Tour of the Valromey Balcony (Ain)

Starting from Culoz, the path climbs rapidly above the Rhône plain, offering breathtaking views of the Alps and the Grand Colombier mountain. Passing through Béon, you'll discover a village clinging to the mountainside, famous for its cliffs where birds of prey nest and its winemaking heritage linked to the Bugey appellation. The trail continues through boxwood and deciduous forests to reach Champagne-en-Valromey, the historic heart of the valley, where the rural limestone architecture bears witness to a flourishing agricultural past. This region, once part of Savoy, boasts geological curiosities such as the Thurignin gorges. Continuing towards Ruffieu, the landscape becomes more pastoral, composed of vast plateaus and hay meadows where biodiversity is preserved. Old bread ovens, wash houses, and Romanesque chapels dot this route between the mid-mountain terrain and the gentle valley.

The Balcon du Valromey, in the Ain department, is a natural viewpoint perched between the Grand Colombier massif and the Hauteville plains. This mid-mountain region offers breathtaking panoramas of the Alps and Mont Blanc, overlooking a valley carved by the crystal-clear waters of the Séran River. Its history is marked by a strong rural identity, where limestone houses with slate roofs bear witness to centuries of adaptation to the mountain climate. The local heritage is revealed through charming Romanesque churches, fortified houses, and the famous "fenestrous" (small windows) typical of Bresse and Bugey architecture. As for nature, the Valromey is a sanctuary of biodiversity, where beech forests, high-altitude meadows, and geological wonders such as the Thurignin Gorges alternate.