A former castle, a digital arts offering and equestrian competitions give Chazey-sur-Ain a variety of reasons to visit. If you are looking for a holiday rental, start by deciding whether you want to focus mainly on history, village culture or the Parc du Cheval.
Château de Chazey-sur-Ain: several building phases
The Château de Chazey-sur-Ain is a former castle founded by the lords of Coligny in the 12th century. After a fire, Philibert II of Savoy had it rebuilt in the 15th century. The château as it stands today has 41 rooms and is designed in the Neo-Gothic style. At the same time, it preserves older parts: the keep, kitchens and chapel. The building therefore brings together different periods of construction, rather than its present-day appearance telling only the story of its medieval origins. The château has been listed as a Monument historique since 18 February 1987.
Park, tours and virtual visit
The public park of the Château de Chazey-sur-Ain is open and accessible year-round. While renovation work is underway, guided tours of the château are unavailable until further notice. As an alternative, you can take a virtual tour via an app featuring the participation of a member of the Savoie-Nemours family. Check the availability of guided visits before you arrive.
Village details and digital art
The Notre-Dame de Grâce chapel houses statues dating from the 16th to the 19th century. A spring at the chapel is accessible to pilgrims and passers-by. An old livestock trough opposite the town hall recalls the village’s agricultural past. The cemetery next to the village church also reveals local details: beautiful tombs and carefully crafted wrought-iron ornaments. The village church itself is closed except during ceremonies.
The Musée numérique: l’art dans nos villages offers the chance to view thousands of works of art from major museums. The programme includes cultural mediation, conferences and workshops featuring themed virtual reality films. This adds a digital way to engage with culture to the architectural heritage. Programme details may change; if you are planning to attend a conference or workshop, check the scheduled dates.
Equestrian sports and getting there
The Parc du Cheval hosts equestrian competitions ranging from club to international level. These include show jumping, dressage and western riding, as well as competitions for young horses. In addition, the Parc du Cheval rents out spaces and courses and makes them available for training courses, events and practice. If you are travelling for a particular discipline, you can plan around the relevant competitions; using the facilities for training or a course is another possible reason to visit.
The Parc du Cheval is five minutes from the exit of the A42 motorway and 15 minutes from Lyon’s Rocade Est. From the ring road, you can reach the A6 and A7 motorways. These details provide a clear guide to getting to the equestrian venue.
When looking for a holiday rental, your main reason for visiting may help you decide: the château and village details offer a historical and cultural focus, while the Parc du Cheval is geared towards competitions and organised equestrian activities. If you are travelling for a specific competition, check its date in advance and plan your travel days around the visit that matters to you.
Discover more destinations: Ramasse, Artemare, Crozet, Massignieu-De-Rives, Asnières, Chanoz-Châtenay, Tossiat, Le Grand-Abergement.
Return to the regional travel guide: Ain.
