Reyrieux is a commune in the Ain department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, 14 km south-east of Villefranche-sur-Saône.
Its territory of 15 km² is located on the left bank of the Saône, which it borders to the south-west: the locality is therefore bordering the Rhône department.
To the north and north-east, Reyrieux whose town hugs the hillsides is established on the Dombes plateau known for its rich hydrography. This is how the town once housed thermal baths.
The village was occupied during Antiquity (excavations have attested to the establishment of a Roman villa). In the Middle Ages, a church and a priory were built in the year 1000, and the small seigniory was crossed by the road leading from Lyon to Paris. Later, the Château de la Brosse on Reyrieux belonged to the Duke of Maine and sovereign of the Dombes, the province being attached to the kingdom of France in 1762. Still devoted to agriculture, in the 19th century, the village acquired a a spa hotel. An activity that will not last. It was then necessary to wait until the last third of the 20th century for the town to develop due to its proximity to the Lyon metropolis. The population is now approaching 5000 inhabitants. Within an environment that has nevertheless remained green (agricultural land and woods still represent 73% of the area), Reyrieux has a range of leisure activities not to be overlooked during a stay in the region...
Several elements and heritage sites deserve to be observed in the locality. A discovery trail can start with the Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul church. If a first Romanesque building is mentioned from the end of the 10th century, it was demolished in 1867 to make way for a Romano-Byzantine church. Only an old gilded wooden statue of Saint Catherine has been preserved… Note that the nave is in three parts separated by rows of columns, and that both the choir and the transept are groined. Note also the sculpture representing the Lord and Saint Peter advancing into the sea, on the outside of the tympanum. The interior paintings were restored in 1985. Finally, a cross dating from the 14th century has been preserved just in front of the church.
In terms of civil architecture, if the feudal "old castle" is no more than a locality, the Château de la Brosse which had been built in 1735 by the Duke of Maine and sovereign of the Dombes is always visible. Bought in 1770 by the Bellet de Tavermont family, it was rebuilt in 1872.
However, the best known now is the Château de Balmont, now Château d'Escoffier, to the north-west of the town. Built at the beginning of the 17th century, it was the summer residence of the Duchess of Montpensier, cousin of Louis XIV and then Sovereign of the Principality of Dombes. Neo-classical in style, it belonged to the Cadet de Montezan family until the Revolution. In 1820, bought by an adviser to the court of Trévoux, Piegay, the estate has a park laid out by students from the Le Nôtre school in Versailles. A third floor and two towers (one of which was converted into a chapel) at the rear were added in 1860. preserved. The whole still has a very noble appearance and the park with ponds is beautifully maintained. The site has been home to a prestigious cooking school for thirty years. The castle is only occasionally open to the public. Information on +33 4 74 00 46 04.
On the cultural level, the small town of Reyrieux has been endowed since 2013 with the Center du Galet with a first-rate space. Featuring stunning contemporary architecture, it includes a performance hall that can accommodate up to 600 spectators. The program is rich and varied (theatre, dance, concerts). Information on +33 4 74 08 92 81. The library integrated into this center offers entertainment (readings, meetings). Contact on +33 4 74 00 19 22.
For athletes, facilities accessible to visitors are dotted around the town, including tennis courts to be reserved with the club on +33 6 44 35 71 15. Also note that the trail club, running and walking regularly offers outings that holidaymakers can join… Information on +33 6 71 12 85 14.
Finally, all that remains is to take advantage of the environment and the bucolic landscapes of the countryside surrounding the town and the hamlets. From the banks of the Saône to the Dombes plateau, between crops, ponds, wooded plots, the routes are very pleasant for hikers. Larger loops can lead walkers or mountain bikers to the heart of the Dombes and its ponds to the east or, in another register, lead to Villefranche-sur-Saône to the northwest or the foothills of Mont d'Or to the south… Maps and information on +33 4 74 00 36 32.
