Ain, a thriving destination !

Set amid a fabulously rich landscape and just a few kilometers from Lyon’s Saint-Exupéry airport, Ain offers an
incredible amount of things to see and do. Ideally situated in the south-east of France between Geneva and
Lyon, and at one of Europe’s major crossroads, you will immediately feel at home in Ain, a department that the
French often refer to as “the diamond with a thousand facets”. With two international airports, it proudly boasts
a dynamic economy whose countryside, traditions and modern technology work together in perfect harmony.

Gastronomy and the art of living

The north-west of Ain is home to the queen of French  gastronomy,  the  Bresse  chicken.  Boasting the  only  appellation  d’origine  contrôlée  in  the world  for  poultry,  these  chickens  are  raised  in picturesque, traditional-style farms nestled in the Bressan countryside. The people of Ain love their food, and gastronomy is an art of living. In Vonnas, the talented chef, Georges Blanc, who has held 3 Michelin  stars  for  the  last  40 years,  continues  the family tradition. Ain also has numerous other chefs who  combine  both  tradition  and  innovation  in their cooking. Last, but not least, Brillat-Savarin–a
culinary  expert  of  the  19th  century  and  the
inventor of gastronomy–was born in Bugey, to the east of the department. So, Ain can truly claim to be one of the founders of French cuisine.

Ain is also a very popular destination for golfers from  across  the  globe.  There  are  no  less  than sixteen  golf  courses  in  the  department,  most of which are in the Pays-de-Gex district, not far from  the  Swiss  border,  and  the  Dombes  district, just outside Lyon. All these locations offer golfers
magnificent  scenery  while  enjoying  their  sport, such as the Gouverneur golf course, surrounded by lakes, the Jiva Hill Resort, opposite Mont Blanc, and the golf course near to Geneva in the spa resort of Divonne-les-Bains.

Ain is also a very popular destination for golfers from  across  the  globe.  There  are  no  less  than sixteen  golf  courses  in  the  department,  most of which are in the Pays-de-Gex district, not far from  the  Swiss  border,  and  the  Dombes  district, just outside Lyon. All these locations offer golfers
magnificent  scenery  while  enjoying  their  sport, such as the Gouverneur golf course, surrounded by lakes, the Jiva Hill Resort, opposite Mont Blanc, and the golf course near to Geneva in the spa resort of
Divonne-les-Bains.

ain

Preserved countryside connected to the world

“Ain’s  strength  lies  in  its  diversity  of  landscapes”, proclaims  the  cinema  director,  Luc  Jacquet,  who was  born  in  the  department.  Its  stunning  natural environment is carefully preserved but also highly connected  to  the  world,  thanks  to  a  particularly dense  highway  network.  Its  state-of-the-art technology,  which  remains  firmly  rooted  in  its traditions  and  knowledge,  is  highly  respected.  In short, with its nature reserves, protected natural areas,  historical  and  industrial  heritage,  Ain  is  a
truly  unique  department  with  extraordinary vitality, where innovation goes hand in hand with
generosity and humility.

Places to visit : Brou Royal Monastery in Bourg-en-Bresse ; the medieval city of Pérouges; the Chateau de Fléchères in the Dombes region ; the Chateau de Voltaire near to Geneva.

Also worth a visit : the Parc des Oiseaux (the largest ornithological  park  in  France)  with  its  3,000  birds, representing 300 species from across the globe.

Landscapes marked by the horse

In  the  17th  century,  Colbert  built  a  Royal  Stud  in Villars-les-Dombes. The department has continued to develop its horse breeding industry ever since, specializing in sports horses as early as 1955. Today, mares and foals can be seen galloping across the fields, and the countryside is brimming with equestrian facilities.

Rethink your Horse

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