Wine tourism in Bugey
Vignobles et Découvertes destination
Discover the Bugey region, visit its vineyard and find out the must have addresses for tasting Bugey wines and visiting wineries and estates. Bugey has established itself as a leading destination for wine tourism thanks to its key values, location, landscapes, and the exceptional quality and variety of its wines. Awarded the prestigious Vignobles et Découvertes Destination label in 2017, Bugey invites you to immerse yourself in its unique terroirs and indulge in a variety of events to celebrate and acquaint you with its wines, winegrowers and producers.
Bugey AOC wines speak volumes about the dedicated individuals who craft them and who take great pride in sharing their personal stories, the idiosyncrasies of their terroirs, their family traditions, and anecdotes about their daily work and local customs. Events and open days are also organised in their wineries.
Festive and gourmet moments, an ode to conviviality
The annual Vignobles et Découvertes Weekend, held on the third weekend of October plays a significant role in the thriving wine tourism industry offering all the affiliated partners the chance to organise truly unique and exceptional events throughout their vineyards.
The Vigneronne, a delightful gourmet walk organised by the Route du Bugey association each year, played a crucial role in the Bugey Cerdon AOC vineyard receiving the prestigious Site Remarquable du Goût label in 2018. Serving as ambassadors for Bugey winegrowers, the “Ordre des Commandeurs du Bugey” brotherhood has been tirelessly working since 1982 to promote both Bugey wines and the people who craft them.
Visit the Bugey region
Exploring Bugey means embarking on a multi-faceted journey and immersing yourself in a region with a wealth of landscapes, a rich past and a host of historic monuments.
A land of authenticity
On your natural heritage itinerary, head for the upper reaches of Bugey with the Syllans glaciers, the Grand Colombier, the Retord plateau, the Plans d’Hotonnes, and further south, the Lavours Marsh nature reserve, the Glandieu Waterfall, the Cerdon Caves, the Cerdon Copperworks, the fruit orchards, and more.
A land of adventure
Located at the heart of a triangle formed by Lyon, Geneva and Bourg en Bresse, the Bugey region showcases contrasting mid-mountain landscapes. Bugey invites you to experience all the power and authenticity of its untamed beauty and exceptional biodiversity: gorges, waterfalls, rivers, mountains, forests, lakes, and marshlands are dotted with picturesque villages and turn this region into a huge open-air playground for a host of outdoor activities and leisure pursuits. Hiking, horse-riding, mountain biking, rock climbing, via ferrata, fishing, sailing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, dog-sledding and paragliding are all the guarantee of unforgettable thrills and excitement that transform Bugey into a real adventure wonderland.
A land of gastronomy
The Bugey region is known for its unique culinary identity, which can be enjoyed in a variety of delicious dishes that are sure to satisfy all taste buds, from the renowned quenelle with Nantua sauce to the small yet flavoursome hot pâté from Belley, ramequin cheese, salted walnut bread, stuffed veal, braised trout, snails, truffles, pike and honey. Also, be sure to try the delicious Tomme and Comté cheeses, and sugar cakes. Bugey is a haven for food enthusiasts. These traditionally crafted gastronomic delights which make this region so attractive pair perfectly with Bugey AOC wines. The Saveurs de l’Ain brand is a sign of the culinary heritage and gastronomy of the Ain region and includes nine PDO/AOC products of exceptional quality, hallmarks of great taste not to be missed at any cost.
A land of history
Embark on a journey back in time with the Castle of Les Allymes, Saint-Michel abbey church, the Bonnet silk mills, and the Bugey Valromey Museum. Commemorate the lives of Jewish children with a visit to the Maison d’Izieu memorial and a visit to the Deportation and Resistance Museum, a memorial site which contributes to the understanding of crimes against humanity.
