Karting du Bugey

Right in the heart of the Bugey area, Karting du Bugey sets up its track at Château-Gaillard, in the Ain department, fifteen minutes from Ambérieu-en-Bugey and at the foot of the first Jura plateau. The 840 metres of outdoor track sit in a rural setting, in an area mixing cheese-producing pastures, orchards and the early slopes of the Jura mountains. It has become a local reference for Bugey locals heading out with friends, as well as for people from Lyon and Bresse who drive up to spend half a day in the back country.

The 840-metre outdoor layout alternates straights long enough to push the gears and technical corners that reward clean lines. Several kart classes are available, from beginner models for young drivers to punchier versions for regulars chasing lap times. With sessions starting at 17 euros, the price stays reasonable for the format. The site welcomes first-time drivers in family groups and regularly hosts kids' birthdays, stag and hen parties, and corporate events in the open Bugey landscape.

Château-Gaillard is 35 minutes from Lyon via the A42 (Pérouges exit) and three quarters of an hour from Bourg-en-Bresse. The area offers plenty to extend the trip: the medieval town of Pérouges (one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France), local Bugey cheeses, the Cerdon prehistoric park, or a detour to the Plateau d'Hauteville resort for fans of mid-altitude mountains. A solid option for Lyon residents looking for something different without driving down to the Alps.