Juliénas brings together winegrowing, trails and history in a well-defined setting: the AOP vineyards lie on Mont de Bessay, several hiking routes start in the village, and the Cellier de la Vieille Eglise offers a place to taste wine in a former church. When choosing where to stay, you can weigh up the landscape, outdoor activities and a wine-related cultural experience.

Wine, landscape and terroir

Juliénas AOP is a red wine and one of the ten Crus of Beaujolais. Its vineyards occupy the southern slope of Mont de Bessay, above the Mauvaise Valley. The south-facing slope, named mountain and valley give the winegrowing area a distinct landscape setting. If you are considering the cru as a reason to visit, you can place its name in the context of the landscape described as its origin.

The AOP designation places the cru in the wider context of Beaujolais, while Mont de Bessay and the Mauvaise Valley identify the specific landscape of the vineyards. The AOP is characterized mainly by granitic and volcanic soils. These soils are a feature of the AOP terroir.

Trails with different profiles

Four hiking routes start in Juliénas. Trail 1, a circular route to Mont Bessay, begins in the village; it is listed as 11 kilometres long, taking three hours, with 223 metres of elevation gain. The route designated «Sportif» also starts in Juliénas. It is 7.8 kilometres long and has 250 metres of elevation gain. This makes the route 3.2 kilometres shorter than the circular trail, but with 27 metres more elevation gain. The three-hour duration gives Trail 1 a specific time frame; for the «Sportif» route, its designation, distance and elevation gain describe the offering. So, when choosing, consider the type of activity and the route profile as well as the distance.

Wine tasting in historic architecture

The Cellier de la Vieille Eglise is located in a former Romanesque village church. Its foundations date from the Middle Ages; the 17th-century extension was converted into a tasting cellar. The church was deconsecrated in 1868. The Cellier offers a distinctive place to taste wine, where you can discover the Juliénas cru, its history, the wine and its terroir. The combination of architectural history and wine makes the Cellier a cultural attraction in its own right: the architecture is part of the visit, while the tasting connects it to the cru.

A historical trace of the wine trade

Château du Bois de la Salle was built on the site of the former priory of the same name and was the cooperative winery’s headquarters from 1960 onwards. This broadens the historical perspective on wine in another direction: from the site of a former priory to its role as a cooperative winery. The difference from the Cellier matters when planning a visit: a wine tasting is described at the Cellier, while the Château is noted for its historical use as a cooperative winery.

Discover more destinations: Le Bois-D'oingt, Irigny, Civrieux-d'Azergues, Beaujeu, Cours-La-Ville, Chassagny, Les Ardillats, Orliénas

For the regional travel overview: Rhône.