Beaujolais - Burgundy - Brionnais: The 3 Regions Tour

By cycling through the Beaujolais, the southern Burgundy and the eastern Charolais, you will experience an ever changing upland landscape of vineyards, patchwork fields, woodland and quaint villages.

The Beaujolais region, located to the north and east of Lyon, forms a series of elegant rolling hills summiting around 1000m above sea level. The character of the hills change with altitude as the vines give way to forests and pastures.

The hills of the southern Burgundy are lower, although a number of rocky outcrops punctuate the Chardonnay vineyards to create an area of rich contrasts. It is also a region full of architectural delights, such as the town of Cluny, beautiful villages and historic chateaux. Both the Burgundy and Beaujolais are well-known for their fine wine and gastronomic food, a reputation that is richly deserved.

Further west you'll discover the Brionnais/Charolais, an area synonymous with beef cattle, where a patchwork of fields create an intimate landscape reminiscent of England.

Days 4 and 6, involve unavoidable ascents of 300m and follow undulating, hilly terrain. The ascents follow routes that climb gently to the cols with gradients that are generally no more than 5 or 6%. However, most days involve no more than 40 km or 25 miles cycling. In addition there are two days where you may take a rest. For those looking to increase the challenge, a number of extensions or alternatives to the normal routes are possible.

Highlights

• Varied cycling through vines, pastures and forests
• Sweeping views across rolling countryside
• Wine tasting visits possible in a region famous for its gastronomic delights
• Beautiful towns and villages with historic chateaux, abbeys and churches
• A dedicated off-road cycle path for some of the holiday