If you are on a culinary study trip in the Rhône-Alpes region, you will definitely not miss this place: the Paul Bocuse restaurant in Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or, around four kilometers from Lyon. In this tranquil village on the beautiful Saône, a tributary of the Rhône, French haute cuisine has one of its most important centers. For 50 years now, the Paul Bocuse restaurant with the official name “L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges” has been awarded three Michelin stars on a regular basis. And that without any interruption, year after year. A lonely record among all restaurants recognized by the Michelin Guide worldwide. “One of the best kitchens – worth a trip,” says Michelin soberly about Bocuse’s unique gourmet temple, which the Frenchman is already running in the third generation.
The Paul Bocuse restaurant
The “L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges” bears the signature of the national hero of the “Grand Nation” who was named “Chef of the Century” in 1989: colorful and organic, like a market stall in a Savoyard village, natural building materials; consistently regional ingredients and a thoroughly personal atmosphere. The restaurant is divided into three different salons with a total of 100 seats. The rooms are each dedicated to Bocuse’s parents and Bocuse’s former master Fernand Point. At Fernand Point, Bocuse perfected his culinary knowledge at a young age.
Classic French cuisine from the Rhône-Alpes region
The classic main courses that are served at “L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges” include sole fillet with noodles, red mullet with crispy potato flakes or veal chops with fresh spring vegetables. The master’s famous black truffle soup is still popular with Bocuse fans who make pilgrimages to Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or from all over the world. Bocuse created this for the French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing in the 1970s. Classic French cuisine is still the focus of Bocuse’s culinary art today. The portions are anything but modest. A feast for the senses and an unforgettable experience for every gourmet in the footsteps of the great master of French cuisine.
Chamonix and Montblanc
Breathtaking alpine scenery and the flair of a high mountain town ─ that is Chamonix. The city, located at the foot of Montblanc, the highest mountain in the Alpine region, is considered the center of mountaineering in France and the actual birthplace of international mountain sports. The first Olympic Winter Games in history were held here in 1924. But Chamonix is much more than a glamorous ski resort at over 1,000 meters above sea level. Since the end of the 18th century, adventurers, researchers, mineral collectors and mountaineering tourists from all over Europe have regularly gathered in Chamonix, especially during the summer months. The most famous of these desperados of the mountain air, the historical conquerors of Mont Blanc from 1786, have even been erected in the center of Chamonix: Horace Bénédict de Saussure and Jacques Balmat. Your history,
Discover the fascinating history of mountain sports
A visit to Chamonix is definitely worthwhile, especially for travelers interested in the history of culture and science. The city’s various museums and monuments are like a study trip in the footsteps of Europe’s last adventurers. Absolute highlights are the “Musée alpin” alpine museum, the crystal and mineral museum of Chamonix and finally the so-called “Maison de la Mémoire et du Patrimoine”. All houses dedicate impressive exhibitions to the history of alpinism and the exploration of the Alpine region.
Alpine mountains with spectacular views
Above all, the historical evidence of early mountain sports arouse the desire in many visitors to get a little closer to the majestic mountains of the Western Alps region. Chamonix is still the perfect starting point for this. Even a tour to the nearby “Glacier des Bossons”, a huge glacier that extends far into the valley, is worthwhile for every alpine hiker. No less spectacular, but much more comfortable: a ride on the mountain railway from Chamonix to the Aiguille du Midi rock needle at 3,842 meters. Here nature is once again the greatest attraction and offers an unforgettable view of Mont Blanc and the vast mountains of the high alpine department of Haute-Savoie.
Chateau de Bagnols
A stylish gem of Gothic architecture in the Beaujolais vineyards
where kings already lodged
The 13th century Château de Bagnols is an exceptional monument of historical importance. Today it houses a 5-star hotel. The medieval towers made of ocher-colored stones are an eye-catcher from afar. The castle makes the village of Bagnols a special landmark. A moat with a drawbridge is stylishly embedded in a splendidly designed garden with a Roman swimming pool. A modern glass roof over the inner courtyard and an orchard provide shade. The house offers five different types of apartments: Authentique, Elégance, Prestige, Paradis and Lady Hamlyn. Twelve spacious rooms and eight suites of different sizes and furnishings, a bien-être center with beauty care and massage treatments complete the facilities.
A visit to this attraction during a trip to France is worthwhile because the ancient castle is equipped with original furniture from the 17th and 18th centuries. The name of the coat of arms of the Bourbons above the Gothic fireplace in the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant La Salle des Gardes marks the royal visit of Charles VIII in 1490. The chef Jean-Alexandre Quaratta learned his trade from the chef Paul Bocuse and surprises his guests with him a sophisticated haute cuisine with regional products, multi-course gourmet menus and an excellent selection of wines. The Café du Château offers bistro gourmet cuisine with high-quality dishes for the small appetite.
The surroundings of the Hotel Château de Bagnols invite you to numerous activities:
Golf, tennis, horse riding, horse-drawn carriage rides, tours of the wine cellar, balloon rides and helicopter tours.
