The Priory of Saint-Martin de Salles - Beaujolais - Salles-Arbuissonnas

In Salles-Arbuissonnas, the priory reveals its golden stone walls and Cluniac heritage. Between religious history and canonesses and countesses, the site opens onto unique panoramas: from Mont Brouilly to the hillsides of Beaujolais.

You'll love:
• The priory, an architectural gem that blends golden stone with Romanesque art.
• Its unique history, marked by the monks of Cluny and the canonesses.
• The panoramas: Mont Brouilly overlooked by the Notre-Dame-des-Raisins chapel, the Alps, and the beautiful view overlooking the village of Salles-Arbuissonnas.

You'll enjoy it best:
• Between mid-May and mid-June, breathing in the subtle scent of vine blossom.
• In the fall, when the sun enhances the gold and garnet hues of the vineyard.
• During the harvest, experiencing the excitement and atmosphere that precedes the preparation of the new vintage.
• During the first pressing, tasting the Paradise, the sweet grape juice that flows into the press.

A bit of culture:
The worldly nuns of the priory
The origins of the priory date back to the 12th century. The Romanesque cloister, built by monks under the authority of the Abbot of Cluny, is its vestige. Later, nuns took over the premises and established a form of social life. Noble families placed their daughters there to find husbands. In 1779, these young women were granted the title of canonesses-countesses. On either side of the main courtyard, one can still admire the houses built for their comfort. The "little story" will remember the name of the most famous of them, Alix des Roys, mother of the writer Alphonse de Lamartine.
The Tacot Viaduct
The engineering structure located below the village was part of the Beaujolais Railway network, which had two lines departing from Villefranche. The old wagon that served Salles went as far as Monsols in the Haut Beaujolais region.
The vineyard
The wine-growing hillsides that shape the Salles landscape are entirely classified as AOC Beaujolais-Village.