Take a day trip just a few kilometers from Lyon! Come and discover our beautiful Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and get away from it all! Lyon Secret presents a selection of the most charming villages around Lyon.
Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez (named one of France’s top villages of 2025 by Times magazine)
This village, in the heart of the Pilat Regional Nature Park, is the only one in France to have been built in a former Carthusian monastery (founded in 1280). La Chartreuse is absolutely exceptional, and can even be visited at night in July and August. In addition, several hiking trails leave from or pass through the village, allowing you to discover the magnificent Pilat region.
👀 Worth seeing: The Chartreuse’s facade and gardens, as well as the stone tunnel that leads you to the stream
🗺️ Getting there: 50 minutes by car from Lyon
❤️ Our favorites: local products like cheese or the famous Chartreuse.
Pérouges
This village is a real treasure. Its history and architecture have earned it a place among the “Most Beautiful Villages in France”. The village is particularly famous for its medieval quarter, considered to be one of the most beautiful in France. Stroll along its steep, cobbled streets and dream of bygone days as you stroll past the 24 buildings listed as Monuments Historiques.
👀 Attractions: the medieval city walls, Sainte-Marie-Madeleine church, Place du Tilleul.
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the A42 (35 min), by TER Meximieux-Pérouges station
❤️ Our favorite: the galette au sucre de Pérouges, an ancestral local dessert dating back to 1912.
Val d’Oingt
Here too we enter the holy of holies. Just 30 kilometers from Lyon in the southern Beaujolais, Val d’Oingt is also considered one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France”. Its ochre facades, so typical of the Pays des Pierrres Dorées, are already attracting our attention and interest. Surrounded by vineyards, the village cultivates a first-rate wine-growing tradition, but also an artistic one! A number of artists and craftsmen have set up shop in the village’s alleyways to help visitors enjoy their visit from A to Z.
👀 Must-sees: the Oingt tower, the village church and the Mechanical Music Museum,
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the A6 (35 min), by TER Bois d’Oingt-Légny station (+ 25 min walk)
❤️ Our favorites: some fifteen artists and art galleries dot the village streets.
Beaujeu
Another must-see in the Lyon area, Beaujeu deserves a real spotlight. If only for its name! Located in the epicenter of the Beaujolais region, this beautiful little town boasts a unique history. It’s the historic capital of Beaujolais, and for that alone, it deserves our attention. In fact, Beaujeu combines the winning triptych of heritage, gastronomy and nature. Of course, we recommend a visit in November, when Beaujolais Nouveau and its Sarmentelles festival are in full swing. A village to come and consume without moderation.
👀 Must-sees: St-Nicolas church (Monument Historique), timber-framed house, remains of the château comtal
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the A6 (50 min)
❤️ Our favorites: taste the region’s wines and discover the Maison du Terroir, place de l’Hôtel de Ville
Crémieu
In the Balcons du Dauphiné, the sublime medieval town of Crémieu seems to have emerged from another era – yet we’re only 12 km from Saint-Exupéry airport! The panorama from the hilltop château (listed as a historic monument) is simply sublime. Don’t miss the 15th-century medieval market hall, whose appearance and function have remained unchanged for 500 years. It’s one of the most beautiful in France. Crémieu is also great for cycling (on the voie verte) and for a gourmet stopover. There’s even an artisanal brewery, so imagine! Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful villages in the region.
👀 Must-sees: the Château Delphinal, the Augustins convent, the covered market halls, the stone houses
🗺️ How to get there: by car via the A43 (40 min)
❤️ Our favorites: a weekly market is held in Crémieu’s magnificent covered market every Wednesday morning.
Saint-Antoine-l’Abbaye
At the gateway to the Vercors mountains and a stopover on the Chemin de Compostelle, Saint-Antoine-l’Abbaye is also classified as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France”. Despite its small size, the village is a real goldmine. Its imposing abbey, founded in the 13th century, obviously attracts attention for its imposing size and excellent state of preservation. The medieval village also retains a wealth of treasures from its glorious past. Between the half-timbered houses, the medieval market hall and the old stilts, you’ll be transported back in time.
👀 Must-See: Saint-Antoine Abbey, Notre-Dame de la Jayère Church
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the A43 (1h30)
❤️ Our favorites its majestic Gothic-style abbey is a jewel in the Dauphiné!
Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez
Also classified as one of France’s most beautiful villages, Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez benefits from a great deal of conservation work thanks to the Association de Sauvegarde de la Chartreuse et du Parc. It is a remarkable village in the Parc Naturel Régional du Pilat.
👀 What to see: the Chartreuse, a former 17th-century monastery with kitchen, large cloister and hermitage.
🗺️ How to get there: by car via the A7 (50 min)
❤️ The Jurieu chapel, high above the village, is also a must-see.
L’Arbresle
This village is intimately linked to the history of Lyon and its rich weaving past. Located just a stone’s throw from Lyon, L’Arbresle has long been considered a stronghold of the fabric trade, particularly silk. Its location between the Monts du Lyonnais and the southern Beaujolais region makes it of prime interest. In short, it’s the perfect place to get away from it all, just a stone’s throw from Lyon, to see the sights and savor the delights. A real editor’s favorite.
👀 Must see: Saint-Jean-Baptiste church, old weavers’ houses
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the A6 (35 min)
❤️ Our favorites you’re on the border of Beaujolais and Coteaux Lyonnais, so why not try a good wine?
Taluyers
If you’re passionate about the medieval period, this village is sure to please. Its history is as rich as its name is hard to pronounce! Taluyers is ideally located just a few kilometers from Lyon and a stone’s throw from the Monts du Lyonnais. Ideal for extending your visit with a hike in the surrounding area). The village was built around a priory founded in the 10th century at the instigation of the Abbot of Cluny. In addition to the priory, the Roman aqueduct of Gier is also worth a visit, as is the Romanesque church dating from the 22nd century.
👀 Must see: the Gier aqueduct, the priory manor house, the Nativity church
🗺️S How to get there: by car via the A7 and A450 (37 min)
❤️ Our favorites are the hiking trails and their spectacular views over the vineyards.
Pont-en-Royans
Pont-en-Royans is a visual poem. It packs so much color and charm into so little. The commune is located in the Vercors Natural Park. It offers a series of hanging houses to be photographed from the river banks or from the Pont Picard. The village is truly peaceful and conducive to relaxation. There are picnic tables and even a waterfall for swimming! Best visited during the summer months.
👀 Must-sees: remains of the fortified castle, Romanesque church, clock tower, hanging houses
🗺️ How to get there: by car via the A43 (1h30 min)
❤️ Our favorites: the Halle Gattégno art center, set in the hanging houses
Bonus from the villages near Lyon: Combloux, the destination of choice for Airbnb in 2025!
Combloux is delighted. The little commune has just been named THE number one destination to visit in the world according to Airbnb in 2025. And when you look at the attributes of the Haute-Savoie village, it’s easy to see why. Ideally positioned opposite the Mont Blanc chain, its views are breathtaking. But that’s not all. In winter, Combloux offers skiing in the major ski areas of Megève, Saint Gervais and Chamonix. In summer, the surrounding hiking trails offer endless combinations of walks. The icing on the cake? A historic village with all the local shops and restaurants.
👀 What to see: breathtaking views of the Aravis massif and Mont-Blanc.
🗺️ Getting there: by train to Sallanches or Saint-Gervais les Bains le Fayet station.
❤️ Our favorite things to do: admire the sunset over Mont-Blanc, the Aiguille de Bionnassay and the Dôme du Goûter (you’ll never see anything more beautiful in your life).