Visitors with disabilities

Since 2026, the Royal Monastery of Brou has held the “Tourisme & Handicap” certification. Since 2018, following the redesign of the visitor route, the interior of the monument has been fully accessible to people with limited mobility, and numerous measures have been implemented to accommodate all people with disabilities. 

Parking

There are 4 accessible parking spaces (free) around the monument.

• 1 space 150 m from the monument’s entrance: 22, rue Marguerite de Bourbon, 01000 Bourg-en-Bresse
• 2 spaces 200 m from the monument’s entrance: Rue Marguerite d’Autriche, 01000 Bourg-en-Bresse
• 1 space 300 m from the monument’s entrance: Allée Loys Van Boghem, 01000 Bourg-en-Bresse

Drop-off zone (as a last resort): Access to the forecourt by car is limited but possible for people who need to be dropped off as close as possible to the entrance (no parking allowed).

Access to the monument

The monastery's forecourt is in fine gravel. 

Two accessible pathways were constructed on the forecourt in 2025 and 2026, leading to the monument’s entrance, which features stone paving:

• From Boulevard de Brou, aligned with Rue Tony Ferret: an access ramp and an accessible path leading to the monument’s entrance.
• From Rue Marguerite d’Autriche and its accessible parking spaces: an accessible path leading to the monument’s entrance

Good to know

• The entire monument is accessible to people with limited mobility.
• The entrance and exit to the monument are in the same location (unless otherwise indicated due to an event).
• An audible beacon indicates the entrance to the monument’s reception area. 
• A magnetic induction loop is installed at the ticket office.
• Guide dogs and service dogs are welcome in all areas.
• Wheelchairs, walkers, and folding chairs are available for loan at the ticket office and along the tour route.
• An elevator located in the first cloister provides access to the upper level, where visitors can reach the church’s rood screen, the apartments of Margaret of Austria (interpretive space), and the Museum of Fine Arts.
• All staircases in the monument are equipped with handrails and have a non-slip strip on each step.
• Permanent access ramps are installed to reach the church chapels, the rood screen, and the chapter house.
• The restrooms in the first and third cloisters are accessible to people with limited mobility.
• A visual alarm is installed in the restrooms.
• Be sure to bring warm clothing in winter and a sweater in summer (the church is always quite cool).
• Rest areas are provided throughout the tour: chairs, benches, and low walls are available. Quiet spaces can be found in the cloisters, particularly the Monks’ Cloister (Cloister 2, the largest), as well as the Clerks’ Cloister (Cloister 3—the one farthest from the entrance).
• Permanent wooden ramps are installed to provide access to the various museum galleries.
• Signage is posted on all glass doors.
• The upper galleries of the cloisters serve as designated waiting areas for people with limited mobility in the event of an emergency evacuation.

Individuals

Admission to the monument is free for self-guided tours for the following individuals:

• Recipients of the Adult Disability Allowance (AAH) upon presentation of an AAH certificate issued within the last 6 months. (Accompanying persons must pay)
• Holders of a valid CMI Card (Mobility and Inclusion Card) marked “Disability” or “Priority” (or an equivalent foreign certificate) or a certificate from an organization (groups). (Only one accompanying person per person with a disability may enter for free.)

A parking permit alone does not entitle the holder to free admission.

Special rates may apply to some of our tours offered to individuals:

• Guided tour in French Sign Language (LSF): €8 per deaf or hard-of-hearing person / tour open to hearing visitors (€11)
• Tour adapted for people who are blind or visually impaired: €6 per person / tour open to people who are blind or visually impaired (€11)

Groups

Admission is free for up to 8 people with disabilities (excluding companions). Reservations are required, including for groups visiting the Royal Monastery of Brou on their own. The number of companions may vary depending on the type of disability and your needs.

• Self-guided tour: €20 per group of 20 people
• Guided tour of the church: €20 per group of 20 people
• Tour tailored to your needs: €40 for a group of 20 people
• Tour and workshop (themed tour followed by a workshop session): €60 per group of 20 people
• Tour with French Sign Language (LSF) interpretation: 40 € for a group of 5 to 20 people. Hearing visitors may also attend this type of tour by paying the full admission fee for the monument (11 €).

Note: For groups of more than 20 people, the rate is doubled.

Tools and resources designed to enhance understanding and knowledge of the monument are available to visitors with disabilities to improve their visit:

• Easy-to-Read and Easy-to-Understand visitor guides in French (available free of charge upon request at the ticket office)
• Tactile aids along the tour route: a map of the monument, models of the tombs or museum exhibits…
• Visitor guides for people who are blind (in Braille) or visually impaired (large print, pictograms).
• Videos translated into French Sign Language (LSF)
• Audio guides available at the ticket office in 5 languages (French, English, Italian, German, Spanish), lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes (+€4)
• Accessibility register available at the ticket office and online
• Accessibility guide available at the ticket office and online (adapted visitor booklet)
• For detailed information on our accommodations, please visit the pages dedicated to each disability