Walking Holiday in the Beaujolais, France - Guided

Your Holiday at a Glance


Guided walking Holiday	Beaujolais Vintage Wine Trails
Dates	From the beginning of April to the end of October (depending on availability)
Price	Please contact us for a quote for your group
Grade
Profile	8 days: 6 days two-centre guided walking holiday. Emphasis on wine tasting at local vineyards and visiting historic sites
Highlights	Daily wine tasting visits at a range of different vineyards to sample the full range of wines on offer and meet a variety of local wine producers all passionate about their wines Plenty of opportunity to sample the local food in a region famous for its gastronomic delights Immersion into the local way of life Picturesque rolling countryside dotted with pretty villages providing exceptional views across the vines Easy to moderate walking in pleasantly warm weather with plenty of chances to rest and enjoy the views A rich historical and architectural heritage with a large number of chateaux and historic monuments
Testimonials	"We had a very enjoyable walking holiday in a very beautiful location with good wines, good food and good company. William was an excellent guide, good fun and nothing was too much trouble. Wine tasting caves very well chosen". R Crooks & V Powers. England Find out what other customers thought about this guided walking holidays in the Beaujolais
Accommodation and Meals	7 nights accommodation in small, very comfortable, chambres d'hôtes style guest houses, double and twin rooms with own bathrooms. (2 and 3 star equivalent) All breakfasts included, 6 quality packed lunches with wine and 6 four-course evening meals with wine
What's included	Airport and station transfers from Lyon. Transport to and from the start of each walk 7 nights accommodation. All breakfast, 6 four-course evening meals and 6 gourmet picnic lunches with wine 6 guided walks and wine tasting visits
What's not included	Travel between the UK and Lyon, France Lunches on the day of arrival and departure One evening meal including drinks in a restaurant Transfers, other than those from Lyon Any excursions or entrance fees Travel insurance
	See full list of guided walking holidays See All French Walking Holiday Destinations Go to Home Page

Beaujolais - Vintage Wine Trails

The Beaujolais region in central France is synonymous with good food and wine and on our Vintage Wine Trails walking holiday you'll have the chance to sample both in abundance. From our gourmet lunches to the great four course meals served in our small traditional guest houses, your taste buds will be thoroughly spoilt. The wine produced in the Beaujolais includes young light fruity reds, dry crisp whites and rosés, sparkling cremants and a range of more complex red wines, often matured in oak barrels and which can be kept for a number of years. Our wine tasting visits, (as well as lunch and dinner) will allow you to sample the full range of wines on offer.

Located to the north and east of Lyon, the Beaujolais is a series of beautiful rolling hills and valleys lined by vines and crowned by forest. 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 Beaujolais hills changes with altitude as the vines give way to forests and pastures on the higher slopes.

One region not to be missed (but less frequented than the area of the grands crus) is the area known as the “Golden stones country”, so called due to the colour of the limestone used in the buildings. Here you will find some of the prettiest villages in France, set in a sumptuous landscape of interlocking hills receding to the horizon.

Find out more about the Beaujolais region, its wines and its average weather conditions

Walks

The walks on this French walking holiday are graded at between easy and moderate. The average length of walk will be 4 to 5 hours walking per day or 13km, with 200 to 300m of altitude gain. The paths are generally good, but are sometimes stony, muddy and uneven. The length and nature of the walks can be varied depending on the weather and the group's abilities. There will be plenty of chances to rest during the walks.

Day 1: Arrival

Welcome and pick up from Lyon. Short drive to Beaujolais area.

Day 2: The French Tuscany

A gentle stroll through the beautiful historic villages of the southern Beaujolais in the region of the “Golden Stones”, including the hill top village of Oingt (classed as one of the most beautiful villages in France), Theizé with its elegant buildings, Bagnols with its typical houses, and the local centre of Bois d'Oingt. Expansive landscapes reminiscent of the Tuscany hills span out in all directions. 13km, +280m Visit of the dungeon at Oingt and wine tasting nearby.

Day 3: Jarnioux & Cogny

Our walking trail takes us past a number of chateaux including the amazing 13th century castle at Jarnioux, which we'll visit. This is the best preserved medieval fortified chateau in the region as it was largely unaffected by the religious wars and the uprising during the Revolution. Our route takes us along an old railway line over viaducts and along ridgelines between beautiful valleys lined with vines. We'll also pass through the pretty historic villages of Cogny and Cosset. 12km, +250m Wine tasting at the end of the circuit at Domaine des Averlys where they mature a specific Beaujolais in oak barrels to make a rare vin de gard.

Day 4: Chateau de Montmelas

A slightly longer walk to follow the deep ridges and valleys that run eastwards from the Beaujolais hills creating a beautiful landscape of great depth and contrasts. We'll get great views out over the vines towards the Alps. We'll venture up to the forests above before returning via the fairy-tale like Chateau Montmelas. 15km, +320m Wine tasting (Brouilly AOC) at Chateau de la Chaize, in the longest celllar in the Beaujolais at 108m.

Day 5: Capital of the Beaujolais

A partial rest day where we'll take the time to discover Villefranche-sur-Saone, built as a new town in the 12th century and which replace Beaujeu as the capital of the Beaujolais in the 16th century. Visit historic monuments and its impressive covered market full of local produce. Choice of small walks close by and wine tasting. Drive to second guest house via the beautiful village of Chatillon with its 12th century chapel and chateau remains, as well as the small quaint centre of Ternand, with its narrow cobbled streets.

Day 6: Ridgeline above Fleurie

After parking at the Chapel de la Madonne, today's enjoyable walking trail will take us along a ridgeline above the village of Fleurie, one of the vines that make up the most famous Beaujolais Crus. The gentle ridge allows us to climb above the vineyards and gain great views across the sea of vines that spread towards the Saône Valley. Wine tasting in a small cave at Fleurie. 12km, +190m

Day 7: Jullié and Juliénas

Our last day's walking will consist of a couple of short walks to discover the pretty countryside in the north of the Beaujolais. Jullié is hidden away in a secluded valley, from where we'll walk past the impressive Chateau de la Roche and the 12th century Chapel Vatre. Juliénas is a busier village, at the centre of one of the more complex crus. Our walk will pass historic buildings on its way to reaching a lovely hill top location. Wine tasting at the historic chateau de Julienas with amazing cellars. 11km, +200m

Day 8: Departure

After breakfast, transfer back to Lyon and return home

location of beaujolais France

st laurent from Oingt walking holiday in France

Village in the region of the golden stones Beaujolais France

julienas beaujolais wine walks

wine tasting in cellars french walking holiday

great food in table d'hote in small french guest houses

oingt in France europe, walking in beaujolais

chatillon guided walking holiday in France

Please Note: Further information about the walks on this French guided walking holiday in the Beaujolais will be sent to you prior to your holiday. We will endeavour to keep to these walks as far as possible, however they are subject to change. In addition, we like to maintain a certain degree of flexibility to take account of the group’s abilities and interests, and the local conditions. The final selection of walks will be made by your guide during the week after consultation with the group.

Once you have booked on this guided walking holiday in France, further information about the walking, the region and what to bring, will be sent to you. We do have a web page dedicated to what clothes and equipment you should bring. In addition, our travel shop has direct access to all the top walking and travel retailers. Please contact us if you need any further information.

Accommodation & Meals

During your guided walking holiday we will use two, charming and traditional guest houses, all with private bathrooms. Below is a representative selection of the guest houses we have used on this walking holiday in the Beaujolais region of France. They are small, very comfortable chambre d'hôte style guest houses that allow us to mix with the hosts and other guests and immerse into the French way of life. The guest houses or hotels used will depend on availability and the size of your group.

A hearty and healthy continental breakfast provides the perfect opportunity to discover the local specialities such as home-made jams and local cheeses. At midday you will eat gourmet lunches including quiches and salads served with a number of tasty local wines. Six evening meals will be taken at your guest houses with your hosts, where you will be treated to great local delicacies. One meal will be taken in a local restaurant where you will have a choice of menus. (This meal is not included in the price of the holiday). Local specialities will be available to try every evening.

Name	Type	Details	Rating
Domaine des Averlys	B&B	Wine producers house, in a wonderful setting near the pretty village of Cogny. Wine tasting with friendly and welcoming hosts.	3 Corns

Travel Options

Transfers between Lyon Airport or Lyon train station and the Beaujolais region of France are included in the price of your guided walking holiday.

Flight Options

Transfers from Lyon airport

The airlines Easy jet, BMI and British Airways have scheduled flights from the UK - Manchester, Stanstead and Heathrow to Lyon St Exupery airport.

Please visit our travel shop for links to useful sites for reserving airport parking or booking train tickets to the UK airports

Note: Please check concerning the availability of a holiday before booking any flights. If you need further information or would like to discuss any aspect of your travel arrangements, please contact us, we’re here to help you. We would be happy to book travel arrangements to Lyon, France on your behalf.

By Train

Eurostar and the TGV provide a relaxing journey from London to Lyon Part Dieu changing at Lille. Please use Rail Europe's train finder in our travel store to organise your train journey.

There is a practical train time leaving London at 9am and arriving in Lyon at 3pm. Please contact us before booking to check for other practical times.

Self Drive

Channel ferry crossings from Dover are provided by a number of operators including P&O Ferries, Eurotunnel and DFDS Seaways.

Once in France, the journey from Calais to the Beaujolais area takes about 7 hours (excluding long breaks).

Tolls amount to about 35 euros each way. Controlled parking is available at the airport for 50 euros. Other secure but non-surveilled parking is available free of charge.