Vignoble du Beaujolais © etienne_ramousse_destination_beaujolais
A vélo dans le Beaujolais © etienne_ramousse_destination_beaujolais
A vélo sur La Voie Bleue à Belleville-en-Beaujolais © Guillaume Robert-Famy

Beaujolais UNESCO Global Geopark

Explore the Beaujolais UNESCO Global Geopark

Known across the world for its wines, the Beaujolais area also boasts one of the most diverse and complex geological histories of any part of France, and, in some respects, of the whole planet! It’s to help highlight this exceptional heritage that the Beaujolais area has been designated a UNESCO Global Geopark.

Located northwest of Lyon, on the eastern side of France’s Massif Central volcanic mountain ranges, the Saône Valley serving as its eastern border, but benefiting from views eastwards as far as the Alps, the Beaujolais area’s geological history goes back many millions of years. Of course humankind’s activities, history, heritage, culture and local life have also shaped the area you see today.

A good part of the Beaujolais area’s identity, its past and its potential derive from its stone. Depending on exactly where you go, it can look golden, ruddy, green, white, grey or black, as the local traditional architecture demonstrates so clearly. Exploring the heart of the Beaujolais area, many unique sites prove worth a visit, such as the village of Oingt, part of the association of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, or Mont Brouilly, an iconic hill providing a great view over the vineyards, the Saône Plain, La Dombes’s flatlands and the French Alps.

Full list of Geosites in the Beaujolais area

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Mâcon / Thoissey

21 Mâcon / Thoissey

20 km
2 h 00 min
I cycle often
Leaving Mâcon, you start to feel the pull of southern France as you race straight southwards towards Thoissey. Having made the most of visiting this town’s historical and archaeological sites, La Voie Bleue leads you along the east bank of the Saône. Around here, you pass through natural landscapes marked by wetlands and poplar plantations, home to many species of birds. This stage of the route also offers lovely views on the Mâconnais and Beaujolais hills. Along the way, stop at the restaurant at Port de By or at the outdoor leisure lake at Cormoranche-sur-Saône.
Thoissey / Trévoux

22 Thoissey / Trévoux

33 km
3 h 00 min
I cycle often
From Thoissey, head for Trévoux by bike, enjoying the natural setting of the towpath down the Saône Valley, the Beaujolais hills opposite. Along the route, several unmissable cultural and gastronomic sites compete for your attention. If a fan of water sports, try canoeing on the river, or going for a dip in the Saône at one of the specially laid-out spots. Visit the remarkable châteaux in these parts, and eat at the outdoor summer riverside restaurants, guinguettes. Trévoux is a little old town full of surprising discoveries – this was once historic capital of the tiny Principality of Dombes.
Trévoux / Lyon

23 Trévoux / Lyon

31 km
3 h 00 min
I cycle often
On this La Voie Bleue stage, savour the last stretch of the Saône before it joins the Rhône. From Trévoux to Lyon, southern capital of French gastronomy, enjoy views of the Monts d’Or hills and the Saône’s holiday atmosphere, with its waterside restaurants and nautical activities. Entering Lyon, the riverbanks are well laid out. Finally, you come to the Saône’s confluence with the Rhône, marking a sensational end to your cycling adventure, or a stopping point before continuing to the Mediterranean on the ViaRhôna cycle route. Lyon’s contemporary Confluence Quarter stands out for its funky architecture and cultural venues, adding a new facet to this city whose historic quarters have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Seek out a fine restaurant, maybe a traditional Bouchon Lyonnais, and make the most of the innumerable activities on offer in France’s third-largest city.