For all those wondering what to do in Beaujolais, I offer you my Beaujolais Wine Route tourist circuit! In fact, this tourist circuit can be done by car, van or motorbike starting from Lyon. By following my Google Maps route (below), you can combine the discovery of the vineyards and wines of Beaujolais with tourist visits and varied landscapes.

How long does it take to do the Beaujolais wine route?

This road trip on the Beaujolais wine route represents 140 km and can be done in 2 days. However, I recommend, if you are lucky enough to have more time, to do it in 3 or 4 days to get the most out of it!

Which route to follow the Beaujolais wine route?

The Beaujolais wine route is traditionally done from the north of Lyon to the south of Mâcon which is located at the gates of Burgundy. But my itinerary includes a few additional tourist stops and thus forms a loop.

All along this scenic route, you can discover 12 prestigious appellations and charming little villages, some of which are listed among the most beautiful villages in France.

The Beaujolais vineyards

Spread over 17 hectares, from the south of Burgundy to the north of the Rhône Valley, the Beaujolais vineyards benefit from a geology and a climatic environment that is very favorable to the vines.

Known worldwide for their early wines with Beaujolais Nouveau, these vineyards also produce wines of character and exception.

Beaujolais wine route – What appellations?

Here are the 12 appellations that the Beaujolais wine route crosses over 140 km:

• Beaujolais Villages (appellation with 38 villages);
• Brouilly (a very popular wine in Parisian bistros. Vines at the foot of Mont Brouilly);
• Côte-de-Brouilly (the vines are dominated by the Notre Dame aux raisins chapel);
• Régnié (appellation with the name of the village of Régnié known for its church with 2 bell towers);
• Morgon (cru extended at the foot of Mont du Py);
• Chiroubles (On the hillsides, the vines are arranged in an arc and backing onto the Beaujolais Mountains);
• Fleurie (name which comes from the name of a Roman legionary called Fleurus);
• Moulin-à-vent (name which reminds us that these vines surround a windmill classified as a historic monument);
• Chénas (originally, the Gallo-Romans had cleared oak groves, hence the name Chénas, today it is the smallest appellation of Beaujolais).
• Saint-Amour (this wine is located in Saône et Loire. A special Saint Valentin cuvée is being prepared for February 14)
• Juliénas (between Rhône and Saône et Loire, this vineyard extends over 4 municipalities and benefits from a good diversity of soils).

Which castles to visit in Beaujolais?

In 2 or 3 days, it is impossible to visit all the castles and wine estates of Beaujolais. Moreover, unless you are very passionate about wine, it would not be interesting and even boring in the long run ...

No for my little weekend, I only selected 4 castles to visit:

• The Castle of Montmelas,
• the Château de la Terrière,
• the castle of Pizay,
• the Castle of Juliénas.

I chose them not only for the reputation of their wines but also for their history and for the beauty of their environment and their architecture.

My tour on the Beaujolais wine route

Because I didn't want to visit only vineyards for 2 days, I designed my tour to vary the pleasures. Thus, my itinerary allows to discover the landscapes of Beaujolais, its most beautiful vineyards, its lakes, its small villages and some magnificent castles!

Here are the main stages of my tourist circuit which runs along a large part of the Beaujolais wine route :

• Lyon
• Charnay
• Châtillon d'Azergues
• Glay quarries
• Val d'Oingt
• Tarnishing
• Jarnioux
• Montmelas castle
• Vaux in Beaujolais
• Terrière Castle
• Mont Brouilly and Saint Lager
• Pizay Castle
• Beaujeu
• Juliénas Castle
• Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne

Itinerary of the Beaujolais wine route

Here is the map with the Google Maps route that you can follow in GPS mode to do the Beaujolais wine route:

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Beaujolais wine route – Stages of the tourist circuit

So that the days are full but not too busy, I programmed a journey of 87 km for the 1st day and 78 km for the 2nd day.

Beaujolais Wine Route – Day 1 Program

The 1st day of my road trip is more focused on sightseeing than and only includes a visit to a wine estate. In fact it is on the 2nd day that you will do more wine tours.

Departure from Lyon

To keep it simple and practical, wherever you come from, the start of my tour is from the beautiful city of Lyon. Moreover, if you have the opportunity, I recommend that you visit Lyon in 1 day with my little walking route!

Charnay

1st stage of my tourist circuit: Charnay. It is a small village perched on top of a hill. It is worth a detour for its beautiful fortifications, its golden stone streets, its 17th century castle, its church ...

Châtillon

The 2nd stage of my circuit is located in Châtillon d'Azergues. This pretty fortified village is located in the heart of the land of golden stones. To find out, I recommend that you take a short hike of 1 hour through the village, its alleys, the Notre-Dame de Bon-Secours Chapel and the beautiful vines all around: The Golden Stones and the Vines of Châtillon

Otherwise here is a video that says more than long speeches:

Glay quarries

10 minutes by car from Châtillon, you will stop at Carrières de Glay. It is about a geological site which makes it possible to discover the stone which was used for the construction in all the south of Beaujolais. The specificity of these rocks is the ocher limestone of the golden stones.
You can take a quick visit (free) and take the road back to Oingt (12 km).

Village of Oingt

Sitting on a hill, surrounded by vineyards in a magnificent hilly landscape, Oingt is proud to have been classified among the most beautiful villages in France ! This ancient village is very beautiful because it is built with the famous golden stones which give it a crazy charm.

You can discover it by walking through its alleys. In particular, you will see the remains of the old stately home, the Saint-Mathieu church, the Porte de Nizy, the ruins of the castles and especially the 13th century keep from which we have a really nice panorama.

Tarnishing

After 8 km of road, you will arrive in a small medieval village: Ternant. There, I invite you to take the rampart walk which allows you to have a panoramic view of the surroundings.

Jarnioux

15 km of road and you are in Jarnioux. A short visit is needed to discover its medieval castle and enjoy the vineyard landscapes as far as the eye can see.

Montmelas castle

You can't take the Beaujolais wine route without discovering the Château de Montmelas, its vineyard and its Beaujolais Villages wines!

Former fortified castle rebuilt in the 13th and 14th century, the castle itself is magnificent.

Tours are organized with a minimum of 20 people. To reserve: +33 (0) 4 74 67 30 54 / + 33 (0) 6 80 59 45 12 

Vaux in Beaujolais

Vaux en Beaujolais will be the last stage of the day. This charming village which is also called Clochemerle in memory of the novel by Gabriel Chevallier. If you want to learn more about this story, sit down on one of the 6 talking planters in the village square ...

Beaujolais wine route - Which hotel?

For this overnight stopover, I recommend a guest house with swimming pool in an exceptional setting:

Beaujolais Wine Route – Day 2 Program

This second day of this road trip gives a good overview of the diversity of the landscapes and appellations (visit of 3 châteaux) of Beaujolais.

Mont Brouilly and Saint Lager

The 1st stage of the day is a 15-minute drive from Vaux en Beaujolais. Indeed, by going to Saint Lager you will be on Mont Brouilly, whose emblematic chapel can be recognized at its summit (484 meters above sea level).

There you can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding vineyard hills. The soil of Mont Brouilly made of rock of volcanic origin makes it a geological site of exceptional richness. It is here that the famous wines of the Brouilly and Côte-de-Brouilly appellation are produced.

Terrière Castle

Only 3 km from Saint-Lager, you arrive at the Château de la Terrière. It is one of the oldest estates in the region which operates:

• 12 hectares in AOP Cru Brouilly
• 6 hectares in AOP Bourgogne Pinot noir
• 5 hectares in AOP Cru Régnié in the locality of Siberia
• 3 hectares in AOP Cru Moulin à Vent 
• 2 hectares in AOP Cru Fleurie 

For visits, contact the domain website.

Pizay Castle

Right next to the Château de la Terrière, you can stop at the Château de Pizay. This estate covers 80 hectares and offers 4 vintages: Morgon, Régnié, Brouilly and Beaujolais.

At the castle, you can learn about wine tasting by following an oeno-sensory course or participate in thematic workshops

For visits, book directly on the domain website.

Beaujeu

The wine route takes us to Beaujeu, 13 km away. We are here in the historic capital of the Beaujolais country.

Its historic center is well worth a visit (St Nicolas Church, half-timbered houses, Hospices de Beaujeu, the museum of arts and traditions, etc.).

Juliénas Castle

Now, I suggest you visit the immense and magnificent cellars of the Château de Juliénas. Renowned for its AOC wine (8 vintages of Beaujolais-Villages, Juliénas, Fleurie and Moulin-à-Vent), you can discover it in tastings via several cellar and cellar tours.

See on their site: Visits to Juliénas Castle

Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne

To end my road trip in style, here is the last stage that you will reach after 40 minutes by car: Châtillon sur Chalaronne.

This medieval city is classified most beautiful detours in France, Flower town Four Flowers, City and CraftsEtc. ...

To visit it, nothing could be simpler, you just have to stroll through its 15th century market halls, its small flower-filled bridges, the remains of the fortified ramparts and its old castle.

Any other scenic route ideas?

Here is my circuit on the Route des Crêtes du Verdon

or sublime Corniche road

la route of the Vosges ridges

la Bordeaux wine route

or the Grandes Alpes route