From the Ambérieu railway museum to Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey, let's discover the vestiges of Bugiste's industrial past.
The tourist office takes you on a walk in the footsteps of these men and women who lived, in the 20th century, this era that we no longer know.
After taking your seat in the vintage Intercités Lyon-Genève, you get off after 20 minutes at Ambérieu-en-Bugey station. This small station immediately gives the impression of having lived through an industrial past. As the train is closely linked to industry, head to the Musée du Cheminot, a 10-minute walk away, to find out more.
The Railway Museum, the temple of the train
This museum, run by passionate retired railway workers, is full of objects and machines reflecting the glorious past of French railways. From floor to ceiling, the walls are covered with displays, signboards and other artifacts from that era. Of real machines are exhibited there and are still functioning before our amazed eyes! We are immediately transported by the decor and the technical and personal explanations told by the guide. For example, do you know that in a locomotive, the conductor is not the stoker? These are 2 different professions: A driver (who puts the coal) and a mechanic (who drives and regulates the pressure).
The more we advance, the more we evolve. The steam locomotive becomes the electric locomotive, the TGV replaces the motor BB…and the style of the cabins, uniforms and stations bear witness to the passing decades.
Upstairs, a station ticket office is reconstructed. We almost want to take a second class ticket to the Alps! Also, we discover the underside of railway life in life-size reproductions : bedrooms, offices, infirmary… a real time travel, as close as possible to the experience of workers and travelers.
The visit ends with the story of an emblematic and decisive act of resistance during the German occupation: railway sabotage at the Ambérieu-en-Bugey yard. But we won't say more, you have to go and discover it for yourself!
“Next stop: Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey”
When leaving the museum, you want to take the train. why not direction Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey, the homeland of Ramekin, only… 8 minutes away?!? Yippee, time to pick up a dish of the day at Modern hotel, opposite Ambérieu station!
This old hotel open for 111 years (yes yes!), has kept its bar counter and restaurant to the delight of locals. It's been a real family story for four generations! Robert and his daughter Sylviane serve there casual cuisine, varied and tasty. The price-performance ratio is unbeatable. Also, the decoration frozen in time (paradoxical for the Modern') immerses lunch in a reassuring and warm atmosphere. When the weather is good, you can even eat on the interior terrace. For nothing in the world would we prefer a triangle sandwich!
Visit of Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey
Then depart for Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey. A city with a great industrial past which experienced a prosperous textile industry in the 20th century, in the same vein as Lyon. This activity partly explains the scale of the region’s railway network. Let’s take a look at what’s left of that era!
As soon as you enter the town, you follow what remains of the Schappe spinning mill, which was one of the world's largest centers of the escape. This textile is obtained after the treatment and transformation of the cocoons used in the production of silk. Between the 1930s and 1980s, this factory experienced a very prosperous era that completely influenced the appearance of the city. To know everything about this story, visit the Bugist Traditions Museum of Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey is in order!
Between the factory buildings, the large houses or the storefronts that have now closed their doors, you can find vestiges of this era everywhere in the city.
This discovery will appeal to great nostalgics, lovers of photography or trains and lovers of small towns nestled on the mountainside.
Upcycling enthusiasts*? Head to the Triplettes Social Club
After filling up on history and souvenir photos, we stop at the Threesomes Social Club the music bar in Ambérieu-en-Bugey!
This former industrial wasteland, transformed into a festive place, brings together all the elements conducive to relaxation. Between its trendy retro decor, its dancing space, its large terrace and its rooftop, there is something for everyone. Foodtruck, homemade burgers, free concerts all year round and cold drinks are the watchwords of this atypical place. A unique post-industrial atmosphere!
The industrial past of our territory is a precious and remarkable heritage. Through museums or simply balade, discovering these testimonies of yesteryear brings us a little closer to the lives of men and women in the 20th century.
*Upcycling: Literally “recycle from above”. The idea is to make new out of old, with a gain in quality and added value for the final product. Win-win!
