You can plan short walks at the Étang de Colnand; the site is accessible to everyone at all times. If you are more interested in local history, the Sentier de la Genévrière offers a different focus: it leads through the heritage of Saint-Martin-en-Bresse. This gives nature by the water and historical themes distinct places in your trip planning. There is also a forest exhibition and other traces of local history, so you can shape your stay around your interests.
Church, Art and Local History
The parish church of Saint-Martin-en-Bresse was rebuilt between 1834 and 1837. The Sentier de la Genévrière brings the 19th-century church, with its remarkable neo-Gothic style and stained-glass windows, to life. The trail is suitable for walkers, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes and electric mountain bikes. This lets you explore the local cultural history on foot or on different types of bicycle.
The parish church also houses two paintings from different centuries. “La charité de Saint Martin” was created in 1835: Césaire Quillier painted it after Anton Van Dyck. The work was listed as protected on 23 August 1995. “Le Christ et la femme adultère” dates from 1602 and is a work by André Menassier; it was listed as protected on 24 April 1961. Together, their dates provide a clear point of comparison: the paintings are from the 17th and 19th centuries, even though they are in the same church.
The memory of the tragedy of 8 and 9 March 1944 is also part of local history. The monument in La Madeleine was built from stones taken from the houses that were burned down and commemorates the events. The ruins of a Maison de lune are also still visible in La Madeleine. Another historic building is the surviving 14th-century Chapelle de Bellefond. Built of red bricks, it is privately owned and not open to visitors.
Forest, Bocage and Étang
The Musée de la forêt showcases the rich biodiversity of the forests and the Bresse bocage landscape. Here, the region’s natural environment takes centre stage, while the church, trail and monument reveal other facets of the area. The Étang de Colnand offers another way to explore: the pond is accessible to everyone at all times and is suitable for short walks. If you would like to fish, annual fishing permits are available through the town hall. Check the local registration details in advance.
What to focus on during your stay
When looking for a hotel in Saint-Martin-en-Bresse, you can first consider which themes you would like your stay to focus on. For culture and history, the parish church, the Sentier de la Genévrière and the monument in La Madeleine offer different points of interest. If you prefer nature, the forest’s biodiversity, the bocage landscape and walks by the Étang take centre stage. This selection reflects different interests without turning the individual sites into a set itinerary.
When planning, also bear in mind that visitor access varies: the Étang is accessible to everyone at all times, while the Chapelle de Bellefond is privately owned and closed to visitors. Annual fishing permits are available through the town hall. This lets you focus your plans on the activities that interest you while taking their respective conditions into account.
Discover more destinations: Fuissé, Coublanc, Montmort, Frangy-en-Bresse, Saint-Vallerin, Saint-Marcel, Montagny-Sur-Grosne, Saint-Bonnet-De-Joux
Back to the regional travel overview: Saône-Et-Loire.
