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Beaujolais Medieval Villages Tour – Short

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. Holiday Profile : 5 nights/6 days – 4 days independent walking moving between guest houses. Dates : Everday of week subject to availability during 1 April to 31 October.

At a Glance

A short break exploring the Golden Stones Country of the southern Beaujolais region

Price

From $ 1,593 per person

Every journey is tailor-made and can be personalised to your travel style, preferred accommodation and budget.

All highlights

Southern Beaujolais . This self guided walking holiday takes place in the southern Beaujolais region of France, located to the north west of Lyon, which is made up of a series of rolling hills getting progressively higher as you go north. 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 country” (pierre dorées), is so called due to the colour of the limestone used in its historic buildings. Here, you 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 13 of these picturesque and well preserved villages.

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

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At a Glance

Moderate

This self-guided or independent walking holiday in France is made up of 4 walks moving between guest houses. The walks average about 15km with limited ascents and descents although some paths can be rough and stoney in places with the odd steeper section. Average daily ascent is 350m. 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.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival

Welcome, pick up and transfer from Lyon to your guest house in the southern Beaujolais.

Day 2: Moire - Ville-sur-Jarnioux

The first day of your independent walking holiday starts by descending via an old railway line to the village of Bois d'Oingt. Here you can relax at a café in the main square before climbing to 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. 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 reach your next in the quaint village of Ville sur Jarnioux.

Overnight: Ville-sur-Jarnioux, Walk: 15km, +420m

Day 3: Ville-sur-Jarnioux - Pommiers

Today's walking trail passes through vines and follows an old railway line, crossing aqueducts to reach the beautiful limestone village of Jarnioux with its amazing towered chateau. Your walking trail then climbs to Pommiers, a great location on a rideline separating the Soane Valley from the Beaujolais. Your guest house is located in a secluded and beautiful spot. There is an option to make this day longer by going via the village of Cogny.

Overnight: Pommiers, Walk: upto 14.5km +430m

Day 4: Pommiers - Chatillon 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 then Charnay, with its narrow streets lined with charming historic properties. From here the walking trails descends to the beautiful fortified village of Châtillon d'Azergues with its historic chateau and chapel. Charming small guest house with great food.

Overnight: Chatillon d'Azrgues, Walk: 14km, +250m

Day 5: Chatillon d'Azergues - Moire

Your day starts with a visit of Chatillon d'Azrgues, including the 12th century chapel, before a picturesque walk along the banks of the River Azergues to reach the pretty village of Chessy les Mines. Afterwards, climb to the historic village of Bagnols with its impressive chateau, historic dwellings and great views of the Mont Lyonnais. The walking trail then heads through the village of Frontenas before climbing over a final ridge to your guest house on a vineyard in the small and attractive village of Moire.

Overnight: Moire, Walk: 10-16km, +250-390m.

Day 6: Departure

After breakfast transfer from your guest house to Lyon after breakfast

Please note that the tour may vary slighty depending on the availability of accommodation at the time of booking

Accommodation & Meals

5 nights in small and comfortable guest houses with ensuite accommodation, some on vineyards with plenty of local character. Full board – all breakfasts, 4 picnic lunches and 5 evening meals included in the price.

When to Travel

Our self-guided walking tour of the Beaujolais is available from the beginning of April to the end of October. From April to October the Beaujolais is generally warm, although it can be hot during the months of July and August. However, relative humidity is often low (except during unstable thundery weather.) Ideal walking temperatures (ie late teens to the low twenties centigrade) are generally experienced from late April to early June and from mid September to mid October. Rainfall becomes more and more sporadic and linked to thunderstorms as you move from spring to summer, and this continues into the Autumn. On average there is rain on one in every three days, but this is often for relatively short periods. Autumn is often characterised by warm sunny days. Sunshine totals are characteristic of its southerly position in France and the sun’s strength means that you must protect yourself against the sun even on overcast days.

Other things to consider are the fact that the leaves are often not the trees or the vines until at least mid April. The grape picking season is often during the first couple of weeks of September and although this provides added activity to the countryside, it also means that some of our first choice guest houses are not available. In October the Beaujolais takes on a different character with autumn colours.

Navigation, Walking Notes & Maps

Most of this walking holiday follows local trails waymarked in yellow. There are also a number of other waymarkings including red and yellow of the tour of the golden stones region of the Beaujolais. There is a fairly dense network of signposts with place names and directions. The walking follows clear paths, tracks and minor roads for its entire duration. Our walking notes are very detailed (more information here) and include intermediate distances for sections of the trail. They also include information about the sites which can be explored along the route. We supply one walking guide per person on this holiday. As well as the detailed walking notes we supply official walking maps produced by IGN at a scale of 1:25,000. Your trail is highlighted on the maps.

Luggage Transfers

On this walking holiday your main luggage is transferred between guest houses so you only have to carry a day rucksack with picnic lunch (supplied by the guest houses and included in the holiday price), water and spare clothes, waterproofs, camera etc. On this holiday your guest houses are responsible for transporting your main luggage, so if you have any specific requests such as a lift to the next guest house then you can speak with the guest house where you are staying. Please limit the weight of your bags where possible to 20kg. We only use hotels and small guest houses in historic buidlings and some of the rooms are accessible by stairs.

Travel Info

Transfers between Lyon Airport or train station and the Beaujolais region of France are included in the price of your independent walking holiday. Pick-ups are generally between 2 and 5 pm. Please contact us if you require pick up at at different time. We can also pick you up from a hotel if you are staying in Lyon before your walking holiday.

Train: Eurostar and the TGV provide a relaxing journey from London Lyon Part Dieu. There are direct Eurostar trains from London on certain days of the week. Otherwise Eurostar trains go via Lille or Paris. In Paris you need to change station (2 stops on the RER).

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

Note: Please check concerning the availability of a walking holiday before booking any flights or trains. 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.

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 at your first guest house. We can provide you with a transfer to collect your car at the end of your walking holiday.

Further Information & Advice

For useful advice about independent walking and preparing for your self-guided holiday please take a look at our blog top tips articles. 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. Please contact us if you need any further information.

Travel Insurance

All customers booking with High Point Holidays are required to have suitable travel insurance to include cover suitable for the activity as well as emergency evacuation and medical treatment. You are required to accept our terms and conditions as part of your booking.

Extra Nights

Extra nights are possible at any of the stopovers during the holiday for example you could stay an extra night at Clos de Pomeirs where you’ll enjoy the splendour of the rooms and you can relax by the pool or you could have a rest day at the vineyard Domaine des Aloets where you’ll enjoy great hospitality. The start and end point of this walking holiday may change due to guest house availability, so please contact us for further information about extra nights at the time of booking.

City Breaks

The nearby city of Lyon is a great destination for a city break and can be easily combined with this walking holiday, as you’ll be picked up and dropped off in the city. Lyon, France’s second city and gastronomic capital, is a lively historic city ideal for those in search of lots to see and do. Classed as a world heritage site, Lyon has it all; roman amphitheatres, medieval streets, renaissance architecture and modern art. We can book a city break for you and provide you with all the information you need for a great stay.

Please consult us for a price on any of the above options.

Combining walking holidays

This wine trail walking holiday can be combined easily with any of our walking holidays elsewhere in the Beaujolais and Burgundy, which all have transfers to and from Lyon.

Tailor-made trips

If you want to learn more about the region’s culture through tailor-made activities and visits, check out those trips that include a few days in the Beaujolais region. Contact us to add them to your hike.

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Services

Included:

Transfer from Lyon station and airport if required
Full board accommodation in B&B style accommodation
Transport of luggage between guest houses
Detailed walking maps and notes including information about the places through which you'll be walking