Hike: on the ridge of the Grand Colombier (circuit des crêtes)

The town of Culoz is nestled between the foot of the Grand Colombier (1531m) and the Lavours Marsh. It is a part of Bugey with a rich cultural heritage, the numerous stone statues and historical buildings in the town bear witness to its historic past.Two burials dating from the Mesolithic period attest to the occupation of the site from 7000 BC. Remains from the Roman period have also been discovered in the commune. In the Middle Ages, Culoz, like the whole of Bugey, was under the domination of the House of Savoy until the Treaty of Lyon in 1601. The main resource of the people of Culoz was the vine. In the 19th century, Culoz became an important railway centre, thanks to the construction of a railway bridge over the Rhône in 1858. The town developed from 1950 onwards, under the impetus of CIAT, a large air conditioning company. The Grand Colombier, the highest peak in the Bugey region (1531 m), offers the possibility of numerous hikes and bike rides. The Maison du Patrimoine: this 14th century building, the rectorie Saint-Antoine, is the place of memory of the Culoziens. It contains a large number of objects from archaeological excavations, from daily life or from the illustrious people who have lived in Culoz: the Serpollet brothers, precursors of the automobile, Henry Dunant, founder of the Red Cross, the American writer Gertrude Stein and more recently Christophe Lemaître, a local boy. The Montvéran castle: built on the rock of Montvéran by Pierre de Luyrieu in 1316, this castle has seen many personalities stay within its walls: the Constable of Bourbon, Serge Prokofiev in 1928-29 or Henriette d'Angeville. The Clos Poncet, its bourgeois house and its park, a former wine cellar, developed in 1895 by Antonin Poncet. The chapel in the old cemetery is the choir of the old church. The Mollard Jugeant offers a breathtaking view of the Lavours marshes and the Bugey mountains. The Mollard Jugeant has been the subject of archaeological excavations by INRAP. The Levannaz stone is an erratic block of 70 tons deposited by the glaciers. The 7 stone sculptures evoking the Gates of the Year 2000 were created during the 1999 and 2000 sculpture meetings. These works are part of the Chemins de la Pierre en Bugey.

Located to the south of the Jura Massif and Bugey’s highest point (1531 m), with over 100 km of marked hiking trails (GR9, LWG, GR) and panoramic views on the Alps (Belledonne and Mont Blanc), Bugey, Rhone, lake Bourget and Lake Annecy and Leman. There is the opportunity to discover various sites and landscapes: forests, grasslands, grangeons (temporary accommodation for winemakers) the Chartreuse Arvières ruins, ridge roads and panoramic views on the Alps.The summit of the Grand Colombier offers exceptional views of the Belledonne and Mont-Blanc massifs, the Bugey region, the Rhône, Lac du Bourget, Lac d'Annecy and Lac du Léman. The "giant of Bugey" offers a variety of sites and landscapes to admire: forests, meadows, barns, the ruins of the Chartreuse d'Arvières and panoramic views of the Alps. Two orientation tables: - "le Fenestrez" (Altitude: 1,150 m): from Culoz, follow the RD120, then at the Sapette crossroads, the D120b on the left. - La Croix" (altitude 1,525 m): from Culoz, follow the RD120 towards Col du Grand Colombier. Parking lot nearby. This massif has all the characteristics of the Jurassic era: firstly, alternating mountains and valleys: the mountain is surrounded to the west by the Valromey depression and to the east by the Lavours and Chautagne marshes. It reappears as a "mollard" at Lavours and Vions. The limestone rock, carved out by heavy rains, has given rise to picturesque sites such as the Thurignin gorges in Valromey, the Cerveyrieu waterfall near Artemare, the Groin canyon, etc... You can drive through the massif on the D120 from Culoz (where the climb is particularly spectacular), Anglefort, Virieu-le-Petit or Lochieu. There is a parking lot near the Iron Cross overlooking the massif.

Régis Deleaz welcomes you to the Col du Grand Colombier and offers you, to recover from your efforts, a snack, souvenir gifts and local products.Every day from 9:30 am to 7 pm at the top of the Col du Grand Colombier, enjoy your time while eating (pancakes, cakes, sandwiches etc..., bread and pastries depot) and quenching your thirst (drinks, tea, coffee). Other services: groceries, souvenir gifts, jerseys and bicycle accessories, repair kit, EAB battery charging as well as regional products. Tourist brochures and advice (route ideas, visits) to discover the territory of Bugey Sud Grand Colombier.

In the city centre, family restaurant entirely renovated in a cosy style. Shady terrace with small zen garden.Traditional catering with fresh produce and home-made desserts. Every day, suggestions of varied dishes. Daily menu from Monday to Friday, à la carte and frog menu. Daily takeaway, Monday to Friday, by telephone reservation only

La table d'orientation du Fenestrez sur le massif du Grand Colombier offre une vue plongeante sur le lac du Bourget, la chaîne des Alpes, le Bugey, le Rhône et la réserve naturelle du Marais de Lavours.Le Fenestrez : 1190 m d'altitude. Suivre la RD 120 jusqu'à La Sapette depuis Culoz ou Anglefort.