The great thing about Lyon is that whether you head north or south, just a stone’s throw away or a short drive, you can get away from it all in a flash. Turquoise lakes, hikes in France’s most beautiful mountain ranges, world-famous natural parks… it’s hard to choose. And what about the many villages that dot the map of our beautiful region in every direction?
IMPORTANT: This list is in no particular order and should in no way limit your choices. Once again, wonder exists wherever you choose to find it…
Ranked among the top villages in France by The Times in 2025, this village is located right in the heart of the Pilat Regional Nature Park. It is the only one in France to be built within a former Carthusian monastery (founded in 1280) and for that reason alone is well worth a visit.
👀 Must-see: The façade of the Chartreuse and the gardens, as well as the stone tunnel
🗺️ Getting there: 50 minutes by car from Lyon
❤️ Our favorite: local products like cheese or the famous Chartreuse liqueur.
A key stop on the Camino de Santiago, Saint-Antoine-l’Abbaye is listed among the “Most Beautiful Villages of France” and was named the French people’s favorite village this year. Despite its small size, the village is a true treasure trove of heritage. Its imposing abbey, founded in the 13th century, naturally draws all the attention with its imposing size and excellent state of preservation. Moreover, the medieval village preserves rich treasures from its glorious past. Between the half-timbered houses, the medieval market hall, and the old shops, the journey back in time is complete.
👀 Must-see: Saint-Antoine Abbey, Notre-Dame de la Jayère Church
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the A43 (1.5 hours)
❤️ Our favorite: its majestic Gothic-style abbey is a gem in the Dauphiné!
Here is another village that transports you straight back into the magic of The Lord of the Rings. Polignac, with its fortress— unique in France—is a jewel of our regional heritage that certainly doesn’t lack character. From up there, the view of the surrounding area is breathtaking. Polignac, considered one of the most beautiful villages in France, is an easy getaway from Lyon, and the drive there is lovely!
👀 Must-see: the imposing fortress
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the N88 (1.5 hours)
❤️ Our favorite: the view from the fortress over the Massif Central
This village is a true treasure. Its history and architecture have earned it a place among the “Most Beautiful Villages of France. “ The town is particularly famous for its medieval quarter, considered one of the most beautiful in France. You can stroll through its steep, cobblestone streets and find yourself dreaming of times gone by as you pass its 24 buildings listed as Historic Monuments.
👀 Must-sees: the walls of the Medieval City, Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Church, Place du Tilleul
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the A42 (35 min), by TER train to Meximieux-Pérouges station
❤️ Our favorite: the Pérouges sugar galette, a traditional local dessert dating back to 1912
A small town just a stone’s throw from Lake Bourget, Chanaz also checks all the boxes for an easy getaway from Lyon. People come here for its picturesque village charm and its lush natural surroundings. Rightly nicknamed the “Little Venice of Savoy, ” its canal gives it incredible character, and you’d be doing yourself a disservice to pass it by without stopping!
👀 Must-see: the old stone mill
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the A43 (1.5 hours)
❤️ Our favorite: a drink on one of the terraces along the canal
Here, too, we enter the inner sanctum. Just 30 kilometers from Lyon in southern Beaujolais, Oingt is also considered one of the “Most Beautiful Villages of France.” The ochre-colored facades, so characteristic of the Pays des Pierres Dorées, immediately capture our attention and interest. Surrounded by vineyards, the village cultivates a first-rate winemaking tradition—but also an artistic one! Several artists and artisans have set up shop in the town’s narrow streets, allowing visitors to fully savor their visit from start to finish.
👀 Must-sees: the Oingt Tower, the village church, and the Museum of Mechanical Music,
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the A6 (35 min), by TER train to Bois d’Oingt-Légny station (+ 25 min on foot)
❤️ Our favorite: about fifteen artists and art galleries dot the village’s narrow streets
Riverie offers a 360° panorama and irresistible medieval charm. At nearly 700 meters above sea level in the Monts du Lyonnais, Riverie is one of those villages around Lyon that are well worth the detour: a small town full of character with exceptional views, medieval heritage, and a rich network of trails. Ideal for a day trip from Lyon, it charms visitors with its cobblestone streets, its thousand-year-old castle, and the nature that surrounds it.
👀 Must-sees: The rampart walkway, the hilltop medieval village, and the sweeping view from La Madone.
🗺️ Getting there: About a 45-minute drive from Lyon.
❤️ Our favorite: The exceptional panorama from the village terrace, which offers a breathtaking view on clear days all the way to the Alps and Mont Blanc.
The name Cluny will forever be associated with its abbey, which in its time was one of the epicenters of Christendom. Just an hour from Lyon, right after Mâcon, come (re)discover this gem of our heritage, a contender —just like Vézelay —for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. That says it all…
👀 Must-sees: Cluny Abbey, a must-visit national heritage site, the imposing stud farm, and the cobblestone streets of the town center (not to mention the region’s Burgundian specialties!)
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the A6 (1 hr)
❤️ Our favorite: Cluny Abbey
Balazuc, a veritable open-air museum, looks like it’s straight out of a movie set. On the list of the most beautiful villages to visit near Lyon, Balazuc checks all the boxes: this medieval village perched on a rock overlooking the Ardèche is listed as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages of France” and is brimming with historical sites (Romanesque church, castle, tower, dolmens). Ideal for a getaway from Lyon, it offers an open-air museum and unspoiled charm.
👀 Must-see: The Romanesque Church of Sainte-Madeleine, the 11th-century square keep, and the “calades” (the small, winding cobblestone streets).
🗺️ Getting there: About 2 hours and 15 minutes by car from Lyon (via the A7).
❤️ Our favorite: The short walk along the river to the hamlet of Viel Audon, where you can sample their famous goat cheese.
For many reasons, Yvoire, a medieval village of 1,000 inhabitants, is a true gem. Both its location on the shores of the largest Alpine lake and its picturesque architecture give it a special status. The town has everything you need to enjoy a full day out (castle, garden, cobblestone streets, shops, harbor, terraces). Yvoire, a jewel of the region’s heritage—even in its very name!
👀 Must-see: the shores of Lake Geneva, the medieval town
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the A42 (2 hours)
❤️ Our favorite: the “Jardin des Cinq Sens,” one of the most beautiful gardens in France
In the Balcons du Dauphiné, the sublime medieval town of Crémieu seems to emerge from another era—yet we are only 12 short kilometers from Saint-Exupéry Airport! From its castle (a listed historic monument) on the hill, the view is simply breathtaking. Don’t miss the medieval market hall dating from the 15th century, which has not changed in appearance or function in 500 years. It is one of the most beautiful in France. Crémieu is also a great stop for cyclists (on the greenway) and for a gourmet break. There’s even a craft brewery—just imagine! Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful villages in the region.
👀 Must-sees: the Château Delphinal, the Augustinian Convent, the covered market halls, the stone houses
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the A43 (40 min)
❤️ Our favorite: a weekly market is held under the magnificent Crémieu market hall every Wednesday morning
Just an hour from Lyon lies a medieval town with incredible vitality. Driven by its weekly market—one of the most beautiful in France— Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne is charming even in its name. And what about its architecture, with its remarkably well-preserved facades, flower-adorned footbridges, and cobblestone streets? Every September, a plant market draws visitors from all over Europe. You have to see it to believe it!
👀 Must-see: the 80-meter-long market hall!
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the D66 (1 hr)
❤️ Our favorite: the famous market (every Saturday) and the beautifully preserved architecture
Pont-en-Royans is a visual masterpiece. It packs so much color and charm into such a small space. The town is located in the Vercors Natural Park. It features a row of houses perched on the cliffside, perfect for photographing from the riverbanks or the Picard Bridge. The village is truly peaceful and ideal for relaxation. Picnic tables are set up there, and there’s even a waterfall where you can swim! Best enjoyed during the summer months.
👀 Must-sees: the ruins of the fortified castle, the Romanesque church, the Clock Tower, the hanging houses
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the A43 (1 hour 30 minutes)
❤️ Our favorite: the Halle Gattégno art center, located in the hanging houses
Vogüé, a picturesque medieval village on the banks of the Ardèche. Just a few hours from Lyon, Vogüé checks all the boxes for a picture-perfect village: listed among the “Most Beautiful Villages of France,” this medieval Ardèche village perched on the riverbank charms visitors with its well-preserved castle, its cobblestone streets, and the must-see Rue de la Puce. And while you’re in the area, the article reminds us that the Ardèche region itself is worth a visit, with its gorges, hiking trails, local cuisine, and iconic sites like the Chauvet Cave.
👀 Must-sees: The majestic Château de Vogüé overlooking the village, the amphitheater-like medieval streets, and the houses with stone arcades.
🗺️ Getting there: About 2 hours by car from Lyon (via the A7).
❤️ Our favorite: Enjoy the small beach along the Ardèche River at the foot of the limestone cliffs for a refreshing swim.
Among the most beautiful places to visit near Lyon, Ambierle stands out as a charming little town in the Roanne region, nestled on a hilltop surrounded by vineyards. People come here mainly for its priory, but also for the village atmosphere with its rural museum and shops. It’ s also perfect for hiking!
👀 Must-see: The church and its treasures, such as the stained-glass windows and the 15th-century altarpiece
🗺️ Getting there: 1 hour 20 minutes by car from Lyon, via the A89
❤️ Our favorite: the surrounding vineyards!
The Château de Jarnioux, with its seven towers and 30-meter-high keep, seems straight out of a medieval fairy tale. In the Beaujolais region, Jarnioux, located in the Pays des Pierres Dorées, stands out as a remarkable medieval village, renowned for its seven-towered castle, a listed historic monument. The site offers a backdrop of hills and vineyards reminiscent of Tuscany…
👀 Must-see: The castle entrance and the viaduct of the old Beaujolais railway
🗺️ Getting there: 50 minutes by car from Lyon via the A6
❤️ Our favorite: The Château de Jarnioux
