Beaujolais Travel Guide

Tourist 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 Village du Bois d'Oingt and Sainte Marie de la Tourette.

Les Mines
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 ₹6,273 per night from 12 Aug to 13 Aug
₹6,273
₹7,236 total
12 Aug - 13 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Lyon. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
9/10 Wonderful! (865 reviews)
"Convenient location near the train station and shopping center."

Reviewed on 19 Jul 2025

Campanile Lyon Centre - Gare Part Dieu
Mercure Lyon Centre Saxe Lafayette

Mercure Lyon Centre Saxe Lafayette

4 out of 5
29 Rue De Bonnel, Lyon, Rhone
The price is ₹9,410 per night from 6 Aug to 7 Aug
₹9,410
₹10,858 total
6 Aug - 7 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Lyon. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (994 reviews)
great base for family vivist
"We were in Lyon for ten days to visit family and the Mercure was a perfect base for us. Our 3 year old granddaughter love the pool!"

Reviewed on 19 Jul 2025

Mercure Lyon Centre Saxe Lafayette
Premiere Classe Lyon Centre - Gare Part Dieu

Premiere Classe Lyon Centre - Gare Part Dieu

2 out of 5
75 Boulevard Marius Vivier Merle, Lyon, Rhone
The price is ₹4,857 per night from 24 Aug to 25 Aug
₹4,857
₹5,544 total
24 Aug - 25 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Lyon. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,014 reviews)
"The hotel let me checkin early and the staff was very helpful. He asked me to not step into the luggage room because it had a strong smell. Very comfortable double bed with private bathroom for a very good price. It’s a 20 min commute to the city centre but only 10 min walk tog he Lyon train station. ..."

Reviewed on 21 Jul 2025

Premiere Classe Lyon Centre - Gare 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.
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! (1,708 reviews)
"Clean, well-equipped room, helpful staff, excellent location, great breakfast."

Reviewed on 27 Jun 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 Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,085 reviews)
"Great hotel on outer of Lyon..great for an overnight stop. Would happily spend time there again."

Reviewed on 6 Jul 2025

Residhotel Lyon Part Dieu
Résidence Ôtelia - Gestetud

Résidence Ôtelia - Gestetud

200 Avenue Berthelot, Lyon, Rhone
Stay at this spa aparthotel in Lyon. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and a rooftop terrace. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (796 reviews)
Comfortable and accessible
"The stay was very comfortable and everything was clean, and even got to enjoy the jacuzzi and sauna for one night! Was easy to get to my train station for travel the next day."

Reviewed on 27 Jun 2025

Résidence Ôtelia - Gestetud
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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