Special to Road Trips for Wine
By the French Government Tourist Office

The Beaujolais area, to the north of Lyon, France, is recognized worldwide for its wines. Indeed, wine production is a major industry in the area, which boasts 12 main appellations covering 96 wine-producing villages and including ten famous “crus”.

The Beaujolais reflects four distinctive landscapes. On its eastern flank along the Saône valley, rolling hills are covered in vines and views stretch over the countryside, sometimes as far as Mont-Blanc. Glowing, golden-hued stone dominates in southern Beaujolais, just outside Lyon, where you’ll find villages such as Bagnols, Oingt and Chatillon d’Azergues.

In the hillier, tree-covered area to the west, farms offer produce tastings and there are ample opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities such as biking, walking and horseback riding. And in Villefranche-sur-Saône, you’ll be welcomed by the hustle and bustle of a charming county town, with Renaissance houses and courtyards, shops, a covered market, restaurants, and museums.

Continuing on from the Burgundian wine route, the Beaujolais wine route stretches over 140 km through 36 communities, from Chânes up to the portal of Greater Lyon. You won’t lose your way as you travel between the vineyards’ main tourist attractions, since the new trail helps visitors find their way and explore Beaujolais to the fullest.

Meander through the heart of the 10 Beaujolais Crus, visit Vaux-en-Beaujolais (aka “Clochemerle”), Salles-Arbuissonnas, and Villefranche-sur-Saône, or the historic capital of Beaujeu.

And don’t miss the Pays des Pierres Dorées (country of golden stones) including Oingt, which is classified as being one of the most beautiful villages in France. The course selected for the new Beaujolais wine route brings you across the highlights of each of our 12 appellations.

The interactive wine tourism map is available online.

Made with the visitor in mind, the route will transport you from each of the region’s main attractions to the next, helping you to explore Beaujolais to the fullest.

The 2011 Beaujolais Wine Tourism Guidebook also is available online.

For more information, you can also download some free itineraries directly to your GPS device.

To help spread the word about all the great things they have to offer, the Beaujolais vineyards are continuing to invest in new technology by publishing a magazine available on iPads. This touchpad format allows the user a new and more interactive approach to information, using sound, video, photos, the web, and more. Use this e-magazine to find more information on art de vivre, meetings with winemakers, tourist trails and the Beaujolais wine route.

For more information on traveling in the region, go to the Beaujolais Tourist Office website.

And, you can watch Beaujolais TV here.

(Photo courtesy of French Government Tourist Office)