Become a geopartner - Geopark Beaujolais

Geopartner charter

There are numerous local players now involved in creating projects or initiatives in partnership with Geopark Beaujolais. They give their support to the Geopark scheme and involve the Geopark in their activities, to create new mediation tools, new products, initiatives or events. The "Geopark Beaujolais Geopartners" network was founded in order to support these organisations. The network provides support for organisations working on initiatives or projects in partnership with Geopark Beaujolais.

To become a geopartner, one of the conditions is to be involved in an initiative or project in partnership with the Geopark. The charter applies to:

• tourism service providers committed to providing top quality, and adapting their organisation to sustainable tourism;

• museums, associations and teaching establishments working on the topics related to the Geopark;

• local players working on a topic linked to the Geopark and showcasing the local economy.

This list is by no means exhaustive, and other types of activities can be added, depending on how the network evolves. The organisation in question will be added to the network under the name of its representative.

Convention de partenariat - Géopartenaire

Geopartners List :

TOURISM AND LEISURE :
Atouts Beaujolais
Affaires&Tourisme VTC Lyon Genève - Eric Auzas
COPIDO
Equicoaching grandeur nature
Domaine de la rue de la Tour

GEO-GUIDES :
Ann MATAGRIN
Anne FIMBEL
Stéphanie RENAULT
Yann FABRIS
Perrine GUYOT
Sophie RABUEL
Josiane RIVIER
Anaïs FOURNIER
Frédéric GAUDRY

CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS :
Musée Fossilea
Agglomération de Villefranche-Musée Claude Bernard et Musée du Prieuré
Institut Victor Vermorel

ASSOCIATIONS - VISITS :
Association Patrimoine et Traditions
Association culturelle de Saint-Julien
Les amis de la voix du tacot
A.C.P (Arts Civilisations Patrimoine)
Association des Amis du Vieux Village d'Oingt
Association "Les Amis du site de La Roche"
Les amis du musée Thimonnier - GRAHA
Collectif de la Pierre de Saint Martin
Association Mémoire et Patrimoine de Bagnols
Les Amis du Vieil Arbresle et du Pays Arbreslois
Association des Carrières de Glay
Amis Guides en Terre Beaujolaise
Itinéraires, Paysages et Patrimoine
Les Amis du Géoparc
Les Amis du Vieux Ternand
Les Amis du Vieux Chazay
Association La Licorne (Châtillon d'Azergues)

PRODUCERS - CRAFTSMEN - ARTISTS :
Cave coopérative Agamy
Domaine du Baron de l'Ecluse
Elles & Beaujolais
Domaine Mariluc - Cédric Lacombe
Fréderic Berne
Eddy Bardin
Espace des Brouilly
Vignerons des pierres dorées
Domaine JP Rivière - Marine Lemoine Rivière
Yves Dimier
Cendrine M. - fileuse de verre
Agnès Bourbon céramique
Château des Bachelards
Au lavoir du Popey
Fabien Forest, viticulteur
La perle du Beaujolais - safran
Château de la Perrière

GOURMET GEOLOGICAL REPLICAS :
Evocation Chocolat
Papilles Pâtisserie
Le Chocolat de Poche

SCHOOLS :
Ecole de Montmelas - David Thomasset
Collège de Lamure

OTHERS :
Cabinet Meilhac Faraut-Lamotte

Anaïs Burnichon - AGAMY

Anaïs is in charge of wine tourism at Agamy, an organisation representing 250 winegrowers in the Beaujolais, Coteaux du Lyonnais and Côtes du Forez regions. As the daughter of a winegrower, she wanted to introduce as many people as possible to winegrowing through fun, themed workshops. Smelling the smells of a cellar during vinification, discovering the vineyard alongside the winegrower and touching the soil all help us to better understand the subtleties of wine.

She has been a partner of the Geopark since its arrival in the wine tourism sector in 2021.

For her, the Geopark is a wonderful way of approaching Beaujolais from a different point of view. She has been able to take part in a number of Geopark training courses, meeting a geologist and a lecturer.

As well as helping us to get to grips with our vineyards, the Geopark also provides a range of tools to help explain geology in layman's terms, so that we can communicate it more effectively to our customers. The fact that the Beaujolais region has been awarded the Geopark label is a great way of showcasing the region and a great opportunity for all the professionals involved.

Photo credits: Benoit Giraud

Anne Fimbel - AMIS GUIDES EN TERRE BEAUJOLAISE

Anne Fimbel is a local guide in the Beaujolais Vert region who, in 2000, set up the association 'Raconte-moi les Echarmeaux', offering walks to help visitors discover the rich heritage and landscapes of the Beaujolais mountains, which are often little-known: the Roche d'Ajoux, Mont Tourvéon, the Col des Echarmeaux, etc. In 2010, she joined the association Amis Guides en Terre Beaujolaise, which offers guided tours for groups and schools.Anne has supported the Geopark approach from the outset, interested in the participatory aspect and in showcasing the Beaujolais region as a whole.

In her opinion, the Geopark has helped to highlight a varied heritage through the prism of geology, and contributes to cross-disciplinary economic and tourist development.

She appreciates the exchanges between partners, particularly during the training courses and, more recently, the climate and geology conferences, which she sees as an opportunity for local access to scientific culture.

Photo credits: Benoit Giraud

Xavier Berne -ÉVOCATION CHOCOLAT

Xavier Berne is a chocolatier and confectioner based in Tarare. He has developed a registered trademark with specialities from the Beaujolais region: mousselines de Tarare, Pierres dorées and Grappillons du Beaujolais.

He joined the Geopark initiative 2 years ago, in response to the call for creative gourmet geological replicas, for which he created a chocolate ammonite and Bourdon Tower.

For Xavier, the Geopark is an opportunity to showcase Beaujolais to tourists and to represent the region through his chocolates and specialities.

Photo credits: Benoit Giraud

Sylvie Babin

Sylvie Babin is a member of the Geopark's Scientific Committee.
She also teaches science and technology at the Simone Veil secondary school in Châtillon d'Azergues. Through her work, she tries to pass on a little knowledge and, above all, a lot of curiosity.

She has been a partner of the Geopark since the beginning of the process, during the first validation phase, with the first projects with pupils, and through communication initiatives aimed at teachers. Since obtaining the label, she has also been working for the Geopark through my work with the DAAC at the Lyon education authority.

For Sylvie, the Geopark is a way of pooling energies in an area that really needs them.
It makes it possible to anchor projects in the area and to use geology as an approach, which is rare.

Photo credits: Benoit Giraud

Sylvain Flache - VIGNERONS DES PIERRES DORÉES

Les Vignerons des Pierres Dorées is a group of men and women, winegrowers and employees, who have joined forces to build one of the jewels of Beaujolais winegrowing, based on a shared passion for quality and the exceptional know-how that goes into making these renowned wines from unique terroirs!

The Pierres Dorées winegrowers joined the initiative as soon as the UNESCO label was awarded in 2018, and have taken part in numerous actions and projects linked to the Geopark.
They have also developed a range of wines called 'Les Pépites des Pierres Dorées' to showcase the diversity of their terroirs (gneiss, blue stone, gravel and schist).

According to Sylvain Flache, Chairman of the Cave Coopérative, the Geopark showcases the geological wealth of the Beaujolais region and all the related activities.

Photo credits: Benoit Giraud

Gabrielle Fort and Stéphanie Renaud - MUSÉE CLAUDE BERNARD

Gabrielle Fort (left) is director of the museums of the Villefranche Beaujolais Saône conurbation. Stéphanie Renaud (right) is the museum's interpreter-guide.

The Claude Bernard museum in Saint-Julien presents the life and work of this illustrious scientist, the father of modern medicine. In addition to the permanent exhibition, which combines classic, fun and interactive features, the site also offers a rich programme of workshops, tours, lectures, temporary exhibitions, shows and games, all set in the idyllic and enchanting surroundings of Saint-Julien.
The Claude Bernard Museum has supported the Beaujolais Geopark from the outset, with its commitment to the sciences and the discovery of the mysteries of life.

The Geopark is a journey back in time, to the origins of the world. It's a tool for understanding our landscapes, interpreting landforms and buildings. It's also a pretext for talking about our know-how, linked to local produce. In short, it's a valuable partner in promoting the region.

The Claude Bernard Museum will be delighted to host the Geopark's travelling exhibition '500 million years and one day' from 31 August to 31 October.

Photo credits: Benoit Giraud

Perrine Guyot - PETRA GAIA GUIDES

Perrine Guyot is an art historian and tour guide. Passionate about 19th-century architecture and old buildings, she gives guided tours of the Beaujolais region.

Her colleague Sophie Rabuel is also a tour guide. Originally from the Bresse region, she has strong botanical and oenological skills, and a passion for cooking.
Together, they created the Petra Gaïa Guides association. They organise excursions and guided tours that take visitors on a journey through the extraordinary Beaujolais region, revealing the beauty and richness of the terroirs from different points of view.

Perrine and Sophie joined the Geopark adventure in 2019 by taking the training courses to become 'geo-guides'.
For Perrine, the Geopark gives the Beaujolais region international exposure through its many riches. It also gives local people a chance to reclaim the region through a label supported by UNESCO.

Photo credits: Benoit Giraud

Josiane Rivier - DISZY

Josiane Rivier, who started out as a discovery class leader before working for many years at the Pays de l'Arbresle Tourist Office, has been a Geopark partner and guide since 2022.She has followed the creation of the Geopark closely, because she immediately believed in its potential!

For her, it's a marvellous tool for uniting the region's stakeholders, a fantastic tourist asset and a "knitted" thread running through the Beaujolais region that reveals its riches to residents and visitors alike.
On a personal level, the Geopark has given her the opportunity to meet some wonderful people.

With Diszy*, she creates and offers educational and fun activities that link the geology, heritage, nature and human activities of the Beaujolais region. She also offers storytelling and dramatised tours.

*Diszy evokes a typical Beaujolais expression, "Dis-y! "and refers to the oral tradition at the heart of its activity.

Photo credits: Benoit Giraud

Daniel Broutier - Les Amis du Vieil Arbresle

Originally from Vienne, Daniel has lived in the Beaujolais region since the age of 12. His home town and its rich heritage gave him a taste for history. This passion, also passed on by his father, led him to take an interest in the local and regional history of L'Arbresle from the age of 17.

This passion for history led him to become involved in local life: in 1976, he joined the Association des Amis du Vieil Arbresle et de la région Arbresloise as a facilitator and treasurer; from 1977 to 2002, Daniel was president of the Pays de l'Arbresle Tourist Office; from 1995 to 2001, he was appointed deputy for culture and heritage in his local authority.

In the early 2000s, his professional career in finance took him to Genoa in Italy for 8 years, during which time he stopped his activities with the Tourist Office and the Association des Amis du Vieil Arbresle.

On his return in 2010, Daniel was re-elected President of the Association des Amis du Vieil Arbresle, a position he has held for 13 years and which is close to his heart, as much for the historical enhancement of the town's heritage as for the human relations within the association.

With around a hundred members, the Association des Amis du Viel Arbresle is made up of active members with a wide range of backgrounds, all of whom contribute to the rich and dynamic life of the association: historical research, writing, layout, audiovisual production, guided tours, etc. Each member has his or her own speciality, and it is these particularities that Daniel values in the members of the association. Each member has his or her own speciality, and it's precisely these particularities that Daniel values in the members of the association.

And it works! The association has published over 70 works in 24 years, and produced 3 documentaries. In addition, the association recently presented its latest project: a 3D reconstruction of the castle-city of l'Arbresle, which serves as an introduction to the visit of the old medieval and renaissance town.

So when the Beaujolais Geopark was created, it was only natural that Daniel wanted to become a partner of the Geopark and become involved in the project. Indeed, the Arbresle area has close links with the geology of the Beaujolais: the Brévenne rift, the link with the golden stones, etc. For Daniel, geology is also the key to understanding the history of urbanisation.

For the future, he hopes to pursue initiatives to encourage local residents to take an interest in their heritage and their history, to understand where they come from and to become active players in their environment. Culture isn't just a show; everyone can become a player in their region.

Photo credits: Benoit Giraud

Francis Herault, le gardien passionné du patrimoine d’Oingt

Francis has lived in the heart of the Pierres Dorées region for over twelve years, and fell in love with the village of Oingt in the early 2000s. His attachment to this charming and historic place led him to join the Amis du Vieux Village d'Oingt (AVVO) association in 2012. For the past five years, he has had the honour of being its president.

When Francis discovered the history of this association, set up 60 years ago to preserve and promote Oingt's heritage, he decided to devote his energy to it. Inspired by the spirit of solidarity and the unique atmosphere of the village, he committed himself to continuing to unite volunteers and residents around common projects. Today, AVVO has no fewer than 180 volunteers in this village of 600 inhabitants, a figure that testifies to a great collective spirit.

Francis came across the Beaujolais Geopark while restoring the Oingt tower. Intrigued by the geological wealth that shapes the village and its buildings, he joined forces with the Geopark to design a new scenography at the heart of the tower, retracing the link between stone and history. Since then, he has ensured that the association takes part in geo-events every year, underlining the importance of the dialogue between built and living heritage.

In 2024, the association celebrated its 60th anniversary, a unifying moment that enabled it to retrace its history and revive the spirit that motivated the people of the time to restore the village. A film has been made on the subject and a book project is underway.
Francis hopes to perpetuate this spirit and continue to mobilise the villagers to protect and restore their heritage. Through initiatives such as guided tours of the village, the barrel organ festival and 'Oingt en crèches', the AVVO association invites residents and visitors to discover and protect this jewel of the Pierres Dorées.

Photo credits: Benoît Giraud

Daniel Mathieu : un partenaire engagé et passionné

A native of Vauxrenard, where he was born in 1950, Daniel Mathieu is very attached to his native land. After attending school in Villié-Morgon, he went on to study science, first mathematics in Lyon, then chemistry at the École Centrale in Paris. This training led him to embark early on a career in the chemical and nuclear energy industries, notably as a researcher at the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique (Atomic Energy Commission) in the Paris region, then in the Rhône Valley, where he worked on nuclear fuel processing. In 1998, Daniel decided to leave this sector to explore new horizons.
His career path took him to Montpellier, where he joined an agency dedicated to the economic development of SMEs and SMIs. This position gave him the opportunity to criss-cross the south of France, from the eastern Pyrenees to the confines of Lozère, but above all to meet and support project leaders, whom he helped in their search for funding, as well as in the scientific field. It was during this period that he became involved with the Écologistes de l'Euzière, an association that made him more aware of environmental issues and introduced him to botany.

On the strength of this experience, Daniel moved to the Drôme to head up a competitiveness cluster specialising in ecotechnologies, where he promoted innovative processes in a variety of fields including agriculture, cosmetics and the environment. Once again, this role has given him the opportunity to make many enriching encounters.

Anticipating his retirement, Daniel decided, at the age of 50, to work part-time to devote himself to a personal project: the creation of Tela Botanica, the network of French-speaking botanists. To bring this project to fruition, Daniel set himself a challenge: to discover one plant a day for a year. The result: he managed to discover 350 plants in one year. As he became more and more involved in this field, Daniel noticed that botanists did not communicate much with each other. He took advantage of the Internet boom to create a website and themed discussion groups. Thanks to collaborative contributions, Tela Botanica quickly became a key database, used in particular by the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in Paris.

In 2010, after retiring, Daniel remains Chairman of Tela Botanica until 2020, before returning to Vauxrenard to devote himself fully to his native region. Still driven by his passion for nature and his spirit of sharing, he became chairman of the Pierre de Saint-Martin collective (hiking trails, Aiguillettes geosite, etc.), manages a 30-hectare family forestry group and plays an active role in several local associations: Vignerons Vivants du Beaujolais, Itinéraire Paysage et Patrimoine, and Histoire et Généalogie en Beaujolais.

As a member of the Beaujolais Geopark steering committee, Daniel puts his boundless expertise and curiosity to work on ambitious projects, helping to preserve and promote the region's natural and cultural riches. An exemplary and inspiring partner for all those working to promote sustainable development in the Beaujolais region.

Photo credits: Benoît Giraud

Ann Matagrin, une vie dédiée à la transmission

Born to a British father and a French mother, Ann grew up in the Monts d'Or before settling in Beaujolais in 1978. She has always had a passion for stones, nature and life stories, and has devoted her career to passing on and sharing.
As soon as she finished her studies, she turned to adult education, a vocation that deeply inspired her. She became an English language trainer, a profession she practised with passion until the COVID period.

In 2000, Ann decided to open her own bed and breakfast business, and at the same time nurtured a desire to become a local guide, a profession that was still not widely practised at the time. Five years later, she began training, with a particular interest in meeting local people, guiding walk organisers, heritage, history and architecture. She then began guiding visitors - mainly local residents - in their discovery of the region and its natural riches.

In 2008, her desire to pass on her knowledge led her to co-found the Déambule association with two other local guides. The aim was to promote the local heritage through guides with a perfect command of English. She now specialises in the Pierres Dorées and Beaujolais Vert areas, leading
tours of the Glay quarries and Lac des Sapins for schoolchildren and the curious.

Ann discovered the Geopark in 2012, during the first forums, and immediately embraced the approach. From 2015, she played an active part in preparing for the visit of UNESCO experts to validate the label, and discovered the geological wealth of the area and the values promoted by
the Geopark. She then trained as a Geopark geological guide, and worked as a volunteer at the top of the Tour d'Oingt.

Still driven by the desire to preserve and pass on, Ann joined the Carrières de Glay association in 2024 as a mason's helper. Laying stones, rebuilding walls in the old-fashioned way, perpetuating know-how: a manual apprenticeship that she is passionate about, and one that she hopes
to pass on to future generations.

As a member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Beaujolais Geopark, Ann continues to share her love of stonework as she meets new people and travels the Beaujolais countryside. For her, transmission is a precious gift, given to those who take the time to catch it in the act...

Photo credits: Benoît Giraud

Frédéric Berne, un vigneron engagé

Born in 1985 in Les Ardillats, Frédéric Berne is a child of the Beaujolais region. Born into a farming family, he grew up in the heart of the vineyards, developing a passion for agriculture and viticulture from an early age. After a vocational baccalaureate in oenology and viticulture, in 2014 he set up in Lantignié, at Château des Vergers, where he cultivates 13 hectares of vines producing several emblematic crus: Morgon, Chiroubles, Régnié and Moulin-à-Vent.
Convinced of the importance of preserving the soil and biodiversity, Frédéric quickly converted his estate to organic farming, then took the process a step further by adopting agro-ecology. His aim: to restore the vitality of the soil and encourage a natural balance in his vineyards. Over the space of a decade, he has been pleased to see the positive effects of this transition, observing a rapid regeneration of nature and an improvement in the quality of the crops.

As part of this drive, he co-founded the 'Vignerons du Vivant en Beaujolais' association, which now brings together 22 winegrowers ready to make the transition to agro-ecology. He is also the founder of the 'Vignerons et Terroirs de Lantignié' initiative, which promotes the quality of the Lantignié terroirs, with an environmental dimension aimed at preserving biodiversity, improving soil fertility and ensuring that plants are in good health so that they can offer the best of their terroirs.

Passionate about his work, Frédéric likes to share his knowledge and his attachment to the terroir. He is developing wine tourism on his estate, offering tours, tastings, walks and even a treasure hunt to help people discover Beaujolais in a different way. For him, this region is much more than just a vineyard: it's a unique landscape that needs to be showcased.

Right from the start of the Geopark initiative, he was actively involved in obtaining the UNESCO label and became one of the project's first ambassadors. Now a Geopartner, he incorporates the richness of the soil and geology into his tours and raises visitors' awareness of this heritage.

The meetings offered by the Geopark have also enabled him to forge links with other local enthusiasts, such as Eddy Bardin, with whom he recently devised a tour of the wild plants found in and around the vineyards.
Every day, his contact with nature and the encounters he makes reinforce Frédéric's conviction that the Beaujolais region is a living land that needs to be preserved and showcased. And it's with great enthusiasm that he continues to pass on this passion through his work and his commitment to the Beaujolais Geopark.

Photo credit: Benoît Giraud