France food tour: taste Eastern France

Welcome to your France food tour. On arrival in Lyon, your private driver will greet you and transfer you comfortably to your centrally located accommodation, setting the tone for your France travel.

After settling in, step out to explore the city’s renowned culinary scene at your own pace. From traditional bouchons to contemporary bistros, discover regional specialties such as charcuterie, local cheeses, and Lyon’s signature pink praline creations.

With your personalized roadbook in hand, uncover the best places to eat, drink, and explore, guided by insider recommendations that bring the city to life.

Discover the gourmet heart of Lyon on a private food tour led by a local guide with deep expertise in gastronomy. Explore the renowned Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse and the city center while tasting a selection of refined Lyonnais specialties.

Along the way, learn about the legacy of Paul Bocuse, the influential Mothers chefs, and the traditions behind the city’s famous bouchons.

Continue with a sensory tasting experience featuring Chartreuse Verte in a confectionery known for its crystallized flowers. Conclude with a private visit to a Made in France workshop, where you will see hand-painted silk velvet craftsmanship, accompanied by a glass of Cerdon sparkling wine.

Enjoy a full-day culinary experience in central Lyon, a highlight of any food-focused France itinerary. Meet your chef at the city’s largest outdoor market, where you will select fresh seasonal ingredients and visit a local boulangerie and fromagerie.

Back in the kitchen, take part in a hands-on cooking class as you prepare a classic French meal inspired by the market. Learn practical techniques, taste each step along the way, and gain ideas you can easily recreate at home.

Begin your journey into the countryside with a private transfer to your charming guest house in northern Beaujolais, marking the next stage of your France food tour.

After settling in, enjoy a guided wine tasting that introduces the distinctive wines of eastern France and the character of the region. Over the coming days, follow quiet country lanes and well-marked paths between guest houses, with gentle ascents and descents shaping each walk.

Routes can be stony in places, so good walking boots are recommended. With flexible daily options, you can adjust each route to suit your pace and level of challenge.

Set out from Fuissé toward the border of Beaujolais and southern Burgundy, walking through a landscape shaped by vineyards and rolling hills. Pause in the stone villages of Chasselas and Leynes, where time seems to move at a slower pace.

Continue along quiet paths through gentle valleys to the village of Jullié and the 17th-century Château de la Roche. Your day ends at a welcoming guest house set among the vines below Vauxrenard.

In the evening, enjoy a relaxed tasting of local wines, including Juliénas, Brouilly, and Beaujolais Villages, a perfect introduction to the region’s character.

Walk from Vauxrenard through the quiet Mauvaise Valley, descending toward the lively village of Juliénas, one of the best places to visit in France for wine lovers. Pause to sample local wines at the cave cooperative set inside a former church.

Continue through the renowned vineyards of Chénas and Moulin à Vent, with opportunities to stop for tastings along the way. Arrive in Fleurie, where a welcoming guesthouse awaits, along with a wine tasting and an evening meal in a village restaurant.

Continue your France food tour with a scenic walk from Fleurie, passing through its charming streets before climbing to the Chapelle de la Madone. From here, take in sweeping views across Beaujolais and, on clear days, as far as Mont Blanc.

Follow a picturesque ridge above steep vineyard slopes and traditional farmsteads, walking toward the upper edge of the Chiroubles vineyards. Your day ends at a welcoming guest house, where you can enjoy a relaxed wine tasting and take in the panoramic views after a rewarding hike.

Walk from Chiroubles down into the Ardieres Valley, following a gentle route through vineyards, quiet hamlets, and past historic châteaux. The landscape opens gradually, offering a relaxed and scenic day on foot.

Pause in Régnié Durette to admire its distinctive double spired church of white limestone and take in wide views across Beaujolais. Continue toward Beaujeu, the historic capital of the region, where your guest house awaits.

Here, enjoy a tasting of Régnié, the last of the ten Beaujolais Crus to receive its own designation, alongside other specialties from eastern France.

After breakfast in Beaujeu, transfer to the station for a scenic train journey to Beaune, continuing your France food tour into the heart of Burgundy. On arrival, walk to your nearby hotel and settle in at your own pace.

Spend time exploring Beaune’s cobbled streets and historic center, guided by our tailor-made roadbook. Discover inviting bakeries offering buttery croissants and regional specialties, browse small artisan boutiques, and meet local producers.

Complete the day with intimate wine tastings that showcase the elegance and finesse of eastern France’s vineyards.

Enjoy a relaxed morning in Beaune, taking time to experience the town at your own pace, from café terraces to cobbled streets that capture the character of Burgundy.

Visit the Hospices de Beaune, a landmark of regional architecture founded under Duke Philip the Good. Explore its distinctive tiled roof, historic hospital rooms, and wine cellars that continue to support its charitable legacy.

The rest of the day is yours to shape, with opportunities to explore the Route des Grands Crus, including cellar visits and wine tastings tailored to your interests.

Enjoy a relaxed morning in Beaune before making your way to the Côte de Beaune for a guided cycling tour through vineyards, villages, and open countryside. Ride through the Côte de Beaune and Hautes Côtes, taking in scenic viewpoints and the fresh country air along the way.

Pause near Montrachet Grand Cru for a tasting among the vines, learning how Burgundy’s soils and grape varieties shape its distinctive wines. Continue with a gourmet lunch, then cycle along quiet paths past some of the region’s most renowned wine villages.

Conclude with a visit to a local winemaker in Pommard, where you will explore a traditional stone cellar and enjoy a tasting before returning to Beaune by vehicle.

Make your way to Beaune station, with time for a final stroll through this charming wine town before your departure. Take in the atmosphere one last time as you pass through its historic streets and local shops.

Board your train to Charles de Gaulle Airport, usually with a connection, bringing your France food tour to a close. Your departure can be tailored to match your flight schedule, ensuring a smooth and relaxed end to your journey.

As you leave, the flavors, vineyards, and villages of France remain as lasting memories of your experience.