Go on an expedition just a few kilometers by car from Lyon, in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and elsewhere (max 2h drive), and break the daily routine without breaking your piggy bank. Lyon Secret presents its top list of the most charming villages around Lyon and travel ideas for your extended weekends.
Pérouges
This fortified medieval village, some 30 km from Lyon, is a veritable nugget: stroll along its steep, cobbled streets and dream of bygone days as you stroll through its 24 listed buildings.
👀 Attractions: the walls of the medieval town, Ste-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.
Oingt
Renamed Val d’Oingt in 2017 following its merger with neighboring communes, this small Beaujolais village is one of the jewels in the crown of what is known as “le Pays des Pierres Dorées”, where winemakers and craftsmen together cultivate terroir and creativity.
👀 Must-sees: Oingt tower, mechanical music museum, village church
🗺️ 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.
Pont-en-Royans
With its 16th-century medieval architecture and colorful houses perched on the side of the valley, the breathtaking village of Pont-en-Royans is sure to add poetry and enchantment to your photographs. Its charm seems timeless.
👀 Things to see: the remains of the fortified castle, the Romanesque church, the clock tower, the 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
Lovagny
Situated halfway between Lac du Bourget, Lac Léman and Lac d’Annecy (that’s how much there is to visit in the area!), the commune of Lovagny is remarkable for its splendid 13th-15th century fortified castle, Château de Montrottier.
👀 Must-See: Château de Montrottier, Annonciation-de-Marie Church
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the A43 (1h30 min)
❤️ Our favorites: nearby, the Gorges du Fier can be visited via a suspended footbridge.
Beaujeu
Fancy getting lost in the maze of vineyards? In the midst of the magnificent Beaujolais vineyards, the village of Beaujeu (formerly the historic capital of Beaujolais) offers magnificent views over the green hills of this magnificent – and photogenic – region.
👀 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 region of Isère, the sublime medieval town of Crémieu seems to have emerged from another era – yet we’re only 12 km from St-Exupéry airport! From its hilltop castle, the panorama is sublime. One of the most beautiful villages to visit near Lyon!
👀 What to see: the Château Delphinal, the Augustins convent, the covered market halls, the stone houses…
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the A43 (45 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, Saint-Antoine-l’Abbaye, listed as one of France’s most beautiful villages, offers a thousand wonders just 1h30 from Lyon: its imposing Gothic abbey, half-timbered houses, medieval market hall, old shops…
👀 Must-See: Saint-Antoine Abbey, Notre-Dame de la Jayère Church
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the A43 (1h30)
❤️ Notre coups de coeur 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
If you’re interested in the history of Lyon’s weavers, you’ll want to visit L’Arbresle, in the Monts du Lyonnais, a former silk town. Take a look at the old canuts’ houses, the church and the ancient castle.
👀 Must-sees: Saint-Jean-Baptiste church, old weavers’ houses
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the A6 (35 min)
❤️ Our favorites you’re on the border of the Beaujolais and Coteaux Lyonnais regions, so why not try a good wine?
Lavoûte-sur-Loire
Lavoûte-sur-Loire is famous for its Château de Lavoûte-Polignac, whose classical Renaissance style dates back to the 10th-19th centuries, although its Romanesque church and numerous bathing spots on the banks of the Loire are also of interest.
👀 Must-See: Château de Lavoûte-Polignac, Saint-Maurice Romanesque church, Loire river banks
🗺️ How to get there: by car via the N88 (1h30 min)
❤️ Our favorites Château de Lavoûte can be a good starting point for an excursion to the châteaux of the Loire Valley.
Taluyers
If you’re passionate about the medieval era, this is the village for you! Just 20 km from Lyon, Taluyers proudly stands at the top of the list of must-see destinations for heritage travelers (according to AirBnb). Who said villages of 2,000 inhabitants weren’t at the top of the trend?
👀 Must-sees: the Gier aqueduct, the prieural manor house, the Nativity church
🗺️S How to get there: by car via the A7 and A450 (37 min)
❤️ Our favorite hiking trails and their spectacular views over the vineyards!
Vufflens and its castle (Switzerland)
The Château de Vufflens is an architectural gem steeped in history. Built in the Middle Ages, this impressive edifice with its 60-metre-high keep is a listed historic monument. If you can’t visit the castle from the inside, you can admire it while strolling through the vineyards between Vufflens-le-Château and Denens.
👀 What to see: the vineyards and, above all, the view of the castle from the vineyards.
🗺️ Getting there: by car via the A2, A40 and A1 (2h15)
❤️ Our favorites from the vineyards, where you’ll admire the castle, you’ll also have a breathtaking view of the lake and Mont-Blanc!
Bonus: Combloux, the destination of choice for Airbnb in 2025!
Combloux is delighted to have been named THE world’s top destination to visit by 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 location affords a breathtaking view of Europe’s highest peak, no less! 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: watch the sun set over Mont-Blanc, the Aiguille de Bionnassay and the Dôme du Goûter (you’ll never see anything more beautiful in your life).