Odenas combines winegrowing with a striking landscape around Mont Brouilly. The Brouilly and Côte de Brouilly appellations, a historic wine estate and the volcanically shaped summit give the area several distinct perspectives. When planning your visit, it helps to make a simple distinction: should your stay focus mainly on wine and wine estates, or would you also like to explore the landscape around Mont Brouilly? Both are part of Odenas, but they lead to different discoveries.
Winegrowing and wine estates
Odenas lies within the Brouilly and Côte de Brouilly wine appellations. These appellation areas cover 560 hectares of vineyards. At Château de La Chaize, the perspective shifts from the broader area to an individual estate: it has 99 hectares of contiguous vineyards in Odenas. This offers a way to consider winegrowing both on the wider scale of the appellations and through the specific example of a single estate.
Château de La Chaize has been a family-run wine estate for 350 years and is listed as a Monument historique. The estate includes gardens, a fermentation cellar and a 108-metre-long cellar. Its family history and heritage designation describe two different aspects of the estate; the gardens and cellars give a concrete sense of its built features. The fermentation cellar relates to winemaking, while the gardens form another part of the estate.
Tours at Château de Nervers are available by appointment; at the end of the tour, the estate’s wines are offered for sale. If you are planning a wine tour, arrange your visit in advance. This specific visit differs from exploring the appellations or vineyards: here, making an appointment and the wine sale that follows are part of the described experience.
Mont Brouilly and the landscape
Mont Brouilly lies within the territories of Odenas and Saint-Lager. From there, the view extends across the Saône Valley, Bresse and the Dombes. The summit is rounded and of volcanic origin. The blue stone of Mont Brouilly also has a specific geological connection: it consists of crystals of basalt, iron silicate and magnesium. If you choose a landscape not only for its views but also for its geological character, Mont Brouilly offers both points of interest.
The Circuit Brouilly passes through vineyards and forests and offers views, including from Mont Brouilly. It complements the summit panorama with a route that takes in both vineyards and woodland. This brings two distinct perspectives together: views across the Saône Valley, Bresse and the Dombes, and the succession of vineyards and forest along the circuit.
A culinary tradition
The Fête du Paradis tradition includes saucisson cooked in “gène”—the residue left after the grapes are pressed—in large cauldrons outdoors and in front of an audience. This is a specific culinary connection to winegrowing: the tradition describes not only the dish but also its distinctive preparation and public setting. For anyone interested in regional food culture, this custom adds another local perspective alongside the appellations and wine estates.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Pierre-La-Palud, Le Perréon, Saint-Lager, Lyon, Blacé, Saint-Fons, Gleize, Rillieux-La-Pape
For the broader travel overview: Rhône.
