Quincié-en-Beaujolais: Vineyards, Trails and Châteaux

When planning a stay in Quincié-en-Beaujolais, historic buildings, hiking trails and winegrowing offer some concrete starting points. If you are looking for a hotel, you can weigh these themes according to your own interests: should your trip focus more on regional history, trails or winegrowing?

Church and châteaux: local history

The present-day church of Quincié-en-Beaujolais was consecrated on 24 December 1864. The three châteaux on the Three Castles hiking trail also represent different periods. Château de La Palud dates from the 15th century, is listed as a heritage site and is visible from the trail. Château de Varennes is a manor house dating from the 16th century, located in the winegrowing area; this building can also be seen from the trail. Château de Souzy, also visible from the Three Castles hiking trail, is an 18th-century manor house built in 1765. Together, their construction dates span the period from the 15th to the 18th century. Their visibility from the trail makes the châteaux part of the hiking route, without requiring a visit to the buildings.

Hiking: circular routes and a themed trail

The Three Castles circular routes are permanently waymarked and comprise four distances: 7, 14, 23 or 26 km. The different distances help you choose a route length that suits your plans. Check local notices for temporary changes before setting off. In addition, the approximately 80 km Estelle trail passes through Quincié-en-Beaujolais. If you plan to take this long-distance trail, check the route information before departure. A shorter themed walk is the 4 km Quincié winegrowing discovery trail, a circular route along the vineyard slopes. Six stops featuring photographs explore the lives of the vines and winegrowers. The trail is considered an easy walk, includes 150 metres of elevation gain and takes 1 hour and 30 minutes. Its distance, elevation gain and duration make it easy to distinguish from the longer Three Castles circular routes.

Landes du Beaujolais: elevations, habitats and views

On the heights of Quincié-en-Beaujolais and neighbouring communes, the Landes du Beaujolais extend above the vineyards across almost 1,500 hectares. Wooded areas and dry grasslands are interspersed throughout this landscape. From here, views stretch across the Beaujolais vineyards and wooded mountains to the Saône plain and the Alps. Since 1985, 680 hectares of the Landes du Beaujolais have been protected under an Arrêté Préfectoral de Protection de Biotope (APPB); since 1992, the area has been designated an Espace naturel sensible. The figure of 680 hectares refers to the APPB designation. Alongside the vineyards, the protected uplands and their habitats offer another facet of the landscape.

Winegrowing and regional produce

Winegrowing is the main activity in Quincié-en-Beaujolais. Brouilly, Côtes de Brouilly, Beaujolais Village and Primeur wines are produced here. Wine production is shared between the cooperative winery and independent winegrowers. This combination of landscape, produce and local production complements the historic buildings and hiking trails with an economic and cultural focal point of the village. After the winegrowing discovery trail, you can enjoy a glass of Beaujolais-Villages at local wine cellars or at the Cave Beaujolaise de Quincié. If you plan to do so, you can combine your walk with a firsthand glimpse of the commune’s wine culture.

Discover more destinations: Oullins, Cours-La-Ville, Odenas, Villié-Morgon, Belleville-Sur-Saône, Saint-Vincent-De-Reins, Pierre-Bénite, Mions.

Go to the regional travel overview: Rhône.