beaujolais

INDEPENDENT WALKING HOLIDAYS

Vintage Beaujolais - Classic ridges & wines

7 nights - £540 - 6 days walking between guest houses

Varied walking through beautiful hilly countryside with famous vines (vintage Beaujolais crus), upland pasture and forests. Sweeping views from lovely ridges. Great food, wine tasting and B&B's full of charm and character.

Beaujolais - Medieval village tour

7 nights - £525 - 6 days walking between guest houses

Fairly gentle walking through vines and a collection of unspoilt historic villages built from a warm golden limestone set in panoramic rolling countrside. Historic chateaux, churches and countryhouses pepper the landscape. Gastronomic region and B&B's full of charm and character.

GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAY

Beaujolais: Vines and beyond, 1 - 8 May & 16 - 23 October 2010 + alternative dates for groups of 2 or more

7 nights - £595, Multi-centre based, day walks

This moderate guided walking holiday explores not only the famous vineyards but also the little known regions of great beauty that lie beyond. Rolling hills and historic villages are in perfect harmony in this quiet area off the beaten track.

Full list of independent and guided walking holidays

MOUNTAIN BIKING

High Beaujolais: From April to mid november

Variable grades - 7 nights, 6 days independent mountain biking, single centre, accommodation to suit your requirements

Picturesque rolling countryside with summits around 1000m providing exceptional views. A variety of great trails offering biking at all levels and distances, which are spread throughout the peaks and valleys of the high Beaujolais, passing through vines, fields and forests

INDEPENDENT CYCLING HOLIDAY

Beaujolais, Burgundy, Charolais - 3 regions tour: From April to mid October

Moderate+ - 7 nights, 6 days independent cycling tour - moving between guest houses, charming accommodation full of local character

Varied cycling through vines, pastures and forests with sweeping views across rolling countryside. Wine tasting visits possible in a region famous for its gastronomic delights. Beautiful towns and villages with historic chateaux, abbeys and churches. A dedicated off-road cycle path for some of the holiday.

BEAUJOLAIS

There is a great deal more to the Beaujolais than its vineyards and cellars. Go beyond the rows of vines leading down to the Saone and you find yourself in a multitude of different landscapes, each with its own special character.

The Beaujolais region, located to the north and east of Lyon, is a series of elegant rolling hills summiting around 1000m above sea level. Despite the relatively gentle nature of their slopes, the scale of the peaks and the depths of the valleys create a landscape of great panoramas and rich contrasts. The character of the hills changes with altitude as the vines give way to forests and pastures.

In the far south lay the mountains of the Mont Lyonnais, which despite being geologically identical to the Beaujolais are distinct by their farming practices; the vines are replaced by meadows and fruit trees. Far from the tourist trails, these hills form some of the most stunning countryside in the area.

Further north is a region made up of about 40 parishes which is known as the “Golden stones”, so called, due to the colour of the limestone used in its historic buildings. Here you will find some of the prettiest villages in France, such as Oignt, perched on hilly promontories. Wherever you look, you'll find fortified remains, chateaux or churches adorning the vine covered slopes. The scale and gentleness of the slopes has created a sumptuous landscape of interlocking hills receding to the horizon, literally leaving you with the impression of flying over the hills. Hence this picturesque wine-growing area is often referred to as the local Tuscany.

Beyond the vineyards, the broad summits of the high Beaujolais hills are carpeted in woodland. The huge Douglas Fir has come to dominate some of these forests. By seeking out the hills and ridges between the woodland, you get spectacular views overlooking the vine covered, valley slopes. Away from the main transport routes, this upland area retains an isolated feel despite its proximity to Lyon, with farms and hamlets looking like they have not changed for centuries. Goats graze on the remote upland pastures, giving rise to some fine local cheese.

The Beaujolais is, of course, most famous for its wines. The vines adorn much of the slopes up to an altitude of 550m. There are three types of Beaujolais: the Beaujolais village, the Beaujolais classic and the 10 Beaujolais Crus. The Crus represent the finest wines and each is only grown in a very limited geographical area. Our holidays will allow you to sample their qualities and find out more about the unique methods used in growing the grapes and fermenting the wines.