Monastere Royale de Brou

Voted "France's Favorite Monument," the Royal Monastery of Brou in Bourg-en-Bresse is much more than a simple religious building: it is a poem in stone and a dynastic mausoleum unique in Europe. Built at the beginning of the 16th century by Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy, to house the tomb of her beloved husband, Philibert the Fair, the site is striking for its roof of multicolored glazed tiles and its richly carved facade. Inside, the church is a veritable jewel box of stone lacework, housing monumental tombs, Renaissance stained-glass windows of rare delicacy, and a rood screen—one of the few remaining in France—that separates the nave from the choir with breathtaking elegance. The visitor's route invites a serene stroll through its three majestic cloisters, bathed in light and silence. Besides the church, the monastery houses a fine arts museum with collections spanning the 15th to the 20th centuries, housed in the monks' former cells. The exquisite sculptures in the choir, where every detail seems to come alive, testify to the skill of the greatest Flemish artists of the period. Whether you are an art history enthusiast, fascinated by the lives of powerful women, or simply seeking architectural beauty, Brou offers an unforgettable aesthetic and emotional experience in the heart of the Ain region.