Saint-Jean-Des-Vignes: Views, Architectural History and Fossilea

Saint-Jean-Des-Vignes brings together a viewpoint on Mont Saint-Jean, buildings from different periods and the themes explored at Fossilea. This offers a range of options for planning your trip: at the Madone, the hill, panoramic views and the flight of steps take centre stage; Château de Pourrières and Église Saint Anne provide specific architectural points of interest. Fossilea offers a different focus, with geology, palaeontology, prehistory and a landscaped park.

Madone and Mont Saint-Jean

The Statue de la Madone stands on the village’s highest hill and is a remarkable viewpoint. From Mont Saint-Jean near the Madone, you can enjoy a 360-degree panorama. Access is via around a hundred steps on Chemin du Mont Saint-Jean, behind number 119; the return journey also uses these steps. If you plan to visit this viewpoint, factor in both the view from the hill and the steps for the ascent and descent.

Architectural history at the Château and Église

Château de Pourrières is a fortified manor house with two square towers. Remains of earlier fortifications are preserved below the east-facing entrance. The château thus brings together the manor house’s towers and the remains below the entrance as distinct architectural features. Église Saint Anne offers a different point of interest: the building is of Romanesque origin, while the side chapel is authentically Gothic. These references to different periods therefore concern various parts of the area: the manor house and its fortification remains on the one hand, and the church and side chapel on the other.

Fossilea: collections and outdoor area

At Fossilea, the collections are presented along an interactive trail. Their subjects include geology, palaeontology and prehistory; Fossilea also has an immersive area dedicated to oceans of the past. Different perspectives come together here: the collections cover subjects ranging from geology and palaeontology to prehistory, while the immersive area focuses on the oceans of the past.

Fossilea also includes a four-hectare landscaped park. Along a trail, visitors will find, among other things, a prehistoric encampment, animal sculptures and geological information panels. Fossilea’s outdoor trail leads to a geological fault that bears witness to the formation of the Alps. The park’s stops and the fault thus offer different points of reference for exploring geological topics.

A distinct botanical feature is the plantings at Espace Pierres Folles, whose collection comprises 527 species. The four hectares refer to Fossilea’s landscaped park, while the 527 species refer to the botanical plantings at Espace Pierres Folles.

Hiking and route planning

A hiking route from Fossilea follows a ridge path to the centre of Saint-Jean-Des-Vignes and offers views of the Saône Valley. For the hike at Espace Pierres Folles, both the start and finish are in Saint-Jean-Des-Vignes. These details provide different points of reference: the Fossilea route includes a ridge path, a destination in the village centre and views of the valley; the hike at Espace Pierres Folles starts and ends in Saint-Jean-Des-Vignes. Check the current route before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Beaujeu, Denicé, Corcelles-En-Beaujolais, Grézieu-le-Marché, Saint-Genis-Les-Ollières, Savigny, Écully, Jullié.

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