Millery sits on a plateau between the Rhône and Garon valleys. Moraine deposits over a crystalline massif shape the soils, which are suitable for growing fruit and wine grapes. Walking trails run along the banks of the Rhône, through vineyard paths and through the town centre. During your stay, you can therefore experience different sides of the town: its landscape and winegrowing, as well as its history, which unfolds around the church.

Walking Trails, Winegrowing and Landscape

The Sentier viticole de Millery combines vineyard paths with information about the work of winegrowers. The information boards cover vine care and winemaking. The circular route is 7.7 kilometres long, has an elevation gain of 111 metres and takes approximately 90 minutes according to the stated time. It is described as an educational and fun family outing. For planning your stay, the distance, elevation gain and approximate duration provide practical guidance.

Another trail, the Sentier découverte du patrimoine de Millery, is three kilometres long. Check the route details before your visit. The two trails have different focuses: the Sentier viticole is devoted to winegrowing, while the name of the shorter trail indicates a focus on heritage. The wine route also includes information about Millery’s wine cellars, where visitors can sample local wines and fruit juices.

Millery’s vineyards now cover approximately 70 hectares. The wine produced there carries the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée “Coteaux du Lyonnais”, awarded in 1984. Domaine Régis Descotes offers guided visits for individuals and groups; it is best to check the visiting arrangements in advance. This makes it possible to explore winegrowing as part of your stay, both on the trails and during a guided visit.

Outside the town centre, between Grigny and Vernaison, a trail leads through a riverside forest to La Tour de Millery. There, ponds provide refuge for amphibians. This natural area is a separate excursion destination in the surrounding area and should not be confused with the walking trails in the town centre or along the banks of the Rhône.

Church, Town Centre and Historic Sites

The historic town centre developed around the church from the end of the Middle Ages, with narrow houses lining the streets. Église Sainte-Croix was built in the 15th century. Its surviving Gothic features include the choir, tracery windows, the first four bays and rib vaults. The church was built on the site of an earlier oratory and a cross. It thus connects the town’s architectural history with an older religious site.

The history of the Montagny family is also linked to Millery. At the end of the 16th century, the town became the family’s residence after the fortified Château de Montagny became uninhabitable as a result of the Wars of Religion. During the reign of Louis XIV, the family’s notaries, the Chalamels, built Maison Gonnard in a new district below the church. Château de Montagny and Maison Gonnard, built under Louis XIV, represent different phases in the town’s development.

Le Saint Sépulcre is listed as a monument and is located on private property. The oratory is of uncertain origin and is thought to date from the late 14th century. A group of seven saints depicts the burial of Christ. Both the religious depiction and the uncertain dating are therefore part of this site’s history; the note that it is on private property is important when planning a visit.

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