Beaujolais
France
- Countryside
- A vine romance
- Country life
- Haute cuisine heaven
Distinguished wines, world-renowned cuisine and ornate châteaux of honey-coloured stone – Beaujolais is everything the Francophile dreams of.
Located in the heart of France, this is a rural idyll of old villages, vineyard, lush farmland, forest and gentle hills, where the graceful Saône and Rhône rivers merge. A bright firmament of Michelin-starred restaurants offer gourmet tables overflowing with fine Burgundy and some of the best cuisine in France. Horse riding, ballooning and cycling will let you savour the rich landscape of Beaujolais, and even burn off a few calories after a night on the gastronomy.
Pictured: Château de Bagnols
Boutique hotels in Beaujolais
Our round-up of the hippest hideaways and boutique hotels in Beaujolais
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Getting there
Planes, trains, automobiles, or maybe even helicopter – we tell you the best way to go.
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Worth getting out of bed for
Highlights the best Beaujolais has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.
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Eating, drinking & dancing
We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Beaujolais.
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Smith Maps
Here is the map of Beaujolais; each Mr & Mrs Smith hotel is marked by a flag; click it for more details.
moreLocal knowledge
- Taxis
- In towns, pick one up from a taxi rank or hail one on the street. If you’re travelling in more remote areas, try to book a car in advance or prepare for a long walk.
- Tipping culture
- Restaurant and café bills usually include a service charge (service compris) but it’s customary to leave a small tip. For taxi drivers, add ten per cent to the metered charge.
- Siesta and Fiesta
- Many restaurants close after 14h and reopen in the afternoon around 16h. Shops also break for lunch, except in big-city centres; most close on Sundays.
- Packing tips
- A pair of running shoes – the food is so good that you’ll have to up your fitness regime to cope.
- Recommended reads
- La Symphonie Pastorale by André Gide; Madame Bovary by Flaubert; French Women Don’t Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano.
- Cuisine
- Haute! Haute! Haute! More (Michelin) stars than the Milky Way. Highly prized local ingredients include tender Charolais beef and excellent wines, such as Chablis and Beaujolais. The area has also given us favourites like boeuf bourguignon and coq au vin. Cheese lovers should try Epoisses, a creamy cow’s cheese said to have been Napoleon’s favourite.
- Currency
- Euro.
- Dialing codes
- Country code for France: 33. Lyon: 04.
- Do go/don't go
- Visit in May to see cherry blossom in bloom, or in autumn when turning leaves give the region a spectacular colour. The third Wednesday of November sees the town of Beaujeu come together to get a first taste of the year’s Beaujolais Nouveau. The winter months can be rainy.
