Walking Holiday in Beaujolais, France | Self Guided Beaujolais Medieval Village Tour

Your Holiday at a Glance


Independent walking Holiday	Beaujolais - Medieval Village Tour
Dates for 2023	Starts everyday from the beginning of April until the end of October
Price	From £920 From €1020 Prices per person based on 2 sharing a room Loyalty scheme reduction applies for returning customers (see terms and conditions)
Grade	grade explained
Profile	8 days: 6 days independent walking moving between guest houses. A shortened circuit can also be done with 4 walking days
Highlights	Historic villages made from a warm golden limestone including Oignt classified as one of the prettiest villages in France Varied walking through vines, pastures and forests Sweeping views across rolling Beaujolais countryside reminiscent of Tuscany Lovely B&B's where great food and wine is guaranteed Great Beaujolais hospitality where your hosts will reserve you a warm welcome and enjoy giving up their time to make your stay extra special. Wine tasting visits
Testimonials	"Had a great holiday, brilliant experience and all the guest houses were of a very high standard. Thank You!" C Toms, UK. "Overwhelmed by the level of hospitality received. We have walked with other companies in France but this was by far the best. A thoroughly enjoyable experience." S Adkins, UK Take a look at further testimonials concerning the Beaujolais Medieval Village Tour Read the travel diary article for this walking holiday in the Beaujolais
Accommodation and Meals	7 nights accommodation in several charming guest houses, double or twin rooms with own bathrooms (3 star equivalent). All breakfasts included, all lunches with the exception of arrival and departure days and 6 evening meals
What's included	Airport and station transfers from Lyon. 7 nights accommodation. FULL BOARD: All breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 evening meals Full walking notes and maps (see more information) Transport of luggage between guest houses Read more information about our independent walking & trekking holidays
What's not included	Travel to Lyon, France Lunches on the day of arrival and departure Transfers, other than those from Lyon. Any excursions or entrance fees Travel insurance
Book this Holiday	Take a look at our other self-guided walking tours in the Beaujolais: Beautiful Beaujolais Trail High Beaujolais Hills Beaujolais Wine Trail: Grand Crus Beaujolais Wine Trail: Chateaux & Medieval Villages Beaujolais & Burgundy Uncovered Lyon's Beautiful Secluded Hills Return to list of independent walking holidays Return to Home Page of High Point Holidays

Beaujolais - Medieval village tour

This independent walking holiday takes place in the Beaujolais region of France, located to the north and east of Lyon, which is made up of a series of rolling hills getting progressively higher as you go north and 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 on the higher slopes.

Made up of about 40 parishes in the South of the Beaujolais region, the area known as the “Golden stones” (pierre dorées), is so called due to the colour of the limestone used in its historic buildings. Here, your walking holiday will pass through a number of remarkable villages with some of the prettiest villages in France 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, that literally leaves you with the impression of flying over the hills. This picturesque wine growing area is often referred to as the local Tuscany due to the similarities in their expansive landscapes. Your French walking holiday covers a circular tour around the heart of this golden stones area, visiting about 15 of these picturesque and well preserved villages. For the most part, the region is relatively undiscovered in terms of walking holidays and therefore you will enjoy quiet, unspoilt trails.

Find out more about some of the villages in the golden stones country and Beaujolais Wine

Find out more about the Beaujolais region and it's average weather conditions

Walking profile

This self-guided or independent walking holiday in the Beaujolais region of France is made up of 6 walks moving between guest houses. The walks average about 16km with limited ascents and descents although some paths can be rough and stoney in places with the odd steeper section. Average daily ascent is 325m.

Map of France with Beaujolais location

Day 1: Arrival

Welcome, transfer from Lyon to Beaujolais region and settle in to your first guest house.

Day 2: Moire - Cogny

The first day of your independent walking holiday starts by climbing onto a ridgeline which gives you 360� views over the Golden Stones region, the Beaujolais, the Azergues Valley and on clear days of the entire Alpine chain. The ridgeline will lead you to the quaint medieval village of Theizé with it's 13th century chateau de Rochebonne and its historic limestone houses centred around a pretty square. After lunch you take a path that contours beneath the higher hills crossing secluded valleys to the village of Cogny. 16km, +400m

Day 3: Cogny - Pommiers

From Cogny your trail passes through vines to reach the beautiful limestone village of Jarnioux with its amazing towered chateau (possibility to visit chateau). Your walking trail then climbs to Pommiers, a great location on a ridgeline separating the Soane Valley from the Beaujolais. Your guest house is located in a secluded and beautiful spot. 12 - 15km, +360m

Day 4: Pommiers - Châtillon d'Azergues

Today's route is a gentle day, as the path gently climbs through vines, pasture and forest to the historic ridge top villages of Marcy, with its ancient telecommunications tower and Charnay, with its narrow streets lined with charming historic properties. From here the walking trail descends to the beautiful fortified village of Châtillon d'Azergues with its historic chateau and chapel. 14km or 17km, +200m

Day 5: Chatillon - St Verand

This is the longest walking day on this Beaujolais tour and starts with a visit of Chatillon, including the 12th century chapel, before climbing out along a ridge to reach the historic village of Bagnols with its impressive chateau, historic dwellings and great views of the Mont Lyonnais. The walking trail then follows a former railway line making for a gentle descent to the village of Bois d'Oingt before traversing the forest of Flachere to reach your next guest house on an organic farm. 20km, +340m

Day 6: St Verand - Letra

An easier day takes you along a ridge offering great panoramic views of the hilltop villages on the opposite side of the valley, before descending to the small and quaint historic centre at Ternand, once an important fortified outpost for the Lords of Lyon. After crossing the Azergues Valley, the route climbs to the village of Letra before reaching your charming guest house. 13km, +360m

Day 7: Letra - Moire

A great walk to finish your walking holiday in the Golden Stones region of the Beaujolais. You'll climb a secluded valley before reaching the pretty village of Ste Paule overlooking a deep vine covered valley. You'll then follow the GR76 along a balcony trail with fantastic panoramic views. You'll reach 700m in altitude before a gentle descent and traverse brings you to the hill-top village of Oingt, classed as one of the prettiest villages in France. Here you can explore its narrow alleyways and admire the amazing views of the southern Beaujolais from its promenade. Desend to your guest house located on a vineyard in the pretty village of Moire. 18km, +420m

Day 8: Departure

After breakfast, transfer to Lyon for onward journey

Please note that the order of the days may change on this French walking holiday depending on guest house availability

Independent walking holiday village of Oingt Beaujolais France

Oignt Beaujolais France

Independent walking holiday Chateau Jarnioux Beaujolais France

Independent walking holiday Beaujolais France view across Azergues valley

independent walking holiday Beaujolais France

montmelas chateau and beaujolais vines in France walking holiday

wine tasting visit at averlys on independent walking holiday in France

For useful advice about independent walking and preparing for your self guided holiday please take a look at the articles in our top-tips section.

Once you have booked on this independent walking or trekking holiday, 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

On our independent walking holiday in the southern Beaujolais of France, you will stay in a number of charming bed & breakfasts full of local character (3 corns quality). All rooms have private bathrooms. Examples of the guest houses used on the holiday are shown below. They are small, very comfortable guest houses where you'll be treated to some great Beaujolais hospitality. They'll enjoy giving up their time to make your stay extra special.

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 packed lunches prepared by your hosts. All evening meals will be taken at your guest houses with your hosts, where you will be treated to delicious local delicacies and great wine.

Name	Type	Details	Rating
Clos de Pomeir	B&B	Lovely historic house, beautifully restored near the pretty village of Pommiers. Swimming pool and garden with magnificent view across the hills.	4 Corns
Domaine des Aloets	B&B	Beautiful historic wine producers house in the pretty village of Moiré. Wine tasting with friendly and welcoming host.

Travel Options

Flight Options

Transfers from Lyon airport

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

The airlines Easy jet, Flybe and British Airways have scheduled flights from the UK - Luton, Edinburgh, Birmingham, London Heathrow and Gatwick - to Lyon St Exupery airport.

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

Note: Please check concerning the availability of a walking 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 direct to Lyon Part Dieu, as well as trains changing at Lille or Paris.

Please use Rail Europe's train finder on our travel page 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 & DFDS seaways. Crossings are also provided by train with Eurotunnel.

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.