Guide to Bourg-en-Bresse

Bourg-en-Bresse is an idyllic town that doesn’t suffer from huge crowds or surging prices during tourist season. Located in the east of France near the Swiss border, it’s only a short train ride away from the city of Lyon, but there’s so much to do that you could spend a holiday here.

During the day, visit the town’s boutiques, artisan shops and ​​caves à vin or take a stroll through the Parc de Bouvent. In the evening, see a show at the Théâtre de Bourg-en-Bresse and treat yourself to authentic French cuisine. Bourg-en-Bresse’s restaurants are the perfect places to sample local delicacies such as Bresse Bleu, a blue cheese with a similar texture to Brie, or Poulet de Bresse, considered one of the best quality chickens in the world. It’s perhaps no coincidence that two of France’s most garlanded chefs, Jacques Pépin and Georges Blanc, are from Bourg-en-Bresse. Blanc even has a restaurant in Bourg-en-Bresse by the name of Place Bernard.

Bourg-en-Bresse’s most famous building, on top of the list for most visitors to the town, is the Monastère Royal de Brou. Built by Margaret of Austria between 1506 and 1532 in memory of her husband Philibert II, Duke of Savoy, this gothic cathedral is a magnificent work of masonry, and was voted ‘France’s favourite monument’ in 2014. Within its walls is a fine arts museum that hosts temporary exhibitions.

• The ‘Bourg’ in ‘Bourg-en-Bresse’ is pronounced ‘Bourk’

• Bourg-en-Bresse is in the département of Ain (pronounced like the French word 'un'), which is the first of France's 101 départements when listed alphabetically

• The town is twinned with Aylesbury in the UK, Bad Kreuznach in Germany and Namur in Belgium

• The Poulet de Bresse is the only chicken with an AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée)

• People from Bourg-en-Bresse are 'Burgiens' (male) or 'Burgiennes' (female). People from the Bresse region are called ‘Bressans’ (male) and ‘Bressanes’ (female).

• Bourg-en-Bresse is Alexa’s hometown!