Beaujolais

Travel Guide

Beaujolais
Beaujolais
Photo by Jill Salsa
Photo by Deb & Alan's Travels
Photo by François Lemoine
A land of hills and vines to the north of Lyon, Beaujolais is a region rich in colour, from its green forests to the terracotta-coloured stone of its villages.

Although Beaujolais is known for its wine, made famous each year by the Beaujolais Nouveau festival, the region certainly has other natural treasures to share. Its agricultural and traditional heritage featuring beautiful medieval cities and gently rolling hills makes a superb rural destination a stone's throw from Lyon.

With hillsides covered with vineyards, the wine trail meanders through scenery scattered with castles and chapels. If you prefer to leave your car behind, several green routes make walking or cycling an attractive option. Whatever your chosen itinerary, you will benefit from exceptional views, particularly on higher ground. At an altitude of 330 feet, Mont Saint-Rigaud is the highest point in Beaujolais, with its wooden tower from where you can look out across the horizon. Apart from its natural beauty, Beaujolais has an abundance of medieval buildings, such as Eglise deBelleville or Château de Jarnioux, which date back to the twelfth and thirteenth centuries respectively. To the south, the yellow limestone villages take on a warm terracotta hue, which gives them their unique charm. Given its pretty nickname of "Pearl of Golden Stones", Oingt is a beautiful medieval city for you to discover.

Thanks to its heritage and its countryside, Beaujolais is suitable for pleasant family outings or trips with friends. Children are particularly spoilt with tailored-made activities. Activity trails, such as the mystery of the castles of Azolette or the puzzle of Ouroux, allow younger visitors to take charge of your tour. They will also enjoy discovering agricultural trades and meeting the animals on educational farms in the surrounding area. Finally, you can find a variety of museums celebrating local heritage and handicrafts, including the wine-making museum in the hamlet of Dubœuf.

As it is situated near Lyon, Beaujolais benefits from a good transport network, whether by plane (into nearby Lyon-Saint-Exupéry airport) or by train into Lyon's two TGV stations. Several major roads cross the region, with the A6 motorway travelling from north to south. Bus links guarantee good communication between the towns and villages.

No matter how you travel to Beaujolais, a car is very handy for getting the most out of this area.

Where to stay in Beaujolais

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Les Mines

While there might not be top attractions in Les Mines, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Sainte Marie de la Tourette and Village du Bois d'Oingt.

Les Mines
Best Western Plus Hotel Plaisance
Best Western Plus Hotel Plaisance
3 out of 5
96, avenue de la Libération, Villefranche-sur-Saône, Rhone
The price is S$138 per night from 9 May to 10 May
S$138
includes taxes & fees
9 May - 10 May
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Villefranche-sur-Saône. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Popular attractions Musée Paul Dini and Plage ...
9/10 Wonderful! (764 reviews)
"Great staff & location"

Reviewed on 1 Feb, 2025

Best Western Plus Hotel Plaisance
Campanile Lyon Centre - Gare Part Dieu
Campanile Lyon Centre - Gare Part Dieu
3 out of 5
31 rue Maurice Flandin, Lyon, Rhone
The price is S$109 per night from 7 May to 8 May
S$109
includes taxes & fees
7 May - 8 May
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Lyon. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
9/10 Wonderful! (641 reviews)
"Nice hotel and great location to main train station. Rooms were clean and comfy , would have been nice to have a safe to store passport/ iPad etc but there wasn’t. Breakfast was continental and was fine."

Reviewed on 13 Apr, 2025

Campanile Lyon Centre - Gare Part Dieu
Lagrange Apart'HOTEL Lyon Lumière
Lagrange Apart'HOTEL Lyon Lumière
4 out of 5
81-85 Cours Albert-Thomas, Lyon
The price is S$112 per night from 20 Apr to 21 Apr
S$112
includes taxes & fees
20 Apr - 21 Apr
Stay at this 4-star boutique residence in Lyon. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), parking (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,672 reviews)
"Decent no frills place with the usual amenities. Helpful staff and good location - close to the metro. Note that no room clean up for 7 days but towels can be changed at the reception as needed."

Reviewed on 18 Jan, 2025

Lagrange Apart'HOTEL Lyon Lumière
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Lagrange Apart'HOTEL Lyon Lumière
Lagrange Apart'HOTEL Lyon Lumière
4 out of 5
81-85 Cours Albert-Thomas, Lyon
Stay at this 4-star boutique residence in Lyon. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), parking (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,672 reviews)
"Decent no frills place with the usual amenities. Helpful staff and good location - close to the metro. Note that no room clean up for 7 days but towels can be changed at the reception as needed."

Reviewed on 18 Jan, 2025

Lagrange Apart'HOTEL Lyon Lumière
Residhotel Lyon Part Dieu
Residhotel Lyon Part Dieu
3 out of 5
79 boulevard Marius Vivier Merle, Lyon, Rhone
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Lyon. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
7.8/10 Good! (995 reviews)
"Very happy with the staff and the hotel it was in a great position for the train and theand the city"

Reviewed on 13 Feb, 2025

Residhotel Lyon Part Dieu
Nemea Appart Hotel So Cloud Lyon Part Dieu
Nemea Appart Hotel So Cloud Lyon Part Dieu
4 out of 5
53 Rue Desaix, Lyon
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly residence in Lyon. Enjoy free WiFi, private pools, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the property condition ...
7.8/10 Good! (464 reviews)
"Awesome"

Reviewed on 4 Feb, 2025

Nemea Appart Hotel So Cloud Lyon Part Dieu
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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