Villars-les-Dombes

History

The lordship of Villars (of which archival evidence dates from 940) became, by marriage, the lordship of Thoire-et-Vilars in 1188, and in about 1400 its caput was Trévoux (the estate was managed from there). In 1565, Villars was promoted to a marquisate dependent on the house of Savoie (Savoy), a benefice of the Honour of Savoy.

Geography

The town is located within Ain, half-way between Lyon (33 km) and Bourg-en-Bresse (29 km), in the heart of the area known as the Dombes, notable for its hundreds of lakes which are waterfowl habitats and are suitable for breeding fish. Its ornithological park, Parc des Oiseaux, is the largest in France. The Chalaronne river forms part of the commune's south-western border, flows northward through the western part of the commune, crosses the town, then forms part of its northern border.

Most-observed species

• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,764
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,670
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,344
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,336
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,211
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,032
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,031
• Eurasian Blackcap

  Sylvia atricapilla (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  996

Most recent

• M 3.3 — 2025-05-06
  8 km W of Chapareillan, France
• M 3.4 — 2013-04-06
  1 km SSW of Poisy, France
• M 2.5 — 2008-08-30
  2 km NNE of Saint-Martin-Bellevue, France
• M 2.5 — 2008-06-02
  1 km W of Épagny, France
• M 2.8 — 2008-03-03
  9 km NW of Grésy-sur-Isère, France
• M 3 — 2008-01-05
  2 km N of Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, France