Highlights
Historic villages made from warm golden limestone including Oingt classed 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 are 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 of course!
Let 's discover the full itinerary!
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. Descend 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
At a glance
- From €1075 per person (based on 2 sharing)
Self-guided
- 7 nights / 6 days walking
- Linear Trail
- Distance: 13-21km per day
- Ascent: 280-420m per day
- Small B&Bs & guest houses
- FULL BOARD
Other self-guided walking holidays in the Beaujolais
Beaujolais Medieval Village Tour (5 nights version)
Beaujolais Wine Trail: Grand Crus
Similar self-guided Walking holidays
Medieval Burgundy: The Monk's Trail
Southern Beaujolais
This independent walking holiday takes place in the Beaujolais region of France, located to the northwest 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 several 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 have 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 many 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, unspoiled trails.
Holiday Profile
7 nights/8 days: 6 days independent walking moving between guest houses
Dates
Every day of week subject to availability from 1 April to 31 October
Walking Profile & Grade
This self-guided or independent walking holiday in 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. The average daily ascent is 390m. The walking days are reasonably consistent in terms of their grade.
This walking holiday is graded moderate. You should have some experience of day walking and be in reasonable health. See more information about walking grades.
Accommodation & Meals
7 nights in small and comfortable guest houses with ensuite accommodation, some on vineyards with plenty of local character. Full board - all breakfasts, 6 picnic lunches, and 7 evening meals included in the price.