La Bresse

The River Seille starts its course amid the gentle hills of the Jura. The peaceful and constant nature of the source is reflected in the river itself, making it perfect for navigating without any obstacles across 39 km between Louhans and La Truchère. Its gentle twists and turns make the perfect excuse for idling on the banks. Set sail and find a new place to stop and explore. One such place would be Cuisery. Known as the Village of Books, each year it hosts a short story competition, with the winners getting their works published in a small anthology. 

Then head to the small town of Louhans, with its 157 arcades, its famous market and its 15th century houses that dot the 400 m of the Grande Rue that crosses the old town centre from east to west. Here you’ll also find the highly remarkable Saint-Pierre Church, which you won’t miss. The clock tower and roof have multicoloured tiles typical of the region, recalling, for example, the famous roofs of the nearby Hospices de Beaune. For many years, the word “eco-museum” would likely conjure up images of small, volunteer-run operations. Times have changed though, and the Ecomusée de la Bresse Bourguignonne in Pierre-de-Bresse is no exception. Housed in an old château, it has all the architectural style and majesty of a mini Versailles! The railings, the bright façades, the grand courtyard and the trimmed boxwood hedges all exude grandeur. Since 1981, under the impressive grey slate roof that shimmers like the scales of the fish in the nearby Seille river, the château houses an extraordinary homage to all the traditions and memory of the region, from natural to popular history, from the surrounding architecture to daily customs, and where expertise and the famous Bresse chicken figure prominently.