Raised to the rank of a free town in 1250, it was at the beginning of the 15th century chosen by the dukes of Savoy as the chief city of the province of Bresse.
Bourg-en-Bresse (frankoprovansalsko "Bôrg" ) je mesto in občina v jugovzhodni francoski regiji Rona-Alpe, prefektura departmaja Ain ter glavno mesto nekdanje province Bresse.