Jongieux: Wine Country, Walking Routes and Culture

Jongieux is shaped by winegrowing and combines an expansive wine landscape with named walking routes, tasting opportunities and historic buildings. The Site viticole des crus de Jongieux et de Marestel includes Jongieux and covers 1,785 hectares. If you are looking for a hotel in Jongieux, you can choose where to stay according to which of these aspects takes priority for your trip: the hilly landscape of the Cru, encounters with local wine producers, or the history of individual chapels and churches. The following places and offerings show how these interests differ.

Wine Country and Trails

The Cru-Jongieux winegrowing area lies between 250 and 500 metres above sea level and is framed by Mont de la Charvaz and the meanders of the Rhône. The area offers numerous panoramic views over hills and valleys. The classified Site viticole of the Crus of Jongieux and Marestel is considered picturesque and is freely accessible. The Chemin de Compostelle crosses the entire winegrowing area. The municipality also provides the Circuit du vignoble de Jongieux and Grand Tour de la Charvaz walking routes for download. This gives you a route described as connecting to the pilgrimage route, as well as two specifically named municipal walking routes, as different starting points for planning. Check route conditions before setting out on a specific walk.

Tastings and Winery Visits

The wine producers’ offerings differ both in focus and in how visits need to be planned. Château de la Mar offers wine tastings and wine sales at its estate in Jongieux; check opening arrangements before your visit. Vineyard tours at Domaine Carrel François et fils are available by appointment. Domaine Carrel & Senger offers tours and tastings by advance reservation; weekend bookings are also available. At Domaine Dupasquier, the focus is on guided tastings where you can discover rare grape varieties from Savoie. Agree on the visit arrangements in advance. La Cave du Prieuré offers tastings of wines made from the Barlet family’s own harvest. Here too, it is advisable to check the visit arrangements in advance.

Chapel, Church and Priory

The Chapelle Saint Romain was rebuilt by volunteers from Jongieux with support from local businesses and inaugurated on 20 August 1995. The chapel offers an impressive view; exact access conditions may vary. Excavations at the chapel uncovered, among other things, a slab from a Roman lararium and a stele dedicated to the Gallic god Silvanus. The present-day Église Saint-Maurice was built in Aimavigne in 1884. La Cave du Prieuré provides another historic link to the Chemin de Compostelle: it is located in a former priory dating from the 10th century on the Way of St James. Together, these places reveal different aspects of Jongieux’s history, from archaeological finds and religious buildings to the historic site now associated with wine tastings.

Discover more destinations: Valezan, Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne, Crest-Voland, Saint-Pancrace, Saint-Marcel, Saint-Pierre-De-Genebroz, Notre-Dame-De-Bellecombe, La Trinité.

For the overview of the wider region: Savoie.