Attractions and Places To See around Cercié - Top 20

The region around Cercié is rich in history. You can visit several châteaux, including Château de Corcelles (15th-century with ancient winery tours), Château de Longsard (17th-century), Château de Montmelas (featuring six crenelated towers), and Château de la Terrière in Cercié itself, known for its 14th-15th century gate. Another notable historical site is Ferme Sainte-Marie in Saint-Étienne-la-Varenne, which offers splendid views and a rich heritage, including its role during WWII.

Absolutely. The area boasts stunning natural beauty and panoramic views. The Rochefort Cross offers superb panoramas of the Beaujolais mountains, Monts d'Or, Mont Brouilly, and even the Alps on clear days. Mont Brouilly, an iconic hill, provides breathtaking 360-degree views with its slopes covered in vineyards. You can also find the Cross of Forces, which offers a beautiful panorama towards the Rhône valley.

Cercié is at the heart of the Beaujolais wine region, offering numerous opportunities to explore its viticultural heritage. You can visit vineyards like Domaine de la Voute des Crozes - Vignoble Chanrion, Domaine Rocfêtre, and Domaine des Deux Fontaines. Many châteaux, such as Château de Corcelles and Château de la Terrière, are also wine-producing estates, offering insights into local winemaking traditions.

Yes, several spots are suitable for families. The Cross of Forces is marked as family-friendly and has a picnic table nearby, perfect for a scenic stop. Exploring the historic Windmill, a 15th-century monument, can also be an engaging experience for all ages, showcasing how elements were harnessed in older times. Many local gardens, such as Jardin Du Château De Montmelas and Les Jardins Aquatiques Et Son Musee, also offer pleasant outings for families.

The area around Cercié is excellent for outdoor enthusiasts. You can find various routes for gravel biking, mountain biking, and running. For gravel biking, explore routes like 'La Voie Bleue – View of Mont Brouilly loop from Belleville-sur-Saône'. Mountain bikers can tackle trails such as 'Ferme Sainte-Marie – Morillon Ridge loop from Quincié-en-Beaujolais'. Runners can enjoy the 'Mont Brouilly Loop' or 'Running loop from Cercié'. For more details on these and other routes, visit the respective guide pages: Gravel biking around Cercié, MTB Trails around Cercié, and Running Trails around Cercié.

Yes, hiking is a popular activity. The area around Ferme Sainte-Marie in Saint-Étienne-la-Varenne offers several trails to discover local flora and fauna, with a popular hike starting from the village center. The 'Mont Brouilly Loop' is a moderate running trail that can also be enjoyed as a hike. For more hiking options, check the Running Trails around Cercié guide, which includes routes suitable for walking.

Mont Brouilly is an iconic natural monument in the Beaujolais region. It offers stunning 360-degree panoramic views, and its slopes are covered in vineyards known for their unique volcanic soil, which imparts a distinct taste to the local wine. At its summit, you'll find the Notre-Dame-des-Raisins chapel, built in 1854 to protect the vineyards from adverse weather and disease.

Yes, you can visit the historic Windmill, a 15th-century monument. It is the only one in Beaujolais and Mâconnais that has preserved its large wooden guivre, which was used to orient the wings towards the wind. It stands as a testament to the ingenuity of earlier generations in harnessing natural elements for purposes like grinding grain or pressing oil.

Beaujeu is a historically significant town near Cercié, notable for being the place that gave its name to the entire Beaujolais region. It features the Romanesque church of St-Nicolas and a charming Renaissance half-timbered house, offering a glimpse into the area's rich past.

Yes, for a different perspective of the region, river cruises are available from Belleville/Pont-de-Vaux. These cruises often include commented trips, passages through locks, and onboard meals, sometimes even incorporating visits to local museums, providing a relaxing way to see the landscape.

From the Rochefort Cross, which is the highest point of its circuit, you can enjoy a superb panorama. This includes sweeping views of the Beaujolais mountains, the Monts d'Or, Mont Brouilly, the Lyonnais mountains, and on exceptionally clear days, even the distant Alps. An orientation table helps identify the various landmarks.

Yes, the region has several religious sites. The Rochefort Cross and the Cross of Forces are both man-made monuments with religious significance, often erected as signs of popular piety. Additionally, the Église de Saint Jacques des Arrêts is a Romanesque church that serves as a stop for pilgrims on the route to Compostelle and hosts a permanent exhibition of paintings by Jean Fusaro.