Saint-Lager: Wine, Trails and Chapel

The Espace des Brouilly gives Saint-Lager a tangible connection to wine; Mont Brouilly adds trails, viewpoints and the Notre-Dame-des-Raisins Chapel as distinct attractions. Clear distinctions help you choose: the trails are described by length and difficulty, the cycling micro-adventure route also includes a duration, and the pilgrimage takes place on a fixed date each year.

Panoramas and nature on Mont Brouilly

Mont Brouilly offers two panoramas: one looks towards the Alps from a viewpoint with an orientation table, and the other towards the Massif Central. These two outlooks give landscape exploration a clear focus. A geoscope explains the geology of Beaujolais; interpretive trails add illustrated panels and imaginative sculptures. Mont Brouilly is also recommended for stargazing. Here, you can explore the landscape in different ways: by looking into the distance, learning about geology and taking in the night sky.

Walking trails and what they offer

Mont Brouilly has three walking trails ranging from 1.5 to 4 km in length, with easy to moderate difficulty levels. The 3 km Sentier des Bois is a botanical trail that explores the plant life and landscape of Mont Brouilly. The Sentier Clos Vitis is 4 km long and includes three observation posts with explanatory panels and sighting markers. The named trails have different focuses: the Sentier des Bois centres on plant life and landscape, while the Sentier Clos Vitis features equipped observation posts. The comparison is clear: 3 km with a botanical focus versus 4 km with three stops.

Cycling to Mont Brouilly

The cycling route for the “In the land of blue stone” micro-adventure leads to Mont Brouilly, in the land of blue stone. The route is rated moderate and takes two hours. This duration provides a practical framework for planning your day; the difficulty level is also a factor to consider. While walking trails are described primarily by their length and difficulty, the cycling route can also be assessed by its stated duration.

Chapel and pilgrimage

At the summit of Mont Brouilly, at an elevation of 483 m, stands the 19th-century Notre-Dame-des-Raisins Chapel. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary so that she would protect the vineyards from hail, frost and powdery mildew. The chapel thus connects religious history with the challenges of winegrowing. A well-known pilgrimage has taken place there every year on 8 September since 1857. If you are travelling specifically for this occasion, check the date in advance; the fixed date makes the pilgrimage a clearly defined part of your trip planning.

Vines and wine in Saint-Lager

The “Veni Vedi Vitis” experience explores the vine in all its forms, from wild vines to today’s grape varieties. The guided tour is followed by a guided tasting at the Espace des Brouilly. Located in Saint-Lager, the Espace des Brouilly is a tasting room and a shop selling Brouilly and Côte de Brouilly wines from independent producers. One route also includes a stop there. The experience covers everything from the development of the vine to wines from independent producers, with the guided tasting providing a practical component.

Clos Vitis also refers to a conservatory in Saint-Lager devoted to the vine, its history and its many uses. It should not be confused with the 4 km Sentier Clos Vitis of the same name on Mont Brouilly: the trail centres on its three observation posts, while the conservatory focuses on the vine and its history.

Discover more destinations: Meyzieu, Couzon-au-Mont-d'Or, Vernay, Genay, Chénas, Cours-La-Ville, Chassagny, Saint-Genis-Laval.

For the broader travel overview: Rhône.