Patrimoine de la ville de Belley

Belley was one of the most important towns in the region in Gallo-Roman times, as it was located at a crossroads on the road linking Lyon and Geneva.
Recent excavations have uncovered a vast thermal complex.
The emblem of the town is the she-wolf, the etymology of Belley referring to Bellone, Roman goddess of war, represented by this animal.
To be admired: the bronze she-wolf in the Grande Rue, sculpted by Colette Sonzogni.
1077: Bugey is ceded by the Holy Roman Empire to the House of Savoy.
After the treaty of Lyon in 1601, which marked the attachment of Bugey to France, Belley became the seat of the bailiwick and was attached administratively to the province of Burgundy.
To be admired: the interior courtyard of the Tourist Office, the former seat of the bailiwick.

St Jean Baptiste Cathedral:
Classified as a historical monument, the neo-Gothic St Jean Baptiste Cathedral of Belley was built on the site of the 12th century cathedral, of which only traces remain on the north portal. Most of it dates from the 19th century.

The Episcopal Palace and the Jean-Pierre Camus Park:
Classified as a historical monument since 1932, the former 18th century bishop's palace was bought by the town in 1978 and now houses the municipal library, the premises of the Société Savante Le Bugey, and is used as an exhibition and reception hall.

To discover: The park, entirely renovated in 2010 by the City of Belley to make it a place for relaxation and walking.

The interior courtyards:
Many 15th century courtyards line the Grande Rue.
Discover them during the visits organised by the Tourist Office, in particular
the courtyard of the house where Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin was born, a famous gastronome and author of the culinary science treatise "The Physiology of Taste".