We have welcomed the visit of Chris’s parents as a chance to faire le touriste for a week or so. This morning we took them round the Beaujolais wine region. This is surprisingly close as it starts at Mâcon. If you go west from the Mâcon-Loché railway station you soon come upon a panoramic view of Fuissé with the Roche de Solutré beyond.
The view over Fuissé
At Fuissé we stopped to visit the neo-gothic church, more like a cathedral, set amongst the vines. It looks very ancient but at 1872 it is considerably newer than La Maison du Curé.
The next stop was at Fleurie with a cave by an impressive trompe d’oeil .
The trompe d'oeil at Fleurie
Fun with a painted wall!
We stopped to compare the 2009 vintage, which we had enjoyed before, to the 2010 version. We decided on the fruitier 2009, a good year for the gamay wines.
The Beaujolais wine route is 23km long with caves producing nine grands crus. Within a short distance are Chénas, Chiroubles, Fleurie, Juliénas, Morgon, Moulin à Vent, Régnié and St-Amour.
There is a wonderful restaurant called La Terrasse near Chiroubles. It set on a hillside with a view of the whole of Beaujolais. We intended to stop here for coffee but unfortunately it is closed for renovation. Another time!
Progressing clockwise around the wine route brings you back past the lake at St Point and the Chateau de Lamartine, the famous poet. This is open to the public and you can visit the chapel where he is buried.
I would thoroughly recommend a tour round Beaujolais for the magnificent scenery, romanesque churches and ancient wine villages. And a spot of wine tasting of course.
