The best walks and hikes around Courtes

This body of water, ideal for relaxation, is located in a calm, wooded environment, near a campsite offering various accommodations and outdoor activities.

In the center of the Arts district, the leaning house is one of the city's curiosities. Built at the beginning of the 17th century, the Bressane house located in the heart of the village of Romenay was, at the time, not yet tilted. For some they are due to the wyvern, this mythical Bressanne creature, for others to a crossroads of telluric energies (among the Celts, for whom tellurism was of great importance, stones or menhirs were placed on these crossings. It It should be remembered that Romenay was, for these same Celts, a royal city.) And for the more down to earth, it was the framework that worked...

After the Revolution and the Empire, the city suffocated between its ramparts. As traffic grew, with the frequent passage of horses, handcarts and chariots, the municipal council asked the prefect for authorization to sell the two gates with a view to demolishing them. Permission was granted in 1824. The population was not consulted. Madame Gonet, owner of one side of the tower, refuses the compensation of 60 francs and thus saves the Western Gate. The door is built in square.

The Orient Gate gives access to a long narrow street lined with houses. It was built with large bricks: carrons. Before fortifying towns, building a castle and ramparts, it was first necessary to build a quarry. It was built in Saint Trivier de Courtes (village located 5 km away in the Ain department). The Duke of Burgundy placed an order for 250,000 carrons, which is colossal for a small town like Romenay. The ramparts were built gradually according to deliveries.

The ramparts have disappeared, but we can guess their location by looking at the plan of the city, still in a circular shape. The watchtower was part of these ramparts as were the eastern and western gates. Like all the fortifications of Romenay, this tower is made of squares.

The Saint-Martin church stands on Gallo-Roman remains. The first constructions date from the 12th century, including the side door made of pink Préty stone. Victim of looting, fires and lightning, the church was renovated many times thanks to donations from the wealthy families of the village.

This is a witness to the manufacture of carrons, these characteristic bricks for construction in the Bresse and Dombes. The carrons were stored here to dry before going into the kiln and put to cool. It is from this carronnière that the carrons used for the construction of various buildings in Romenay (gate, watchtower, etc.) originate.