Discover Savigny through the history of its former Benedictine abbey and the trails that lead through the town and its rural surroundings. If you are planning a stay, you can choose between a historical walk to see the visible traces in the village and the longer “Entre monts et coteaux” circular trail. This gives you a choice of different highlights: the history of the buildings and collections, or a hike with panoramic views.
Abbey, Tower and Collection Pieces
Savigny Abbey was founded around the year 1000 and was an important centre of medieval Christianity. The Tour de l’Horloge was built in the 12th century as a grand entrance to the abbey. It had no military function, but symbolised the power of the abbots. The tower can be visited only when accompanied by a volunteer from the association Savigny, Patrimoine d’hier et de demain.
The Musée lapidaire Antoine Coquard houses around a hundred classified sculptures and architectural elements from the former Benedictine abbey of Saint-Martin. The objects include a large 12th-century lintel depicting the Last Supper. The collection brings the abbey’s history to life through surviving stone works.
Of the former abbey, the Chapelle Saint-LĂ©ger is the only religious building to have survived above ground. It is incorporated into a private residence and cannot be visited. Another historic stop is the church of Savigny: the neo-Gothic building was completed in 1903 and built from locally quarried dressed stone. The church also contains a 13th-century wooden Madonna and Child from the former abbey.
Historical Walk and Panoramic Trail
The historical walk takes you past the remains of the former abbey visible in the village, with explanatory signs and interactive QR codes. You will need a smartphone with a suitable app to scan them. The walk is open daily, year-round, and free of charge; check the latest information about the QR system and local conditions before your visit.
The walk is a 1 km out-and-back route and takes about an hour. “Entre monts et coteaux” offers a different scale: this circular trail is 8.5 km long, with 230 metres of elevation gain. It offers panoramic views across the rural landscape of the Monts et Coteaux du Lyonnais. The distance and ascent give you concrete points of comparison when choosing between a short historical stroll and a longer hike.
The TCL 285 bus line to the “Savigny – Place Des Rosiers” stop is one stated way to reach “Entre monts et coteaux”. The trail is less than a ten-minute walk from the stop. If you plan to use this connection, check the current timetable before travelling.
A Puzzle Activity for Families
In Savigny’s old town centre, there is a treasure hunt for children and their parents: the puzzle trail centres on Savigny Abbey. The family puzzle activity is suitable for children aged seven and over and takes about an hour. Check the activity details before travelling so you can plan based on the latest information.
Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests
When looking for a hotel in Savigny, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on during your stay: will you spend most of your time exploring the abbey’s history and the collection, or are the trails your priority? If you plan to visit the Tour de l’Horloge, you will also need to arrange to be accompanied by a volunteer; for the panoramic trail, you can take the distance, ascent and stated TCL connection into account.
Discover more destinations: Jons, Amplepuis, Dième, Dareizé, Grézieu-le-Marché, Riverie, Limas, Le Perréon
For the main travel guide: RhĂ´ne.
