A weekend in Southern Bugey: what to combine, sector by sector

Two days are enough to discover one or two sectors of Southern Bugey, not the whole area. This guide therefore suggests combinations of places close to one another, sector by sector. We do not give a timed itinerary or travel times: they depend on the season, the road and your own pace. Each place’s opening times are on its listing.

Before you choose

• The season decides: the Grand Colombier roads are closed in winter, usually from November to the second half of April; life on the Retord plateau follows the snow; several sites (the Maison du marais, Montvéran castle, campsites) open only in season.
• Without a car, arrive at Culoz station, which has the most trains, and focus on the Culoz and Belley sectors. See our guide to getting around Southern Bugey.
• For information on the spot, the tourist office is at 34 Grande Rue in Belley.

Belley and the Rhône

Best for: heritage, wine, cycling, markets.

• Belley’s old town: Saint-Jean-Baptiste cathedral, 15th-century inner courtyards along the Grande Rue, the former bishop’s palace. More on the Belley page.
• The Saturday-morning market, on the Grande Rue, Place des Terreaux and boulevard de Verdun, the largest in the area.
• The vineyards: at Vongnes, the Caveau Bugiste has a tasting room and two free museums; at Marignieu, Maison Angelot has a waymarked trail through the vines. More addresses in Bugey wines.
• To the south, the Glandieu waterfall, at Brégnier-Cordon, accessible all year from a footbridge, a few minutes from the ViaRhôna cycle route (no dogs). See the Glandieu waterfall.

To stay locally: the Sweet Home hotel, in the centre of Belley, or other addresses on our where to stay page.

The Grand Colombier and the marshes

Best for: mountains, cycling, nature.

• The climb up the Grand Colombier from Culoz, on the hairpin road, by bike or by car, roughly from April to November. At the pass, the tourist office gives about 20 minutes on foot to the viewpoint indicator. The four sides are described in the Grand Colombier.
• The Lavours marsh and its boardwalk trail on stilts, free and open all year except during floods; no dogs. See the Lavours marsh.
• Montvéran castle, at Culoz, can be seen on guided tours in summer (in 2026: from 1 July to 30 September).
• A section of the ViaRhôna: the Seyssel – Belley stage via Chanaz passes through Culoz and near the marsh.

To stay: the Le Colombier campsite, beside the Culoz lake, open in season, or the other Culoz-Béon addresses in the directory.

The Valromey

Best for: villages, cheese, walking.

• The Cerveyrieu waterfall, at Artemare, most impressive after rain or in spring; it can run dry in summer.
• The Fruitière du Valromey cheese dairy, at Virieu-le-Petit, with a visitor area and a shop (listing).
• The Thursday-morning market in Champagne-en-Valromey, or the Saturday-morning one in Ruffieu.
• A walk from Arvière-en-Valromey: the Sentier des Chartreux, the Sur Lyand ridges, the Grand Colombier from Munet.

To stay: the Les Caudalies hotel-restaurant, in Artemare, or the Auberge de Ruffieu. All the ideas for this sector are on the Valromey page.

The Retord plateau

Best for: gentle mountains, cross-country skiing, mountain biking.

• In winter, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and sledging at the Plans d’Hotonnes. The season is announced from 1 December 2026 to 31 March 2027, subject to snow cover; a pass is compulsory on the waymarked trails.
• In summer, mountain biking and e-mountain biking, walking, summer biathlon and orienteering, according to the resort.
• In the evening, the planetarium at the Village des Étoiles, depending on its programme.

Farm meals by reservation: the Grange des Plans or the farm table Au rythme du troupeau. See the Retord plateau and Plans d’Hotonnes.

By season

To plan your stay around an event (Christmas markets, concerts, races), see the events calendar. Where to eat: restaurants in Southern Bugey.