If you would like to include architectural history, winegrowing and landscapes in your excursion plans, Quincié-En-Beaujolais offers clearly distinct themes. The Three Châteaux Trail brings historic buildings into view, the winegrowing discovery trail follows the vineyard slopes, and the Landes du Beaujolais lie on the uplands. Different trail lengths and landscape highlights are available to help you plan.
The church and châteaux as historic landmarks
The present-day church of Quincié-En-Beaujolais was blessed on 24 December 1864. Three other historic buildings can be seen from the Three Châteaux Trail. Château de Souzy is an 18th-century manor house built in 1765. Château de La Palud dates from the 15th century and is listed as cultural heritage. Château de Varennes is a 16th-century manor house in the winegrowing area. The buildings therefore date from the 15th to the 18th centuries, while the church’s blessing in 1864 provides another point of reference in time.
Hiking trails of different lengths
The circular Three Châteaux trails are permanently marked and include four routes: 7, 14, 23 or 26 kilometres. The 7-km route is the shortest and the 26-km route the longest; the 14- and 23-km routes fall in between. You can start by comparing the trails by length. For any temporary changes, local notices can be helpful.
A shorter alternative within the hiking options is the Quincié winegrowing discovery trail. The 4-kilometre circular route runs along the vineyard slopes and has six stations with photographs about the life of the vines and winegrowers. This easy walk covers 150 metres of elevation gain; the stated duration is 1 hour and 30 minutes. Compared with the shortest of the château circular trails, it is 3 kilometres shorter, offering a different scale for planning your outings.
The approximately 80-kilometre Estelle Trail also passes through Quincié-En-Beaujolais. Its total length refers to the trail, not to a single hike in the village. If you plan to take this trail, check the details before setting off.
The upland landscape of the Landes du Beaujolais
On the uplands of Quincié-En-Beaujolais and neighbouring municipalities, the Landes du Beaujolais lie above the vineyards. The landscape covers almost 1,500 hectares and is interspersed with wooded areas and dry grassland. From there, views stretch across the Beaujolais vineyards and wooded mountains to the Saône plain and the Alps.
The Landes du Beaujolais have been designated an “Espace naturel sensible” since 1992. Since 1985, an Arrêté Préfectoral de Protection de Biotope (APPB) has protected an area of 680 hectares. These two details describe different forms of protection: the designation of the area as an “Espace naturel sensible” and the area covered by the APPB designation. Along with the vineyard trails and the visible châteaux, they give the landscape a distinctive focus alongside the village’s history.
Winegrowing and local produce
Winegrowing is the main activity in Quincié-En-Beaujolais. Brouilly, Côtes de Brouilly, Beaujolais Village and Primeur are produced here. Wine production is divided between the cooperative winery and independent winegrowers. This structure complements the themes of the winegrowing discovery trail with specific products and different forms of production.
After the winegrowing discovery trail, you can enjoy a glass of Beaujolais-Villages in local wine cellars or at the Cave Beaujolaise de Quincié. This lets you connect the trail’s information and photographs about the life of the vines and winegrowers with an opportunity to taste the wine.
Discover more destinations: La Mulatière, Châtillon, Aigueperse, Montrottier, Saint-Apollinaire, Saint-Germain-Au-Mont-d'Or, Les Halles, Saint-Pierre-La-Palud
For the broader travel overview: Rhône.
