Ambronay is a commune. It is found in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in the Ain department in the east of France. In 2010, 2362 people lived in the commune. The inhabitants are the "Ambrunois". The local economy is mostly based around commerce and construction. The most important monuments in the commune are the Notre-Dame d'Ambronay abbey and the Gironville bastide. They are both classed as "monuments historiques". The "Hôtel de ville" is part of a 16th-century castle. Famous people from Ambronay include Louis Tholon, inventor of the first direct vision spectroscope.