New nugget in sight! A new addition to our almanac of villages to visit around Lyon. It, too, ticks all the escapable boxes. Situated in a valley on the border between the Rhône and Loire departments, this village is a paradise lost in the heart of the Parc Naturel Régional du Pilat.
Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez, the pearl of the Parc Naturel Régional du Pilat
Like Yvoire and Oingt, Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez has been one of France’s “Most Beautiful Villages” since the label was created in 1982. Forty-three years later, in 2025, Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez has reached a new milestone, and not the least: the serious British daily The Times has succumbed to its unique charm (it’s hard to imagine pronouncing Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez with a so-British accent !)
In addition to its verdant surroundings, the village is distinguished by the remarkable preservation of its buildings. Some of the stones have been standing for centuries, but nothing seems to have altered their tranquillity. Is this due to the serenity of the surroundings? Because if there’s one thing Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez has more than anything else, it’s a haven of peace. Marked by 500 years of monastic presence under the motto “Prayer, Solitude and Silence”, it’s easy to imagine that this accumulation of tranquility must have cradled the walls of the place.
France’s only village in a former monastery
As you can see, the monastery played a fundamental role in the chronology of events. Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez is the only village in France to have been established within the walls of a monastery. Founded in the 13th century, it was one of the Rhône’s most important religious sites, as were Baume-les-Messieurs in the Jura and Abondance in Haute-Savoie.
All of these sites prospered for centuries, only to see their fortunes abruptly changed during the French Revolution: looting, fire, destruction… Like Lyon’s Île Barbe, the monastery of Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez also endured its share of hardships. Despite this, its walls were miraculously preserved, enabling the surrounding villagers to settle there and never abandon it. It’s an easy day trip that goes perfectly with a detour to Malleval, another jewel of the region, literally a stone’s throw from Sainte-Croix-de-Jarez. Sometimes, great minds think alike…