Oingt In The Beaujolais: A Journey Through Time And Light
Perched in the heart of the Beaujolais hills, Oingt, ranked among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, offers visitors a unique spectacle at every moment of the day. This medieval village, built from golden stone, captures and reflects light in a magical way. We invite you to follow the thread of light and time to discover this medieval village from a new perspective.
The morning: the awakening of golden stones
In the early hours of the day, the village of Oingt in the Rhône department awakens under the light of the rising sun. If you're an early riser, you can admire the cobblestone streets and medieval houses bathed in a gentle glow and take advantage of this golden hour to capture beautiful photos.
The morning sun awakens the ochre stone walls, making them shine with a peaceful radiance. The village houses were built from a local and inexpensive ochre limestone called the "golden stone."
To enjoy the spectacle, start your day with a walk through the historic village, where some houses date back to the 13th century. Starting from the Nizy gate, the main entrance to the medieval village, you can wander the sloping streets and reach the Church of Saint-Mathieu, whose stones light up in the morning.
Then climb to the Tower of Oingt, the former keep of the feudal castle. From its summit, you'll have an unobstructed view of Beaujolais and might even spot Mont Blanc on a clear day.
At noon: the brilliance of the sun at its zenith
Between noon and 2 p.m., when the sun is at its highest, the golden stones of Oingt shine with a particular intensity, as if the village were made of gold. It's the perfect time to wander through its alleys and discover the artisan shops and art galleries. The village's gentle way of life has attracted many artisans, painters, stained-glass artists, potters, and jewelers who offer their creations.
For lunch, settle into one of the traditional restaurants and taste Beaujolais specialties like the famous "cervelle de canut" and local wines. In the surrounding area, five estates produce AOP Beaujolais. It is, in fact, the first vineyard in the world to bear the UNESCO Global Geopark label.
After this well-deserved break, take advantage of the bright early afternoon light to explore the surroundings of the village by taking the hiking trails that wind through the vineyards gilded by the sun.
If the sun isn't shining, plan a visit to the Mechanical Music Museum instead. Its collections of ancient instruments and music boxes will take you on a journey through time in an equally poetic and original way.
In the late afternoon: the sunset on the golden stones
The highlight of the show begins at dusk. As soon as the sun sets, a warm golden light envelops the village of Oingt in an otherworldly atmosphere. With its stones more golden than ever, this medieval town seems straight out of a dream.
Sunset is the best time of day to photograph the village from the Tour d'Oingt or from an outside vantage point while strolling through the surrounding vineyards.
In this timeless setting, the landscapes are tinged with golden hues at different times of the day. Let yourself be guided by these plays of light to discover the alleys and medieval remains in their most beautiful splendor. In the Land of Golden Stones, each moment of the day offers a new perspective and invites a new discovery.
