Guide géologique - Ain

The Ain département offers a wealth of opportunities for geological exploration. Its territory is diverse: the lowlands of the Bresse divide to the west, comprising Bresse to the north and the Dombes plateau to the south, are contrasted with the Jura mountain range and its mid-mountain relief to the east, culminating at 1,718 m at Crêt de la Neige, flanked by the Pays de Gex at the start of the Lake Geneva basin. It is in these rock formations that numerous dinosaur footprints have been discovered, revealing the geological history of the department in a whole new light. These discoveries provide an opportunity to talk about a little-known science, ichnology, a branch of geology that deals with fossil footprints and traces.

This guide offers 10 geological walking routes, with geological interpretation of the Bresse region from Mount Myon, the Ain gorges, the Nantua cluses, the Orvaz cirque, the Crêt de la Neige ascent, the Valserine losses, the tour of the Cernon waterfalls, Izieu and Marchamp. You'll also discover some exceptional dinosaur-track sites: Villette, Dinoplagne, etc.