Trévoux is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France. It is a suburb of Lyon, built on the steeply sloping left bank of the river Saône.
From the end of the 19th century until the 1950s, Trévoux was the global capital of the manufacture of synthetic diamonds.
The “treasures” inherited from history and its natural assets make Trévoux a pleasant tourist destination. The city is labelled “Most Beautiful Detour in France”, “Green Station” and “Ville Fleurie”. It is also distinguished by the label “Country of Art and History”.
Tourism and main attractions
The city centre has several buildings (hospital, former parliament, etc.) and mansions from the seventeenth century to the eighteenth century. The whole is dominated by the ruins of a fourteenth century fortified castle. Near the castle are the remains of an ancient gate of the fortifications.
The Château de Trévoux is located at the top of the Dombes coast. It retains an octagonal keep from the end of the thirteenth century, partially built in gilded stone, as well as two other towers, dating from the years 1350-1360, associated with the main tower by curtain walls constituting the upper courtyard of the castle. In addition to the important historical and archaeological vestige that it forms, it allows to enjoy a pleasant panorama on the valley of the Saône, the Dombes, the Beaujolais and the Monts d’Or.
Among other interesting sights:
- The former Palace of the Parliament of Dombes, with decorations of the courtroom on the theme of justice and peace.
- The Château du Roquet
- The Château du Corcelles
- The Château de Fétan
- The Montpensier hospital apothecary: within the former Hôtel Dieu, the Trévoux apothecary presents the visitor with woodwork and a collection of jars listed in the complementary inventory of historical monuments.
- The Hôtel du Gouverneur des Dombes
- The Maison Anginieur
- The Warrior House
- The House of the Sires of Villars
The neo-Roman style church was built on the east side of the square where the Parliament is located. Its construction on the site of the old church-fortress which defended the Porte de Lyon, was carried out between 1899 and 1905. Because of this terrain, it cost more than expected to be able to stabilize the foundations.
Unfinished, it does not have a bell tower, and its bells are housed in the wooden aedicule on the side of the building. In addition, it is oriented in the opposite direction to the classical Catholic churches with an entrance to the east and a bedside to the west, still because of the very steep terrain.
Shopping
Shopping in Trévoux is not a priority on a tourist program.
How to get to?
By train:
Villefranche / Saône SNCF station – Villefranche S / S station TGV Paris-Lyon or Paris-Mâcon Loché with shuttle to Villefranche-sur-Saône and TGV Marseille-Lyon.
SNCF station in Saint Germain au Mont d’Or, Anse.
Distances by car:
From Lyon (tolls): 36 min (35.5 km) via A46
From Biarritz (tolls): 7 hr 23 min (749 km) via A89
From Nantes (tolls): 6 hr 28 min (685 km) via A85 and A71
From Bordeaux (tolls): 5 hr 29 min (556 km) via A89
From Toulouse (tolls): 5 hr 30 min (557 km) via A20 and A89
From Monaco (tolls): 5 hr 20 min (519 km) via A8 and A7
From Marseille (tolls): 3 hr 31 min (339 km) via A7
From Andorra (tolls): 7 hr 28 min (690 km) via A9 and A7
Main information
Area: 5.7 sq. km
Population: 6 900
Languages: French
Currency: euro
Visa: Schengen
Time: Central European UTC +1
GPS coordinates: 45°56′28″N 4°46′30″E
