About Beaujolais

The Beaujolais region sits to the west of the River Saône, between Mâcon and Villefranche-sur-Saône and stretches into Haut Beaujolais where cru wines are also produced.  Once you leave the A6 and head towards the vineyards, you enter a different and more beautiful world.

The traditional red Beaujolais wine is grown from the Gamay grape, using the traditional methods of vinification and hand picking. 

Haut Beaujolais is an ideal area for wine tasting, offering delicious, affordable wine and glorious countryside.  The south of the region produces the Beaujolais Nouveau, released fresh from the cellars on the third Thursday of November each year.  In the north are the 10 cru wines- St Amour, Julienas, Moulin-à-Vent, Chénas, Fleurie, Chiroubles, Morgon, Brouilly, Côtes de Brouilly and Régnié – most of which can be visited in a day’s drive.  Almost every village has its cave (wine cellar), offering tastings and a glimpse of the wine culture that dominates local life.

Things to do

Walking

It’s not just about wine, the area has wonderful hiking with signed tracks through the vines.  

Depending on your experience, you can choose from short, circular walks, walks to and from the local villages or day-long hiking through the hills that surround Vâtre.

Maps of walking trails are available at Vâtre or from the Tourist Offices in Fleurie or Beaujeu.

Cycling

This area of France is particularly attractive to cyclists because of its quiet roads and beautiful scenery.  There is a signposted Beaujolais wine trail which takes you through the beautiful local villages.

VTT off-road cycling is also popular in the area.

We can provide secure storage for your cycles.

Golf

Vâtre is well placed for golf courses and visitors are always made welcome.  It takes about 20 minutes to drive to  drive to two first class courses for players of all abilities and two 36 hole championship courses near Lyon which have hosted European Tour events.  All four are open all year and welcome non-members.

Golf La Commanderie is just to the East of Mâcon and is an eighteen-hole course with a restaurant.  The staff speak French, English, German, Dutch or Italian.

Golf de Mâcon La Salle is just to the north of Macon and is an eighteen-hole course with a restaurant.

Golf Club de Lyon is one of the top ten golf courses in the whole of France,  and is about an hours drive from the vineyard.  The club has two 18 hole courses set in 220 Hectares of nature reserve.  With a beautiful club house, restaurant and driving range the Golf Club de Lyon is well worth the drive for the serious golfer.

Golf du Gouverneur has two 18 hole championship courses.  The 6,400m Breuil course is the longest in Europe along with the 5,880m Montaplan course.  Both are over gentle rolling hillside with fresh water lakes featuring on several holes.  The golf club includes full restaurant and club facilities including putting and chipping greens.

Short breaks can be organised for guests to play a selection of the courses.  Tee-off times and transport to and from the courses can be pre-arranged.