Lights of Lyon & Beaujolais Nouveau Night

Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of French gastronomy and the iconic Art of Living!

DAY 1 | November 18 (Wednesday): Lights of Lyon & Beaujolais Nouveau Night

• Welcome to Lyon! Group meetup, comfortable transfer, and hotel check-in. Time to refresh after the journey.

• 19:00 – 19:45 | Evening Aperitif Promenade: Our first introduction to Lyon. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the Rhône embankment to get into the culinary spirit.

• 20:00 – 22:00 | Festive Welcome Dinner: Dinner at a traditional Lyonnais restaurantcap). Try some fluffy pike quenelles—an extraordinarily delicate fish soufflé traditionally baked in a clay dish under a rich crayfish sauce (Nantua sauce). Raise your first glass to the start of our journey!

• 10:15 p.m. – 11:45 p.m. | Magic of Nighttime Lyon: Night walk through Presqu’île to the majestic Place des Terreaux. Sparkling lights, festive energy, and anticipation of autumn’s major wine event.

• 00:00 | ✨ Beaujolais Nouveau is here! Join hundreds of locals and visitors at midnight for the official, spectacular opening of the first barrel of Beaujolais Nouveau. Taste the legendary young wine of the 2026 harvest under the open sky!

DAY 2 | November 19 (Thursday): From Silk Secrets to Contemporary Art Masterpieces

• 08:30 – 09:30 | Gourmet Hotel Breakfast: Start the morning with aromatic coffee and flaky French croissants. Warm clothing and comfortable walking shoes are recommended for the historic cobblestone streets.

• 09:30 – 11:00 | Magic of Fourvière Hill: Begin at Lyon’s highest point, the «praying hill.» Visit the magnificent Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière—a pristine white sanctuary shimmering with internal gold mosaics—and enjoy a sweeping panoramic view of Lyon.

• 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Secret Labyrinths of Old Lyon (Old Lyon): Take a walk through the centuries into the Renaissance district. Learn to spot traboules—hidden passageways cutting through residential buildings and courtyard gardens. Conclude with a visit to an authentic silk boutique workshop to touch fine fabrics and learn why European royal courts ordered Lyon silk for centuries.

• 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Lunch at the Legendary Paul Bocuse Market (The Halles of Lyon): Cross the Rhône to France’s gastronomic heartland. Enjoy a luxurious lunch surrounded by displays of the country’s finest delicacies: fresh oysters, foie gras, Madame Richard’s famous cheeses, and a perfectly paired glass of wine.

• 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Comfortable Afternoon Transfer: Relax post-lunch in a comfortable minivan or taxi as we cross the Rhône bridges to the refined Ainay district.

• 15:00 – 16:30 | 18th Lyon Biennale at the Textile Museum (Museum of Fabrics): Step inside an 18th-century mansion opened exclusively for the Lyon Biennale of Contemporary Art. Contemporary art installations interweave with the history of textiles, thread, and light within intimate, elegant rooms.

• 16:30 – 17:30 | Coffee Break in the Antique Quarter: As dusk sets in, warm up inside a refined local tea salon (Tea Room). Sip hot tea or coffee while sampling signature Lyon treats—tartlets and brioches with pink pralines.

• 17:30 | Free Evening: Return to the hotel. Enjoy time to relax, shop, or dine independently at a peaceful pace.

DAY 3 | November 20 (Friday): The French Countryside, Goat Cheeses, and the Beaujeu Cellars

• 8:30–9:30 a.m. | Hotel Breakfast & Check-out

• 09:30 – 10:30 | Scenic Drive to Beaujolais: Travel through pastoral landscapes into the heart of the Beaujolais region.

• 10:30 – 11:45 | Morning at the Farm: Artisan Cheesemaker Visit: Begin the tasting tour at a cozy local dairy farm. Tour the estate, learn how authentic French goat cheeses are crafted, and sample varieties ranging from fresh and airy to aged and tangy.

• 12:00 – 13:30 | Traditional Lunch in Beaujeu: Head to Beaujeu, the historic capital of the region. Enjoy a hearty farm-style lunch of local specialties at a cozy restaurant.

• 14:00 – 16:00 | Meeting the Winemaker: Secrets of Century-Old Cellars: Descend into cool, historic cellars to discover that Beaujolais extends far beyond young Nouveau wines into deep, complex Cru Beaujolais wines (such as Morgon, Fleurie, or Moulin-à-Vent). Enjoy an insightful tasting hosted directly by a hereditary winemaker.

• 16:00 – 17:00 | Drive to Bourg-en-Bresse: Travel to the capital of the historic Bressane region, famed for its royal poultry and fine architecture.

• 17:00 | Hotel Check-in & Relaxation: Settle into the historic Hôtel de France for a two-night stay.

• Evening | Free Time: Take a stroll through the peaceful streets of Bourg-en-Bresse, explore local boutiques, or relax at the hotel.

DAY 4 | November 21 (Saturday): Royal Romance, Fine Dining, and Fairytale Pérouges

• 8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. | Morning in Bourg-en-Bresse: A leisurely breakfast at the hotel.

• 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Royal Monastery of Brou: Take a tour of a masterpiece of Flamboyant Gothic architecture and discover the romantic history of Margaret of Austria and Philibert the Handsome.

• 12:00 – 14:00 | Gastronomic Lunch at Auberge Bressane: Dine opposite the monastery at an iconic restaurant. The highlight: legendary Bresse poultry (Bresse Poultry) in a delicate cream sauce with morel mushrooms—the only poultry in the world protected by an AOP (Appellation d’Origine Protégée) designation.

• 14:00 – 14:45 | Transfer South: Drive through the scenic countryside toward the medieval town of Pérouges.

• 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Pérouges — A Living Medieval Storybook: Step back into the 15th century inside a tiny walled fortress village built entirely of rounded river stones. With no asphalt, cars, or modern signs, stroll along the cobblestone streets and admire the historic linden tree in the main square.

• 4:30 p.m. | Traditional Pérouges Afternoon Tea: Pause at a cozy tavern to sample Galette de Pérouges—a warm, buttery sugar tart infused with lemon zest and caramelized sugar—paired with hot tea or sparkling local Cerdon wine.

• 5:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. | Return Transfer to Bourg-en-Bresse

• Evening | Free Time

DAY 5 | November 22 (Sunday): Gourmet Souvenirs & Departure

• 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Early Hotel Breakfast & Check-out

• 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Return Transfer to Lyon

• 10:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. | Paul Bocuse Market (The Halles of Lyon): Enjoy gourmet souvenir shopping to fill your luggage with French delicacies:

  • Cheeses: Vacuum-sealed Saint-Marcellin or aged Comté from Madame Richard.

  • Charcuterie: Traditional Lyon pistachio sausages (Lyon Sausage) and artisanal pâtés.

  • Sweets: Coussins de Lyon (marzipan and chocolate ganache candies) and pink praline treats.

  • Wine: Selected bottles of Cru Beaujolais.

• 12:00 | Final Transfer: Direct transfer to Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) (~25–30 minutes).

• 12:30 | Airport Arrival & Check-in: Arrival at the terminal 2.5 hours prior to departure (for 15:05 flight).