Bâgé-le-Châtel, a medieval village

The original political capital of Bresse from the 9th to the 13th century, Bage-le-Chatel owes its prestigious past to its advantageous position.

It is situated 50 or so metres above the level of the plain and is still surrounded today by red-brick ramparts and some fairly well-preserved towers, one of which is topped by a weathercock with the coat of Arms of Bage and contains two 19th century windows telling the story of the Lords of Bage.

The city of Bage-le-Chatel retains vestiges of its history, especially with the evocative names of its squares and streets: the square of the spurs (place de l’Eperon), archery square (la Place du Jeu de l’Arc), Castle street (la rue du Chateau), not to mention the street of the condemned (rue Condamnale) which leads to “l’Ecart” where condemned people were isolated in olden times.