From the vineyards of Beaujolais to the trails of Alpe d’Huez and the kitchens of Lyon, France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is a destination for wine, food, and culture.
By Leyna Poh
In the southeast of France, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region offers a compelling cross-section of the country’s most defining pleasures – wine, cuisine and nature – each expressed through places that are grounded in local life. These destinations reveal the depth and diversity of a region shaped by flavour, craft, and culture.
Raising a glass
For decades, Beaujolais was defined by its young, light-bodied, fruity red wine. But today, vignerons across the region are turning the spotlight onto its crus — distinct villages like Morgon, Fleurie and Moulin-à-Vent — where Gamay grapes are treated with as much reverence as Pinot Noir in Burgundy.
Beaujolais, France’s second most renowned appellation after Champagne, offers a rich combination of scale, diversity and depth. The region features 12 appellations, including 10 celebrated crus, and is home to over 300 châteaux and more than 200 wine cellars that welcome visitors for tastings and tours.
For instance, a visit to Château Bellevue offers guests a deeper understanding of Beaujolais winemaking. Accompanied by oenologist Élodie Rousselot, visitors are guided through the vaulted cellar, where the architecture of the fermentation tanks themselves becomes a point of conversation. “They’re designed intentionally,” she explains, noting how the shape supports gentle extraction and highlights the character of each vineyard parcel. Her insights offer a rare glimpse into the precision, patience, and passion behind every bottle, deepening guests’ appreciation for the estate’s fresh, structured wines. They are crafted to pair beautifully with the region’s hearty fare such as charcuterie, sausages in red wine, and slow-cooked meats.
A short drive away, Château de Pizay offers a completely different, immersive tasting experience at its Oenothèque — an engaging, self-guided journey through scent, flavour, and terroir. Visitors explore wine profiles via scent diffusers and digital displays before ending with a guided tasting. Outside, manicured French gardens provide a tranquil setting to sip a glass of Morgon or Brouilly under the afternoon sun.
These estates are redefining wine tourism, not as hurried stopovers, but as immersive destinations where visitors can slow down and enjoy a fun, educational experience.
Epicurean altitude
A few hours south, Alpe d’Huez – best known for its steep Tour de France climbs – shifts gears in the off-season, becoming a leisure destination for hikers, cheese lovers, and alpine food enthusiasts. “There’s something for everybody at Alpe d’Huez all year round,” says Sonia Papaveri, team leader at SATA Group Alpe d’Huez Aeon. “Not just the skiers — and no age limits. People come for the scenery, the food, the fresh air. It’s more than just a winter resort.”
Beyond the slopes, the area caters well to non-skiers and leisure travellers with activities like snowshoe hiking, relaxing alpine spas, and scenic cable car rides that unveil sweeping panoramas of the Massif des Grandes Rousses. One unique experience is the La Grotte de Glace, an ice cave carved into the glacier, filled with intricately sculpted ice art, a stop that’s just a short walk from the main slopes.
And when it comes to dining, La Racletterie is a must-visit for those craving the region’s most iconic alpine comfort food. Tucked in a corner of the resort village, the restaurant offers an authentic, hands-on experience where you choose from a variety of raclette cheeses and melt them yourself on individual tabletop grills. The melted cheese is paired with boiled potatoes, pickles, and charcuterie. It’s a rustic, communal meal best enjoyed after a day in the snow or on the trails.
Bouchon, boulevards and bold flavours
At the southern edge of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes sits Lyon, a city that defines French gastronomy but also offers so much more than what’s on the plate. Known for its vibrant food culture and deeply rooted culinary traditions, Lyon is a place where heritage, craftsmanship, and innovation exist side by side.
For a true taste of Lyonnaise cuisine, a visit to a traditional bouchon is essential. These rustic eateries serve dishes that are unapologetically rich, generous, and born of local tradition. At Bouchon Les Lyonnais, tucked into the old streets of Vieux Lyon, the experience feels like stepping into a family kitchen. Wooden tables, vintage posters, and the comforting scent of slow-cooked sauces set the scene. Here unfussy specialties like quenelles de brochet (pike dumplings in crayfish sauce), salade Lyonnaise, and tablier de sapeur (beef tripe) are served.There’s also a well-curated list of local wines to boot. The hearty, unpretentious meal is meant to be shared and lingered over.
Across town at Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, the city’s famed indoor market, locals and visitors come together to taste the best of the region — sausages, cheeses, oysters, and pâtisserie — under one roof. The layers of Lyonnaise cuisine offer something familiar in its depth of flavour and reverence for ingredients, yet entirely new in its expression.
Lyon is also rich with history. The Teatro Galo-Romano, perched on the hillside of Fourvière, is a striking remnant of the city’s Roman past. Just above it, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière crowns the skyline, offering sweeping views across Lyon and the two rivers that divide it. Down below, Place Bellecour, one of Europe’s largest open squares, connects the city’s modern rhythm with its classical architecture — a lively hub perfect for strolling, shopping, or simply watching the world go by.
No visit to Lyon is complete without wandering through the Traboules — hidden passageways that thread between buildings in the old quarters of Vieux Lyon and La Croix-Rousse. Originally used by silk workers, these narrow, secret corridors are now a symbol of Lyon’s layered past. To walk through them is to feel the texture of the city, feeling its shadows and centuries-old charm.
Lyon is also an excellent base to explore the wider Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, offering seamless access to both Beaujolais and the Alps. But the city itself rewards time and curiosity, offering a full-bodied experience of French culture — one that speaks through its food, its streets, and its sense of place.
Getting there
France is best explored by train, and Lyon is no exception. With TGV INOUI’s high-speed rail services, getting from Paris to Lyon takes just two hours and eight minutes, making it an ideal gateway to the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Operated by the French national rail network (SNCF), these trains travel at over 300km/h and offer both First and Second-Class coaches designed for comfort — whether you’re working, relaxing, or travelling with family and friends. You can book individual tickets or Eurail Passes via www.raileurope.com or through Rail Europe’s accredited partners, with fares starting from €46. From Lyon, regional trains also connect easily to Beaujolais and the Alps, allowing you to explore more of the region with ease and flexibility.
