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Boutique hotels in Beaujolais

Holidays in Beaujolais, France

Beaujolais Overview

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.

Beautifully Beaujolais

Follow the wine route through the region by visiting the villages of Brouilly, Saint-Amour, Fleurie, Morgon and Moulin-à-Vent. Your hotel can organise a visit to the nearby cellars of Francisque Rivière.

Local 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.

Dialling 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.