Cycling route : Le Grand Colombier

Belley, historic and religious capital of Bugey . A bishopric since the 6th century, Belley has left its religious mark on the whole of Bugey: cathedral, churches, chapels....In Gallo-Roman times, Belley was one of the region's most important towns, benefiting from its position as a crossroads on the road linking Lyon and Geneva. Recent excavations have uncovered a vast spa complex. The town's emblem is the she-wolf, the etymology of Belley referring to Bellone, the Roman goddess of war, represented by this animal. Don't miss the bronze she-wolf in the Grande Rue, sculpted by Colette Sonzogni. 1077: Bugey is ceded by the Holy Roman Empire to the House of Savoy. After the Treaty of Lyon in 1601, marking the attachment of Bugey to France, Belley became the seat of the Baillage and was administratively attached to the province of Burgundy. To admire: the inner courtyard of the Tourist Office, former seat of the Baillage. St Jean Baptiste Cathedral: Classified as a historic monument, Belley's neo-Gothic Cathédrale St Jean-Baptiste was built on the site of the 12th-century cathedral, of which only traces remain on the north portal. For the most part, it dates from the 19th century. Palais épiscopal and Parc Jean-Pierre Camus: Listed as a historic monument since 1932, the former 18th-century bishop's palace was bought by the town in 1978 and now houses the municipal library, the Société Savante Le Bugey, and serves as an exhibition and reception hall. To discover : The park, entirely renovated in 2010 by the City of Belley to make it a place to relax and stroll. The courtyards: Numerous 15th-century courtyards line the Grande Rue. Discover them on tours organized by the Tourist Office, including the courtyard of the birthplace of Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, the famous gastronome and author of the culinary treatise "The Physiology of Taste".

Impressive waterfall about sixty meters high overlooking the hamlet of Cerveyrieu in the town of Artemare.Pots, basins, canyon and impressive waterfall make up this diverse site. The Cerveyrieu Waterfall is one of the "geological curiosities of Valromey" located along the "Séran" stream, labeled Sensitive area by the Department of Ain in 2017 along with the Gorges de Thurignin, and the canyon of Cerveyrieu , Real natural and landscape jewels of the Department of Ain. The waterfall offers a very beautiful view of the Colombier and the Alps. To admire it from above, take the D31, “sous Chassin” (between Champagne and Don). The turbulent waters of the Séran, a river classified as the first category for trout fishing, above the village of Artemare. It is forbidden to bathe in the bed of the Séran and to picnic on the banks of the Séran. Animals accepted on leash only. Please note that the flow of the Séran river varies greatly over the seasons, it happens that the waterfall can be dry during the summer.

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.