The Beaujolais and the Burgundy regions of France are great spots for adventure and including them in a fabulous river cruise is a great idea!

The Beaujolais Region is nicknamed “Little Tuscany” because of its rolling hills covered with vineyards, quaint villages, great wine and beautiful castles. It reminds visitors of Italy’s lovely Tuscany.

Time slows down and enjoyment ramps up when you take a cruise on the Rhône River through the area. No packing and unpacking, leisurely tours through stunning countryside and exciting dinner fare that reflects what is available in the area. Have we piqued your interest? Good! GetAway Travel advisors can help you pick the best cruise to take you through the Beaujolais area.

Let’s talk wine!

 There are wine tours and wine tasting options available everywhere your ship docks, but there’s always something to do if you don’t want to drink wine. The wines are nicely aged reds, easy drinking reds and even some sparkling and white options. The diversity of flavors and textures are due to the different soil types, elevations and microclimates and the gamay grapes.  Each wine carries the distinctive influence of the specific vineyard where it is produced.

The Beaujolais region is larger than any single district of the neighboring Burgundy Region. The vineyards here stretch for four miles along the Saône River. The granite-heavy soils and warmer climate make it ideal for producing lighter flavored grapes and fruity, zesty wines.

There are three distinct wine areas in the region.

The granite soil of the Region of the Crus adds a complexity to the wines which are usually aged for several years. The Beaujolais Villages area has granite and sandy soil. Here, more structured and textured wines are produced and they fare well aged between three and six years. The Regional Appellation Beaujolais area produces very fruity red wines with the help of the clay and limestone soil. Beaujolais Nouveau, white Beaujolais as well as sparking wines are produced here.

Golden Stones Country

 Thirty-nine villages in the southern part of the Beaujolais Region are in the Pierres Dorées (Golden Stones) area. Ochre colored stones were used to build homes and even castles in this area and when the light hits the golden limestone, they shimmer and glow. Oingt, Ternaud, Marcy, Charnay, Jarnioux, Pommiers and Bagnois are among the villages in this area.

Oingt, voted one of the most beautiful villages in France, overlooks the Azerques Valley and surrounding mountains. Panoramic views from the village include the Beaujolais vineyards, the Rhône and Lyon.

There are perfectly preserved half-timbered homes here and charming artisan shops. More than a dozen artists live and have workshops in the village creating everything from distinctive jewelry to kintsugi, a Japanese pottery. The history of mechanical music instruments is chronicled at the Mechanical Music Centre Museum. There are phonographs, music boxes and mechanical pianos.

The Fortress from the Middle Ages used to be the home of the Lords of Oingt. The museum has fossils, carved stones, ceramic items, documents from the middle ages and panoramic views of the area.

Charming villages around the area

 Vienne is actually between the Beaujolais and Burgundy districts. One of the oldest towns in France, you can trace its history through the architecture of the Roman remains. The Roman Temple of Augustus and Livia dates back to the 1st century and the Roman amphitheater in the hills of Mont Pipet is one of the best preserved in France.

Perched on a hill, Pérouges looks like it was carved from bedrock and stone. The setting for numerous movies, including “The Three Musketeers,” it is home to farmers and linen weavers. Make sure you enjoy the town’s specialty, Galettete Pérougienne. It is lemony brioche dough sprinkled with sugar and dotted with butter. As it bakes in a hot oven, the sugar caramelizes. It is served with creme fraîche, whipped cream or sour cream.

Villefranche-sur-Saône is considered the economic capital of the area. It has a great shopping option for one thing. The Mardie Couvert de Villefranche is a covered market in a stunning Art Deco building finished in 1933. A gallery over the first floor has a bar and offers a great view of the stalls below that sell everything anyone would need for a charcuterie board to enjoy with a glass of wine later! The Musée Paul Dini, named for the businessman/collector whose donations helped create the museum, features modern works of art.

Who can resist a wine theme park? It’s in the region, don’t skip it. Hameau Duboeuf is Europe’s premiere wine adventure park and its located in Romanèche-Thorins. George Duboeuf is considered the godfather of Beaujolais wine. Explore 2,000 years of the history of the vintage. Enjoy the wine transport exhibition at an original train station, take a ride on the mini train, there are interactive games and holograms, a video animated tour of the region and a winery, adventure golf, cafés and lovely gardens.

Beaujeu is the historic capital of the district. The Beaujolais Museum is here and the Beaujolais Wine Festival is held here. The Beaujolais Museum, or La Maison du Terroir Beaujolais, has a series of rooms of audiovisual displays that highlight the wine, food and culture of the area. Make room in your luggage — there’s an awesome gift shop.

The beautiful Church of St. Nicholas was created in the Middle Ages by Guichard II of Beaujeu. According to local legend, the church was built where Guichard’s son tragically drowned. The church’s facade is outstanding, but the interior is really lovely, too. Stained glass windows tell the story of various saints, including St. Nicholas and there are fabulous wall murals, statues and paintings.

And now, let’s eat!

 There are fabulous sausages in the restaurants, cafés and bars. Delicious garlicky wonders or sausages with truffles, pistachios and herbs. Quenelles de brochet is pike (yes, pike) dumplings served with creamy crayfish, lobster or mushroom sauce. Gâteau de foie volaille, a restaurant staple, is chicken livers whipped with garlic, eggs and herbs into a mousse and then baked into sort of a souffle. You can also get Salada de foies de volatile, pan fried chicken livers served over salad. Salade Lyonnaise is bitter frisée, crispy bacon pieces, a poached egg and a sharp mustard dressing. Le Tablier de Sapeur is beef tripe slow simmered in a wine and vegetable bouillon. The tripe is marinated in white wine, dredged in bread crumbs and deep fried. It is served with potatoes and a sauce made from hard-boiled eggs, chives and mustard.

Poulet au Vinaigre à la Lyonnaise is chicken cooked in a vinegar sauce with chicken stock, onions, shallots, garlic, tarragon, tomatoes, cream and white wine.

Bugnes are sweet, deep fried strips of dough flavored with vanilla, lemon zest, orange water or rum, twisted into different shapes and dusted with powdered sugar. Taste à la Praline is a Lyonnaise special. A shortbread crust is filled with a mixture of ground almonds, eggs and cream and covered in pink or red sugar.

A vacation packed with adventures in the Beaujolais region of France experienced on a river cruise is the perfect getaway! Travel advisors from GetAway Travel are ready to plan your trip. We can be reached at:  (262) 538-2140, e-mail: sue@getaway.travel or paul@getaway.travel