A JEWEL FOR TOURISM
EVERYTHING FINDS ITS ROOTS IN THE EARTH
It has taken 500 million years to shape the land of the Beaujolais region. Bearing witness to our planet’s great history, geological events here include the collision of the supercontinents over 350 million years ago. Today the resulting land gifts us a wealth built up over millennia.
Matchless, the land in the Beaujolais region is a rare kaleidoscope of geology. Singular, this land has given rise to know-how, architecture and traditions.
Generous, the art of living grows here… in every single vine!
NATURE IN THE PLURAL
The Beaujolais region is made up of three main land types: the Saône Valley, the winemaking area set between gentle slopes and wooded valleys, and the Monts du Beaujolais range of hills that spread out to the west, with their highest point on the region’s borders at over 1 000 above sea-level.
Geography and the unique geology in the Beaujolais region have combined to create specific natural environments including heathland, woods, dry grassland, pastures and peat-bogs where a multiplicity of buzzing ecosystems thrive and team with endemic colorful flora and fauna. Abounding with life!
TIME TO EXPLORE
On foot, riding a bike or a horse, as a group, a family, with friends or alone; meander through Terre des Brouilly along one of the many marked paths, routes and circuits on offer. From a short walk for a young family to a hike of several days for the more daring, our land boasts a plethora ways to encounter the wealth of things to see here.
How about spending time by, on or in the water? The rivers and streams that wind gently through the Beaujolais hills are perfect for water sports (swimming, canoeing, fishing etc.) or a peaceful boat ride. Just imagine the gentle slap slap of water against a gently rocking boat.
NATURE IN THE PLURAL
The Beaujolais region is made up of three main land types: the Saone Valley, the winemaking area set between gentle slopes and wooded valleys, and the Monts du Beaujolais range of hills that spread out to the west, with their highest point on the region’s borders at over 1 000 above sea-level.
Geography and the unique geology in the Beaujolais region have combined to create specific natural environments including heathland, woods, dry grassland, pastures and peat-bogs where a multiplicity of buzzing ecosystems thrive and team with endemic colourful flora and fauna. Abounding with life!
TIME TO EXPLORE
On foot, riding a bike or a horse, as a group, a family, with friends or alone; meander through Terre des Brouilly along one of the many marked paths, routes and circuits on offer. From a short walk for a young family to a hike of several days for the more daring, our land boasts a plethora ways to encounter the wealth of things to see here. How about spending time by, on or in the water? The rivers and streams that wind gently through the Beaujolais hills are perfect for water sports (swimming, canoeing, fishing etc.) or a peaceful boat ride. Just imagine the gentle slap slap of water against a gently rocking boat.
RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE
Châteaux, castles, churches and villages with personality… Terre des Brouilly is bursting with historic buildings! Here again, the geological diversity of the Beaujolais region makes its mark with the variety of stone types used for traditional building; making for remarkable, charm-filled architecture. And what brilliant places they are to explore! In the Beaujolais region, housing isn’t confined to village centres; 2 or 3 centuries ago, as soon as a few hectares of land had been cleared for vineyards a house was built alongside, creating a checkerboard of plots dotted with homes. Anything and everything is a good excuse for a get-together here; beliefs, traditions and celebrating life. This makes for festivals, picnics, indoor and outdoor events of all kinds. Our most precious heritage here is conviviality.
A SELECTION OF MARKED FOOTPATHS
CircuitsBrouilly and Les Étangs – the ponds
From vineyards to woods and back again. These circuits take you past beautiful châteaux, including Château de la Chaize and its gardens, and to beautiful panoramic views such as the one from Mont Brouilly. Circuit des Étangs (6 km) is quite easy while Circuit Brouilly is a bit more challenging (9 km).
La voie verte du Beaujolais – the Beaujolais green way
Running like a backbone through the northern Beaujolais vineyards is the voie verte du Beaujolais.Not only does it cover 15 km on a gentle tarmacked route suitable for walkers and person-powered wheeled conveyances, it is also a starting point for many marked routes. A great pathway to explore green fields, luxuriant woods and the scents of the harvest in the golden autumn vineyards.
Beaujolais wine route
1212 AOCs, 10 remarkable Crus including excellent Brouilly and Côte de Brouilly. 140 km in length the Beaujolais wine route makes for an exciting jaunt, bursting with savour and tastings.
Saint-LagerLe sentier du sommet – A path at the peak
This 1.5 km circuit tells the tale of Mont Brouilly in 7 stages: its history, its vineyards, its geology and its legends etc. along a short trail with breath-taking panoramic views. Longer (3 km), is the sentier des bois (trail through the woods) that concentrates on local flora, while cyclists might prefer the marked « au pied du Mont Brouilly » (round the foot of Mont Brouilly) circuit.
Quincié-en-BeaujolaisLa balade de la source de Fayolle – A hike to Fayolle spring
3 kilometers (ascent: 300) of paths through the woods to take you to the summit of the hill and a splendid panoramic view of Croix de Saburin, before quite a steep scramble down to the spring.
MUST SEES
Cercié
Saint-Ennemond Romanesque chapel was built on and old druidic site. Legend has it that Saint-Ennemond, the martyr this chapel has been dedicated to since the 12th century, protects the grape harvest, and cures toothache and infantile green diarrhoea.
Château de la Terrière, built in the 14th century facing Mont Brouilly, boasts an original entry gate with machicolations, a round tower and a turret with openings through which you can see a spiral staircase.
Charentay
Tour de la Belle-Mère, this 35 m high tower was built in the 19th century at the request of a mother-in-law (belle-mère) who wanted to see what her son-in-law, who she suspected of naughty goings-on, was up to in the vineyards.
Château d’Arginy, and more specifically the legend that Knights Templar stayed in it its “7 béatitudes” or “alchimie” tower and hid treasure there.
Odenas
Château de la Chaize is one of the Beaujolais region’s architectural jewels. Built in 1674, it brought together the greats of the time with Mignard painting, Le Nôtre designing the gardens and Mansard on architecture.
The village church, dedicated to Saint Peter, with the hills behind the village as its backdrop. Though the building has evolved with the community it serves over the ages, the choir remains unchanged from the church’s primitive Romanesque origins.
Quincié-en-Beaujolais
Château de La Palud, built on the river bank in the 15th century, a great way to see this chateau is from the ‘3 châteaux’ walking trail. Things of interest include a fortified portal, dovecote and round towers, never forgetting King Louis XI’s visit in 1482.
Château de Varenne started life as a fortified castle in the 11 th century. It was remodelled in the 16th century to become a stately home. Mullioned windows, Gothic mouldings, sculpted
stone and round towers with conical rooves… A historical masterpiece!
Saint-Étienne la Varenne
Château des Tours is notable for its tall 12th century cylindrical “Sarasin” and lower, square-based tower that houses a weapons room with a Gothic fire-place.
The Romanesque church, dating from the 12th century is a splendid example of its type. Inside are a selection of objects and statues gifted by the community showing off the generous sharing nature of the village’s inhabitants.
Saint-Lager
Chapelle Notre Dame du Raisin – Our Lady of the Grape, built in the 19th century to crown
Mont-Brouilly, the highest point of Terre des Brouilly. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary to plead
her intercession to divert hail, frost and other scourges to the vineyards.
The Church of Saint-Lager, like an incredible ballroom bathed in warm colours. The colourful paintings are the work of Zacheo, the Italian artist.
OUR TRADITIONS AND CELEBRATIONS
Farfouille de Cercié (Easter) – Flea market
600 sellers and 1500 volunteers come together over more than 4 km of stalls to create the only flea market in the region on Easter Monday. Profits go towards financing extra-curricular school activities.
Sixphonnés du Mont Brouilly
This is a great challenge for nature-loving cyclists: not very high in altitude, goodly slopes, the beauty of the site of Mont Brouilly, a ride that encompasses vineyards, panoramic views and beautiful countryside.
Beaujolez-vous (from July to September)
Dancing, quizzes, live music and evening markets… From Tuesday to Saturday, great fun evenings to be had for free!
Beaujolais en scène et en musique (July and August)
This theatre and music festival is organised every summer at 5 Beaujolais wine estate and château venues. Shows, tastings and a buffet… Making evening get-togethers an art form!
Pilgrimage (8th September)
Every year since 1857, as decreed by our ancestors, the vinegrower-winemakers of the area make a pilgrimage to the chapel to beg protection from Our Lady of the Grape and to show that they trust in her intercession.
Heritage days (September)
Espace des Brouilly
The Espace des Brouilly is a welcoming venue where you can find out about, taste and buy Beaujolais wines. The team there organises a special event for the heritage days every year.
La fête du Paradis (October)
Paradis is the sweet, slightly alcoholic crimson juice that runs from the press as the plateau pushes down on the bunches of macerated grapes. This regional speciality makes a great palate teaser while you’re waiting for Brouilly and Côte de Brouilly to be vinified. The ‘gêne’ or grape pomace (the solids remaining after pressing) does not go to waste either. It is packed around big cooking sausages in the vintage boilers brought to Odenas sports ground for the occasion.
Le marathon du Beaujolais (17th November 2018)
This FFA (French athletics federation) accredited course twists through 12 villages, Beaujolais vineyards and châteaux. There are also half-marathon and 13 km courses with the same guideline for all: come dressed up!
Odenas Christmas market (December)
Crafts, artisan chocolate, cakes and pastries, gastronomy, celebration drinks, tastings, children’s games and a bar. Gourmet pleasures for all!
