Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne, a vibrant village with a rich heritage
Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne, a medieval jewel with a thousand-year history, reveals at every turn of its flower-filled streets the quiet charm that has earned it the nickname “Little Venice of the Dombes”: graceful bridges span the Chalaronne river, while half-timbered houses bear witness to an authentic past.
The remarkable Saint-André Church, built as early as 1272 and listed as a Historic Monument, is illuminated by its 19th-century stained-glass windows depicting the life of Saint Vincent de Paul, parish priest of Châtillon in 1617 and a world-renowned figure of charity. His legacy is honoured at the Maison Saint-Vincent, awarded the “Maisons des Illustres” label, where he once stayed and wrote the first statutes of organised mutual aid; the staircase that once led to his room now opens onto a remarkable chapel.
Each of the town’s five historic monuments tells a chapter of its story:
- the medieval market halls,
- the former Hôtel-Dieu with its apothecary and museum,
- the Villars Gate, the last remnant of the old ramparts,
- the old feudal castle,
- and finally the church – the very soul of old Châtillon, a Dombes village proud of its roots.
To wander here is to be carried by a whisper of the past, where simplicity and generosity come together in a setting of stone and water.
Things to do in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne
- organic farmers’ market every Wednesday morning under the market halls,
- Saturday morning market (a must-see), one of the most beautiful in France,
- Maison Saint-Vincent,
- Saint-André Church, Hôtel-Dieu (museum) and the Old Castle,
- Petit Train Museum,
- walks or jogging at the Arboretum and the Prés Gaudet lakeside,
- Aquadombes municipal swimming pool,
- L’Étoile cinema.
