Located on the outskirts of Lyon, in the heart of the peaceful Dombes countryside, the Domaine de Sainte-Croix offers an exceptional natural setting, ideal for memorable moments and large-scale projects. This confidential venue combines charm, serenity and elegance to host your most memorable events.
Weddings and seminars, a setting designed for exacting standards
Whether you’re planning an intimate nuptial celebration or a structured corporate seminar, the Domaine offers a range of inspiring spaces to suit all tastes. Several flexible function rooms, an 11-hectare wooded park, comfortable accommodation and a semi-gastronomic restaurant make up an ideal environment, both warm and controlled.
Each service is designed with the utmost care and respect for your expectations, to ensure that each event is an unforgettable experience that lives up to your ambitions and emotions.
The Domaine de Sainte-Croix, nestled in a green setting a few kilometers from Lyon in the heart of the Dombes region, embodies the spirit of Léo Lagrange: a place designed to reconnect deeply with the land. Here, conviviality takes root in an 11-hectare park, comfortable accommodation and a semi-gastronomic restaurant featuring regional produce.
Every stay becomes an opportunity to (re)discover the gastronomic, cultural and natural riches of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, in all simplicity.
Beyond the infrastructure, the strength of Domaine de Sainte-Croix lies in its approach focused on the quality of the experience: themed programs (hiking, biking, well-being, heritage), personalized welcome, dedicated team… All without standardizing: here, no bling-bling luxury, but a warm atmosphere, sustainable and inclusive tourism, attentive to the rhythms and desires of each individual…
Domaine de Sainte-Croix traces its roots back to the XIIIᵉ century, when a red-brick fortified house, typical of the region, was built. It stands on a U-shaped plan, flanked by a round tower watching over the inner courtyard. Originally owned by the Lords of Montluel, the estate has witnessed the rivalries between the Dauphiné and Savoy counties over the centuries. In the hands of the Palatin, d’Ars, du Bourg and then de La Forest families, around 1650 it became the principal residence of the powerful de Crues family, who left a lasting imprint.
Under their authority, Sainte-Croix acquired a seigniorial chapel, still visible today, and became a place of remembrance, worship and administration. The tombstone of Camille de Crues, listed as a heritage site, traces nearly five centuries of noble lineage. The château, isolated in the peaceful Dombes countryside, embodied the discreet grandeur of France’s provincial nobility. But in 1793, history turned upside down: Pierre-François de Crues was guillotined in Lyon during the Revolution. The estate was seized and sold to Lyon merchants in 1828.
It was after this resale that the château began its transformation. Transformed into a country residence by the Crozier brothers in the 1870s, it lost some of its stronghold attributes – the tower and one wing were removed – but gained in comfort and elegance. This transition marked a turning point: the Domaine was no longer a feudal stronghold, but a bourgeois residence focused on the art of living. The story continues to unfold, peacefully, until the end of the XXᵉ century, when the building changes hands once again.
The acquisition by the EDF works council gave the site a new vocation. The Domaine became a place to stay, share and recharge one’s batteries. Some modern structures replaced the old farm buildings, but the memory of the place remained, embodied by the historic porch, the listed chapel and the singular atmosphere that emanates from it. Today, the Domaine de Sainte-Croix combines elegant heritage with contemporary conviviality, offering a unique setting where history sublimates every present moment.
