A little north of Tignieu-Jameyzieu, the land runs down to the Rhône, and the river makes a broad, braided sweep across the plain before it reaches Lyon. On the far bank lies the Plaine de l'Ain, a wide gravel terrace of farms and industrial zones, and upstream the hills of the Bugey begin to rise. It is a landscape of crossings: bridges at Loyettes and Lagnieu, gravel pits turned into lakes, and long views towards the mountains.
The area has its own peculiar landmarks. The cooling towers of the Bugey nuclear power station at Saint-Vulbas stand above the river to the north-east, visible for miles. Closer to Tignieu, the medieval town of Crémieu and the limestone plateau of the Isle Crémieu offer a more traditional kind of beauty, with old stone villages, oak woods and small lakes.
As a start and fuel stop, the Tignieu area is practical. There are service stations and supermarkets in Tignieu and Pont-de-Chéruy, and Lyon–Saint-Exupéry airport is close by to the south. The roads east towards the Bugey and the Alps are pleasant, crossing the Rhône and climbing gradually into the hills.
Traffic can be heavy around Tignieu at commuting times, but the roads along the river and into the Bugey are quieter. Surfaces are generally good. For a long day towards the Vanoise or the Jura, this is a convenient place to fill the tank and grab a coffee before the hills start.