Condrieu between the Rhône, wine and heritage

Condrieu combines the landscape on the right bank of the Rhône with winegrowing and a rich architectural history. The town is in the Parc Naturel du Pilat. If you are looking for a hotel in Condrieu, you can consider whether the riverside scenery and cycle route, historic buildings, the wine appellation or a seasonal swimming area are most important for your stay.

Riverside scenery and the ViaRhôna

The Rhône and the Arbuel, Bassenon and Vernon rivers shape the landscape, as well as Condrieu’s characteristic neighbourhoods, shaped by former boatmen. The river landscape is therefore both part of the scenery and of the town’s history. The former towpath in Condrieu is now part of the ViaRhôna cycle route. Here, the historic connection with river transport and a modern cycle route come together in a specific local setting.

Condrieu’s architectural history

The Tour Garon is the only surviving building of Condrieu’s 12th-century feudal castle. From the castle gate, there are wide-ranging views of the Arbuel, Condrieu and the Rhône. The castle and the viewpoint offer different ways to explore the town’s architectural history and riverside landscape.

The Visitation monastery was built in 1664 by the de Villars family and was one of the first monasteries of the Visitandines. The chapel is used for exhibitions and concerts; the property is privately owned. The year it was built, its religious history and its current cultural use are distinct aspects of the site.

The Maison du Gouverneur de la Gabelle is a Renaissance building. Its original function was connected with the salt tax. It is not open to visitors. Although it is part of Condrieu’s architectural history, it is not a building that can be visited.

Winegrowing and an annual event

The Condrieu wine appellation is made exclusively from the Viognier grape variety, which originated in Condrieu. This clear connection between place, grape variety and appellation defines the region’s wine profile. The wine-growing area covers about 180 hectares of vines in production. The vines grow on steep slopes cultivated in chaillées; the approximate area and sloping terrain give the wine-growing area a distinctive landscape setting.

The two appellations share an annual event, “Vin et Rigotte de Condrieu en fête”. The event takes place every year on 1 May. If you would like to plan your trip around this event, check the event details before making plans.

Seasonal swimming

Wam Park Lyon Condrieu has a sandy beach. Supervised swimming is available in July and August from 2 to 6 pm. The dates and times are important when planning if swimming is one of your interests during your stay. This seasonal offer therefore differs in timing from the architectural and winegrowing attractions that define the town throughout the year.

Discover more destinations: Lucenay, Dième, Tarare, Pontcharra-sur-Turdine, Bully, Saint-Fons, Jons, Rontalon

For the main travel overview: Rhône.