In Oyonnax, industrial history can be traced through a wide variety of things: combs and hair ornaments, a model factory and the city’s painted walls. There are also festivals and opportunities to explore the surrounding area from a cycling perspective. When planning your trip, you can therefore first decide whether to focus on culture and architecture or on a bike ride.

Museum and Industrial Architecture

The Musée du Peigne et de la Plasturgie contains more than 16,000 objects. Its collections include combs and hair ornaments made in Oyonnax. The museum traces the industrial development of an innovative valley through hair ornaments, eyewear, decorative arts and design. The different themes offer several perspectives on a visit: from specific objects to their design and the city’s industrial history.

The Grande Vapeur offers another way to explore this history. The building was constructed as a model factory in 1905 and is considered a rare example of 20th-century industrial architecture. Its exterior was classified as a historic monument in 1988. Together, these offer two perspectives: the museum focuses on collections and design, while the Grande Vapeur highlights the building itself and its architectural significance. A guided tour is planned for 2026, focusing on the everyday lives of the craftspeople; availability may vary by season.

Painted Walls and Festivals in Oyonnax

The painted walls also tell the story of Oyonnax: they bear witness to life as it is lived and to the city’s history. You can discover them on a walk through the streets, mostly in the city centre. This offers a different way to explore the city than a museum visit: here, you encounter historical references in the public cityscape rather than learning about them solely through a collection.

If you are interested in events, the Fêtes de l’Hiver and de Printemps offer different examples of the city’s festival life. The Fête de l’Hiver is a recurring winter event. Its 26th edition in December 2025 featured light parades, musical performances, street theatre and poetic processions. The 22nd edition of the Fête de Printemps in 2026 had a medieval-fantasy theme and included roving performances. These editions show the forms the festivals can take; if you are planning a trip around an event, check the dates for your travel period.

Explore Oyonnax by Bike

For a cycling perspective on the city, there is an information board in Parc Jeantet. It is intended to help visitors explore Oyonnax’s historic and architectural landscape by bike. The Les lacs du Haut-Bugey route also starts in Oyonnax at the Centre Nautique Robert Sautin. These two pointers offer different starting points: the board draws attention to the city’s history and architecture, while the route names a specific starting point in Oyonnax.

These themes can help you decide what kind of trip to take to Oyonnax, without presupposing a fixed itinerary or a particular length of stay.

Discover more destinations: Massignieu-De-Rives, Hautecourt-Romanèche, Gorrevod, Lompnieu, Mionnay, Chevillard, Sermoyer, Pérouges.

For the broader travel overview: Ain.