Fleurie: Wine, Tastings and Trails to the Madone

Fleurie brings together Beaujolais wine, trails through the vineyards and routes up to the Madone. The town offers different ways to plan your trip: explore the Fleurie AOP and its wines, compare guided tastings or choose a hike to viewpoints and historic sites.

Fleurie and Beaujolais Wine

The geographical area of the Fleurie AOP is limited to the commune of Fleurie. Fleurie AOP is a red wine and one of the Beaujolais Crus; it is made from the native Gamay grape variety. The appellation therefore links the wine directly to the place. If you are interested in the landscape behind this appellation, Fleurie has both wineries and experiences centred on winegrowing and tasting.

The Maison du Cru Fleurie sells wines from 32 wineries. It offers a guided tasting led by one of the 32 winegrowers. The Maison is open daily from March to December. Take this seasonal opening period into account when planning your visit.

Tastings and Winery Visits

The Cave de Fleurie also offers a discovery tour, available year-round by reservation. The guided tour of the winegrowers’ cooperative includes a tasting of three or five wines and a light snack. The experience is defined by the number of wines included in the tasting and the snack provided; be sure to make a reservation when planning your visit.

At Château de Poncié, a guided tour combines a visit to the estate with insights into the work carried out in the vineyard. In the cellar, it includes a guided tasting of six wines. The guided vineyard tour also introduces visitors to the diversity and richness of the Fleurie Cru terroirs in Beaujolais. The visit focuses on both vineyard work and the wines and their origins.

Château des Bachelards is a 12-hectare estate in Fleurie. Its vineyards have been farmed without chemicals since 2007. Tours are offered year-round and take visitors through the vineyards and wine cellars, introducing biodynamic farming and the production of the wines. As visit arrangements may change, it is advisable to confirm them before your visit.

Hiking Trails and Views at the Madone

The Madone de Fleurie was built in 1866. From the Chapelle de La Madone, there are panoramic views across the vineyards of the surrounding Beaujolais Crus. The Circuit Entre vignes et bois loop also leads to the chapel. From this route, you can see the Beaujolais vineyards; in favourable weather, the view also stretches as far as the Alps and Mont Blanc.

The Sentier des Lys offers another way to reach the Madone. This easy hiking trail is 3.5 km long, with an elevation gain of 125 m and a stated duration of 1 hour and 20 minutes. Along the way, several stops introduce themes, stories and anecdotes about wine and winegrowing. The trail is free to access every day, year-round. Check trail conditions before setting out.

The two routes have different emphases: stories about wine and winegrowing accompany the Sentier des Lys on its way to the Madone, while the Circuit Entre vignes et bois highlights, among other things, panoramic views over the Beaujolais vineyards. The route descriptions thus offer different points of reference to help you choose a hike, without assuming any connection between the routes.

Another Hiking Option

The Parcours d'Orientation spécial Enfants is an 8 km orienteering hike for children aged 8 and over. It complements the hiking trails to the Madone with an option that has a distinct focus: orienteering, with a clearly stated minimum age. Its length and minimum age help you distinguish this option from the shorter Sentier des Lys.

Discover more destinations: Jarnioux, Neuville-Sur-Saône, Ampuis, Civrieux-d'Azergues, Amplepuis, Saint-Nizier-D'azergues, Montagny, Chassieu.

View the wider travel guide: Rhône.