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Saint-Clair Chapel, Maillat
approx. 800 m
A small chapel in the commune of Maillat, listed as a historic monument in 1931. It is often, wrongly, called the “Sainte-Claire” chapel.
Château de Maillat: a night in an Ain château near Lac de Nantua
The Château de Maillat stands in Maillat, a small mid-mountain commune in the Ain, a few kilometres from Lac de Nantua and the Cerdon caves. The Expedia listing describes it as a refined château with individually decorated rooms, an indoor pool, a sauna and a garden. A place to sleep in a château between the Jura, the Bugey and the Bresse.
At a glance
- Location
- Maillat, Ain department (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), about 5 km from Lac de Nantua and 25 km from Bourg-en-Bresse as the crow flies
- Accommodation
- Refined-style château according to Expedia, with individually decorated rooms, a shared lounge and a banquet hall
- Highlights
- Indoor pool with waterfall, sauna, whirlpool, garden, continental breakfast included, free minibar, free Wi-Fi, free parking
- Guest rating
- 8.6/10 from 24 reviews on Expedia (as of 14 Oct 2026)
- Check-in & check-out
- Check-in 4–11 pm · check-out at 11 am · virtual reception
- Good to know
- No pets · 12 steps to the entrance (ramp at the main entrance) · no lift · non-smoking property
Staying at the Château de Maillat: a night in an Ain château
To stay at the Château de Maillat is to sleep in a large stone house with several towers, laid out around a planted, gravelled inner courtyard, with a columned entrance opening onto the garden. Expedia lists it among the refined-style châteaux and says the rooms are decorated and furnished one by one. The listing's photos show, for example, a room with a marble fireplace and a framed portrait.
For comfort, the rooms have a private bathroom, high-quality hypoallergenic bedding with a pillow-top mattress, a smart TV with digital channels, an espresso machine, a kettle and a free stocked minibar. They are soundproofed, with double-glazed windows and central heating, and some rooms connect with each other.
A continental breakfast is included every day from 8 to 10 am. For relaxing, the listing mentions an indoor pool with a waterfall (open 9 am to 11 pm), a sauna, a whirlpool and loungers by the water. Check-in is handled remotely through a virtual reception.
Photos of Château de Maillat
The historical setting around the Château de Maillat
- c. 671 – Date given for the abbey church of Nantua's Benedictine abbey, of which the church of Saint-Michel is now the last remnant.
- 1245 – The Château de Montréal, now a ruin, is said to have been built by Étienne II de Thoire-Villars on Mont Bey.
- mid-17th century – The Château de Montréal falls into ruin.
- 1836 – Eugène Delacroix paints Saint Sebastian Tended by the Holy Women, kept in the church of Saint-Michel in Nantua.
- 1854 – The Cerdon copper works is founded in a former paper mill.
- 1931 – The Saint-Clair chapel at Maillat is listed as a historic monument.
- 1935 – Lac de Nantua is classified as a protected natural site.
- 1985 – The departmental Museum of the Resistance and Deportation of the Ain opens in Nantua; it was renovated in 2017.
The sources consulted do not document the history of the Château de Maillat itself: the Expedia listing presents it as a château, but Wikipedia has no article on the building. This page therefore looks at what surrounds it.
Maillat is a mid-mountain commune in the Ain department, in an area rich in heritage: the abbey of Nantua, the medieval ruins at Montréal-la-Cluse, memories of the Resistance and the copper industry at Cerdon.
Facilities and services at the Château de Maillat
The details below come from the Expedia listing (as of 14 Oct 2026); room details may vary.
Rooms
- Free Wi-Fi and wired internet
- Private bathroom
- High-quality hypoallergenic bedding, pillow-top mattress
- Soundproofed rooms, double glazing, central heating
- Espresso machine, kettle, free stocked minibar
- Smart TV with premium digital channels and pay TV
- Connecting rooms available
- Iron and ironing board on request
Wellness
- Indoor pool with waterfall (open 9 am–11 pm)
- Loungers by the pool
- Sauna
- Whirlpool
Château & grounds
- Garden
- Shared lounge
- Banquet hall
- Shared microwave
- Non-smoking property
Service
- Continental breakfast included (8–10 am)
- Virtual reception, multilingual staff
- Daily housekeeping
- Free open-air parking without service (limited spaces)
- Ramp at the main entrance, 12 steps to the entrance, no lift
Where the Château de Maillat is: between Lac de Nantua and the Bresse
The château stands in Maillat, in the Ain, at the foot of the Jura mountains. Maillat village is about 1 km away, Lac de Nantua 5 km and Bourg-en-Bresse 25 km as the crow flies. According to Expedia, Brion - Montréal-la-Cluse station is about 11 minutes by car and Geneva airport about 58 minutes.
Around the château, the listing mentions Lac de Nantua, the Cerdon caves, the church of Saint-Michel in Nantua, the departmental Museum of the Resistance and Deportation, the Cerdon copper works museum and the Albert Griot beach. A chapel in the village, the Saint-Clair chapel, is a listed historic monument.
For a longer excursion, Bourg-en-Bresse, the prefecture of the Ain, is about half an hour away by road.
Distances (as the crow flies from the Château de Maillat)
| Saint-Clair Chapel, Maillat | approx. 800 m |
| Maillat (village) | approx. 1 km |
| Lac de Nantua | approx. 5 km |
| Nantua and Saint-Michel church | approx. 6 km |
| Cerdon caves | approx. 6 km |
| Museum of the Resistance and Deportation of the Ain (Nantua) | approx. 6 km |
| Ruins of Château de Montréal | approx. 6 km |
| Cerdon copper works | approx. 8 km |
| Oyonnax | approx. 16 km |
| Bourg-en-Bresse | approx. 25 km |
Distances calculated as the crow flies from the coordinates of the listing; driving times to the station and airport come from Expedia.
Things to see around the Château de Maillat
Church of Saint-Michel, Nantua
approx. 6 km
The last remnant of the abbey church of Nantua's Benedictine abbey, this Cluniac-influenced Romanesque church gained Gothic decoration in the late 12th century. It holds a painting by Delacroix.
Cerdon caves
approx. 6 km
Caves hollowed out by water in the Jurassic limestone, holding an archaeological deposit from the Magdalenian period. They can be visited for their speleological interest.
Ruins of Château de Montréal
approx. 6 km
A former 13th-century fortress, built in 1245 according to tradition by Étienne II de Thoire-Villars on Mont Bey. It has been a ruin since the mid-17th century.
Cerdon copper works
approx. 8 km
A copperware factory founded in 1854 in a former paper mill, now a museum devoted to the working of copper.
Bourg-en-Bresse
approx. 25 km
The prefecture of the Ain and historic capital of the Bresse region, 59 km north-east of Lyon. The town has around 42,000 inhabitants.
Tours & activities near Château de Maillat
Experiences in the region that you can book online with Viator:
Annecy Food Tour – A Full French Meal Experience by Do Eat Better
Do Eat Better Experience Annecy Food Tour is a walking tour around the old town. You will be guided by a Local Expert who's able to explain every …
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Paris and Montmartre 2CV Tour by Night with Champagne
This 2 hours private tour is perfect to experience the real City of Lights. Our idea is to give you the opportunity to visit Montmartre with a local …
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Canyoning discovery in the Vercors - Grenoble
This outing will allow you to discover canyoning in the Vercors massif. I will guide you in the Versoud canyon with good humor and make sure that you …
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Guided Day Tour and Wine Tasting Northern Rhône Valley
A unique guided tour to meet the winemakers of the Rhone Valley North. You will be accompanied by a local guide, Justine Poncet, who knows the region …
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Tandem Paragliding Flight to Chamonix Facing Mont Blanc
Much more than just paragliding in Chamonix Every flight is a story in its own right. Founded by two passionate brothers since childhood, our school …
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Annecy Segway Tour - 2h
A tour to discover the pleasure of a ride on a Segway. Ride a circuit with a moderate pace that is perfect to discover the Segway TP in all its …
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Hameau Duboeuf, 1st theme park on Vine and Wine in Europe
In a magnificent reconstruction of the 1900 Station Hall, Le Hameau Duboeuf is a unique park of its kind, which reveals in an original and playful …
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Annecy Segway Tour - 1h
Discover the pleasure of riding on a Segway©. Enjoy this one hour tour that is perfect for getting a view of Annecy Lake.. Enjoy this one hour tour …
View details ›Some descriptions are machine-translated.
Who is the Château de Maillat for?
Couples
A sauna, whirlpool, indoor pool and free minibar in a château: the ingredients for a relaxing weekend for two.
Nature lovers
Lac de Nantua, the Cerdon caves and the Jura mountains are all a few kilometres from the château.
History fans
The abbey of Nantua, the ruins of the Château de Montréal, the Resistance museum and the Cerdon copper works make a varied circuit.
Small groups
The listing mentions a banquet hall, a shared lounge and connecting rooms, useful for family or friends staying together.
Good to know before booking the Château de Maillat
- Check-in is from 4 pm to 11 pm and check-out at 11 am. Reception is handled through a virtual desk.
- Pets are not allowed.
- A continental breakfast is included, served daily from 8 to 10 am.
- Open-air parking is free but without service, and spaces are limited.
- The entrance has 12 steps, with a ramp at the main entrance and well-lit access; there is no lift. For specific accessibility needs, contact the property via the booking confirmation.
- The property is non-smoking.
Find available dates at Château de Maillat
Frequently asked questions
Can you stay overnight at the Château de Maillat?
Yes. The Château de Maillat in Maillat, in the Ain, can be booked via Expedia, with continental breakfast included. The listing describes it as a refined-style château.
Are pets allowed?
No. According to Expedia, pets are not allowed.
Is there a swimming pool?
Yes, an indoor pool is mentioned, open from 9 am to 11 pm. The listing also mentions a sauna and a whirlpool.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is possible from 4 pm to 11 pm. Check-out is at 11 am.
Is there parking at the château?
Yes, open-air parking is free on site, without service, with a limited number of spaces.
What is there to see near the Château de Maillat?
Lac de Nantua is about 5 km away, Nantua and the Cerdon caves just under ten kilometres, and the ruins of the Château de Montréal about 6 km.
Room photos, guest reviews and available dates are all in the Château de Maillat listing on Expedia.
Fancy a night in an Ain château with a sauna and indoor pool? Check availability and current prices for the Château de Maillat on Expedia.
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