Belleville (Rhone-Alpes): Discovering Its Quaint Charms
The city of Belleville, France is located in the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region in the south east part of the country. It was recently merged into a new commune now known as Belleville-en-Beaujolais. It is a quiet, little town relatively untouched by mass tourism but with some charming attractions of its own. It is near Lyons, the capital of the department. Belleville is accessible through the Mâcon-Charnay Airport (QNX) which is a medium sized airport serving the region of Mâcon/Charnay.
Best Time to Visit
Ideal weather awaits visitors to Belleville and its surrounding areas anytime from mid-April to October. Although not a very popular tourist town, Belleville welcomes more visitors than usual from May to June. However, November is when the town is abuzz as the Nectar Nouveau Fete in Belleville, a culture and wine feast is celebrated with a parade, concerts, live entertainment and street theater. If you plan to be in town for this, prepare to shell out more for your Belleville France hotels as rates increase a bit during this period.
What to Do & Area Attractions
The priory of Sainte Marie de la Tourette on a hillside near Lyon and designed by renowned architect Le Corbusier is one of the must-go places in the area. The St. Jean Cathedral (Lyon Cathedral) which is of the Roman and Gothic style lures visitors with its marvelous architecture. The Textile Museum is another unique cultural heritage that’s worth visiting. At the end of a day of sightseeing, head to your room at Nuit D'un Jour, a homey B&B comfortable snuggled on a park-like estate or you may stay at Château de Pizay, a luxurious chateau hotel amidst landscaped gardens.