the inscriptions and the history of the area.
Three heritage walking trails are titled “Puits et croix”. QR-code signs describe the crosses. The fountains are on private property and can be viewed from the trail or the road. So the way of visiting is also part of planning these walks: the signs provide information about the crosses, while the fountains remain visible from outside.
Printed information about walking trails in Bessenay is available from the town hall and the Office de Tourisme des Monts du Lyonnais. These are two named places to go if you prefer maps and information on paper.
Views and Trails at the Chapelle de Ripan
The Chapelle de Ripan stands on a rocky outcrop and is dedicated to Notre-Dame du Prompt Secours. Construction began in 1872, and the chapel was blessed on 12 October 1873. Its geographical location makes it a particularly good place to take in the panorama. There is also a picnic area and a landscape information board.
The signposted “Circuit Chapelle de Ripan” circular trail is 4.3 km long, with 79 m of elevation gain, and is listed as taking 85 minutes. It is open daily year-round and free to access. Check local access conditions before your visit. The “Circuit de Bernay” is a 7 km heritage trail with a stated visit duration of two hours. Compared directly, the Ripan loop is shorter and has a shorter stated duration; the Bernay trail offers a longer route.
Another option is the guided “Randonnée découverte du patrimoine Bessenois”. This 3 km heritage trail leads through Bessenay past several points of interest and is available on request. At 3 km, it is shorter than the other two routes with stated distances; planning also needs to account for its guided format and the requirement to enquire in advance.
More Things to Discover in Bessenay
The animal cemetery at 62 chemin de Ripan can be included as a stop on a hike. Another option is “Les Gnolus – Oh, cherry chérie”: on this free geocaching experience, participants follow Bolono and discover the history of the area. Alongside heritage trails, there is therefore a themed stop and a geocaching activity to choose from.
The hamlets of La Brévenne and La Combe offer scenic landscapes and views. Visitors interested in local produce will also find fruit and vegetable growers who sell their products directly from the farm, at markets, and in farm shops and producer shops. These different outlets offer several ways to find regional products, while viewpoints and heritage trails provide other ways to shape your stay.
Discover more destinations: Ranchal, Genay, Le Bois-D'oingt, Albigny-sur-Saône, Lantignié, Cogny, Juliénas, Rillieux-La-Pape.
For the broader travel overview: Rhône.
