There is plenty to discover during a stay in Genay: a heritage trail, distinctive buildings, a park with botanical features and nature trails. The “Histoire et patrimoine” trail is about 3 km long and includes nine sites. Nine information panels tell the story of historic buildings and listed monuments. If you want to explore Genay on foot, you can choose between a cultural and historical route and trails with a focus on nature.
Heritage in Genay
One distinctive landmark is the Pilier de Justice: a 1.70 m-high monolithic block with a wrought-iron ring on each side. The wash house, Le Lavoir des Mignotières, is another notable stop in the town. Renovated in 2007, it symbolically marks the entrance to the town centre. The Eglise Sainte Madeleine church contains a stained-glass window by the glass artist and painter Augustin Burlet (1892–1953). Genay was also the first capital of the historic Franc-Lyonnais—another point of reference for understanding the town’s history.
Parc de Rancé and its amenities
At Parc de Rancé, a botanical trail and an orienteering course take you around 23 tree species. The park also has a children’s area, a fitness trail and benches for strolling and relaxing. There are several ways to enjoy the park: discover its trees, try the course or take a break on a bench. If a particular amenity is important to your plans, check its current status on site, as the facilities may change.
Nature trails: take in the water or the landscape
The Jacques Chauviré trail is a nature route focused on observing the Grand Rieu stream, the Saône and their ecosystems. The round trip to Port Bernalin is about 9 km, with an average duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes. The route follows dirt tracks and a towpath. It can be done on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback, and is considered easy. As trail conditions may vary by season, it is worth checking the latest conditions before setting out.
The Franc Lyonnais trail offers a different focus: starting in Genay, it passes through fields and forests, goes through Montanay and Neuville-sur-Saône, and reaches the Torrières natural area. The two routes also differ in length: the “Histoire et patrimoine” trail covers about 3 km, while the Jacques Chauviré round trip is about 9 km. An average duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes is also given for the Jacques Chauviré trail. When planning, you can therefore choose between exploring the town, taking a nature route along waterways or following a trail through fields and forests.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Nizier-D'azergues, Saint-Didier-au-Mont-d'Or, Pierre-Bénite, Bessenay, Lucenay, Neuville-Sur-Saône, Craponne, Saint-Lager.
See the regional travel guide: Rhône.
