Saint-André-de-Corcy brings together birdwatching, a described walking route and distinctive traces of local history. When planning your stay, you can choose between observing nature at Étang Grange Volet, taking a longer circuit through fields and woods, or exploring historical themes relating to the church, castle and ponds.
Birdwatching at Étang Grange Volet
The Observatoire du Domaine de Vernange is located at Étang Grange Volet in Saint-André-de-Corcy and offers the chance to observe the birdlife of the Dombes. Resident birds, summer migrants and long-distance migrants can be found at the site throughout the year. The different bird groups add variety to the picture: alongside resident species are migratory birds, including those that arrive in summer. So if you are especially interested in bird migration, the time of year is a useful factor to consider when planning your trip.
The Circuit de l'étang des Vavres
The Circuit de l'étang des Vavres starts at the car park of Atelier 208 in Saint-André-de-Corcy. The walk is 12.2 kilometres long and rated moderate; it takes about three hours. Around 65 percent of the route is paved, and the elevation gain is slight. This makes it easier to plan the time needed than for a walk with no stated distance or duration. Check the route conditions before setting out, as they may change.
The route passes through fields and woods and reaches Étang des Vavres. Ducks and swans, along with an extensive reed bed, are part of the landscape there. A farmers’ market is held at the starting point every Sunday morning. If you plan to visit the market, check the date in advance, as the schedule may change.
Ponds and the Dombes
The ponds are also part of the area’s history: from the 13th to the 18th century, numerous ponds surrounded the two historic hamlets of Saint-André-de-Corcy. Pond management connects the municipality with the Dombes, an important French region for freshwater fishing. Fish species include carp, tench, pike and roach. In this way, pond farming and fishing add another perspective on the Dombes landscape to birdwatching and the walking route.
A Poype and its measurements
The Poype de la Roussière is the only one of five poypes in the present-day municipality whose earthen mound has survived. The circular mound is covered with deciduous trees, mostly acacias. It is eight metres high, with a base diameter of 40 metres and a platform diameter of 15 metres. These measurements give the structure a distinct form: the base is considerably wider than the platform, while the mound rises eight metres. It is dated to the 12th or 13th century; the site was inhabited until the 14th century.
Church history and the origins of the town
The former Romanesque parish church of Saint-André was first mentioned in 1092 and demolished in 1862. A new parish church was rebuilt on the same site from 1862 to 1864, to plans by Lyon architect Joseph Clair. The floor plan of the parish church of Saint-André is in the shape of a Latin cross. The origins of Saint-André-de-Corcy are also linked to the 11th-century Château de Corcy. Taken together, these local histories span the early connection with the castle, the Romanesque church and the 19th-century church reconstruction.
Your trip can therefore focus on several different things: the observatory turns your attention to birdlife, the Circuit offers a named route with a stated duration and difficulty, and the church and Poype tell of different historical periods. This gives you the opportunity to decide which themes you would like to shape your stay in Saint-André-de-Corcy.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Oncieu, Villebois, Thil, Ambronay, Saint-Bois, Mionnay, Champagne-En-Valromey, Montluel.
For the main travel overview: Ain.
