ASPIRING GEOPARK APPLICATION DOSSIER FOR UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK NOVEMBER 2016

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 1 SUMMARY

04 A - Identity of the candidate territory 33 _ C.2. Current status in term of protection of geological sites within the proposed Geopark 04 _ A.1. Name and identity C.2.1. Multiple methods of conservation 04 _ A.2. Geographic localization C.2.2. Inventories for future conservation 05 _ A.3. Physical and social characteristics 36 _ C.3. Data on the management A.3.1. Description of the territory and maintenance of all heritage sites A.3.2. The major landscapes features C.3.1. Protection of sites A.3.3. A mosaic of environments C.3.2. Vulnerable and unsecured sites A.3.4. Cultural and human landscapes

16 _ A.4. Organization in charge 37 D – Econmic activity and development project and structure of management A.4.1. The Syndicat Mixte of Beaujolais 37 _ D.1. Economic activities A.4.2. How does the organization work ? D.1.1. Vines and wines of the Pays Beaujolais: Geology and winegrowing soils, the alchemy 18 _ A.5. Technical support and interlocutors D.1.2. Agriculture in charge of the project D.1.3. Forest and logging A.5.1. The Geopark Beaujolais team D.1.4. Plenty of mines and quarries A.5.2. Working groups D.1.5. Tourism and leisure A.5.3. The Geopark and its local network 40 _ D.2. Existing and planned infrastructures D.2.1. Existing facilities and infrastructures 20 B – Geological heritage D.2.1.1. Touristic infrastructures 20 _ B.1. General geological description D.2.1.2. Geotouristic sites of the territory D.2.1.3. Touristic sites B.1.1. Beaujolais’ geology and its impact D.2.1.4. Natural sites on the Natural and Human landscapes D.2.1.5. Cultural and heritage sites B.1.2. The major geological units of the Beaujolais D.2.2. Planned infrastructures B.1.3. The Paleozoic metamorphic and igneous crystalline basement D.2.2.1. Signs and transverse equipments B.1.4. The marine Mesozoic sedimentary cover D.2.2.2. Planned equipments and arrangements B.1.5. The alpine era and the tectonics 44 _ D.3. Geotouristic potential in question structuration of todays Beaujolais D.3.1. Types of visitors and attendance B.1.6. The superficial Quaternary formations D.3.2. Visitors’ and professionals’ interest 27 _ B.2. Listing and description of geological for geotourism sites within the proposed Geopark D.3.3. An analysis of geotourism potential B.2.1. Inventory method and selection of geosites 45 _ D.4. Sustainable development B.2.2. Types of geological sites policies overview

29 _ B.3. Details on the value of geological sites D.4.1. Geotourism and economy B.3.1. Beaujolais’ geology and scientific activity D.4.2. Geological heritage B.3.2. International, national, regional 47 _ D.5. Encouraging responsibility and local importance of sites and empowerment of communities

30 _ B.4. Listing and description of non-geological 47 _ D.6. Awareness-raising policies sites with high geo-heritage interest D.6.1. Educational actions for pupils B.4.1. Natural heritage sites D.6.2. Visitor awareness and information B.4.2. Historical and cultural heritage sites D.6.3. Professionals and stakeholders’ awareness B.4.3. Economical and industrial heritage sites and information B.4.4. Landscape sites B.4.5. Visit sites and museum spaces 49 E - The applicant’s arguments and interests

49 _ E.1. Developing a strategy 33 C – Geoconservation and a project for the territory

33 _ C.1. Current or potential pressure 49 _ E.2. Being included in a network on the proposed Geopark 49 _ E.3. Reasons for joining the UNESCO C.1.1. Territorial dynamics of the Beaujolais Global Geoparks network C.1.2. Different types of pressure

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 2 hanks to all those who participated in the Thèse Doct. Sc., Clermont-Ferrand, 187p. CREDITS Telaboration of the present application Rigaud J.P. (1985) - Études des formations AMAC, Association Beaujolais Runners, Association and to all people and organizations involved dévono-dinantiennes du Beaujolais Méridional. des Amis des Carrières de Glay, Association in this process: institutional actors and Thèse 3e Cycle, Grenoble. Itinéraires Paysages et Patrimoine, Association les Amis du vieux Bagnols, Brasserie Ninkasi, BRGM, elected people, touristic, economic and local Rousselle B. (1996) - Partition stratigraphique des faciès et des volumes de dépôt en domaine de CAUE, CE Lafarge, Chemin Faisant, Conservatoire stakeholders, associations, members of plateforme carbonatée. Exemple dans l’Aalénien Régional des Espaces Naturels, D. D’Harcourt / working groups, actors of the civil society du Sud-Est de la . Doc. Lab. Géol. , 143, Château de Montmelas, D. Duvernay / Information supporting the project, the French Geoparks 225 p. agricole, Département du Rhône, Destination Beaujolais (Caméras Rouges, D. Fusina), DREAL network, etc. Rulleau (1989) - Les Grammoceratinae du Toarcien Rhône-Alpes, Espace Pierres Folles (B. Rousselle), supérieur de la région lyonnaise. Thèse de Doct., France 3, G. Blanchet / Association Météorologique Lyon, 218 p. SELECTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY d’entre Rhône et Loire, Granulat Vicat, Hameau Savoye (1899) - Le Beaujolais préhistorique. Rey Besombes C. (2013) – « La démarche Géoparc en Dubœuf, INGN, Inter Beaujolais, J-C. Dubois, J-C. imp., Lyon, 214 p. Beaujolais, un projet pour le territoire », Revue Martin, Mairie d’Anse, Mairie d’Oingt, Mairie de Espaces, n°315, novembre 2013. Sider H. (1985) - Évolution d’un segment de la Charnay, Mairie de Jassans-Riottier, Mairie de chaîne hercinienne dans le Nord-Est du Massif Villefranche, Offices de Tourisme du Beaujolais Besombes C., Cazé C. (2015) – « Le Geopark Central Français. Région du Beaujolais. Thèse de (Pierres Dorées, Vignoble, Vert, Villefranche, Haut beaujolais : émergence d’un nouvel objet dans Doct., Nancy, 373 p. Beaujolais), P. Gadiolet / SMRPCA, Paléorhodania, la recomposition territoriale », CIST 2016 Région Urbaine de Lyon, S. & G. Ceyzériat, S. Proceedings, « En quête de territoire(s) ? Looking Suan et al. (2013) - Palaeoenvironmental Auray, SIGALES, Syndicat Mixte des Monts d’Or, for territories ? significance of Toarcian black shales and event deposits from southern Beaujolais, France. Geol. Syndicat Mixte du Beaujolais- Geopark Beaujolais Falsan & Chantre (1879) - Monographie Mag., FirstView, pp. 1-15. (A. Chignier, C. Besombes, C. Cazé, M. Bailhache), géologique des anciens glaciers et du terrain UNESCO, … erratique de la partie moyenne du bassin du Vincent et al. (2013) - Marine vertebrate remains Rhône. Imp. Pitrat, Lyon, 2 vol., 622 pp. et 572 pp. from the Toarcian-Aalenian succession of southern Beaujolais, Rhône, France. Geol. Mag., Joannes C. (1981) - Le district filonien de Beaujeu FirstView, pp. 1-13. (Rhône). Étude géologique. Thèse 3e Cycle, Orléans. Vitry F. (1982) - La bordure orientale du Massif Central au Lias inférieur dans le Mont d’Or Lacroix P. (1980) - Géologie du groupe de Violay et le bas-Beaujolais. Thèse 3e Cycle, (Rhône) : contribution à l’étude des granités Lyon, 183 p. sodiques et des formations éruptives et volcano- sédimentaires associées. Thèse 3e Cycle, Lyon, Vuagnat P. (1984) – L’amas sulfuré de Chessy 169 p. (Beaujolais méridional). Thèse 3e Cycle, Lyon, 137 pp. Peterlongo J.M. (1960) - Les terrains cristallins des Monts du Lyonnais (Massif Central français).

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 3 A / Identity of the candidate territory A.1. NAME & IDENTITY The applicant territory is the Geopark Beaujolais, which, in the north of the Rhône department, forms a part of the buttress of the Massif Central. Look- ing at the extreme alpine domain, the Beaujolais is one of the most complex geological areas in France : the diver- sity of the landscapes, of the natural habitat and of the buildings is the re- sult of a 500 million year-old geological history. Geopark Beaujolais’ logo

The Beaujolais region, of which is known around the world for its twelve protected vineyard appelations, also has a wider historic anchorage. In the XIIIth century, the Beaujolais became, thanks to its capital Beaujeu, one of the three baronies of the French king- dom. Geopark’s territory is located near three sites included in the World Heritage UNESCO List : the historical site of Lyon, the cultural landscape of and the La Tourette convent designed by Lecorbusier.

A.2. Location map of the aspiring Geopark Beaujolais, in Europe GEOGRAPHIC LOCALIZATION

Geopark’s territory is located in the Au- vergne-Rhône-Alpes region and reach- es to the north part of the new-Rhône department, north of the city of Lyon. It expands north for about fifty kilo- meters along the Saône river’s axis to the Mâconnais and the Charolais areas, to the south up to the Lyonnais area, from the Saône valley to the east and up to the Roannais domain in the west.

The Geopark head office is located in Villefranche-sur-Saône. Its geographic coordinates in Lambert 93 are:

832624,04 6544313,8

Location map of the aspiring Geopark Beaujolais, in France

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 4 A _ Identity of the candidate territory A.3. SURFACE, SOCIAL AND GEOGRAPHI- CAL FEATURES

The Geopark Beaujolais territory corre- sponds to the perimeter of the Syndicat mixte du Beaujolais (SMB) an adminis- trative entity founded in 2009 which comprises 128 member municipalities. It covers a surface of 1550 km² and has a population of 225 000 inhabit- ants.

A.3.1. Description of the territory The organization of the relief seems quite desorganized in the entire Beau- jolais region. Three areas can be distin- guished and permit a description of the Relief map territory’s geomorphology. The geo- logical history of the territory, punctu- ated with great tectonic movements, is the source of the territory’s landforms as we know them today, but also of the nature of the soil which varies de- pending on the areas and is part of the wealth of the natural environment, of agricultural lands and of the traditional dwellings.

The Beaujolais mountains

In the west of the territory, we find a medium mountain region, typical of the ancient mountain chains: these are the Beaujolais mountains. Crossed by many rivers, they spread for about fifty kilometers between the Mâcon- nais mountains to the north and the Lyonnais mountains to the south, and for twenty to twenty-five kilometers from east to west. The landforms rise between 800 and 900 meters high at the center, and to more than 1000 me- ters at the region’s borders, dominating the plateau located around 600 meters. Map of the Beaujolais’ intercommunalities (at the 01/01/2016) ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 5 Panorama from la roche d’Ajoux

The Beaujolais mountains are marked this water and the slope of the land anan valleys) between the Beaujolais by a large proportion of original rock enabled the installation of many tex- mountains and the Beaujolais vineyard. formations from the primary era, like tile industries in the west part of the The latter occupies a fifty kilometers grey, green or black volcanic rock, and Beaujolais region from the XIXth cen- long and 10-15-kilometers wide space. granite with shades varying from pink tury onwards. In the east, the vineyard’s limit is in to blue-grey. We can also find meta- contact with the alluvial deposits in morphic rocks like gneiss (an ancient the plain of the Saône, around 200- The Beaujolais moutains boast many volcanic rock) and more schists (of sedi- 250 meters. From this riverbank, the valleys, most of which are oriented mentary origin). landforms rises to the west, creating a north/south and more or less incised. piedmont-like rolling landscape, slightly These rocks can be seen in the land- The Azergues river takes its source at incised by various east-west shaped scape thanks to many rocky outcrops, the base of the Saint-Rigaud mountain valleys. The wine-growing hillside ris- at the bottom of valleys or on ridges, as and flows first to the south. It consti- es to 500-550 meters high, where the on the famous Ajoux rock, in Propières, tutes the largest and deepest valley of vine slowly fades away and gives place where the black volcanic rock appears the territory. It cuts through the land- to the wooded peaks of the Beaujolais in large bare mounds at an altitude of forms of the Beaujolais mountains, mountains. 970 meters. Quarries and old mining then through the Pierres Dorées hill- pits are also the telltale signs of the side and ends up in the Chères plain extraction of these rocks for construc- while heading north towards Anse Some topographic features such as tion, road building as well as for the ex- where the Saône river flows. In the the Pommiers massif in Charnay, or ploitation of lead, copper, zinc, sulphur, north, the valley of the Grosnes and the the Brouilly mountain disturb the pied- barite, fluorine, and coal deposits. Sornin are less incised and the land- mont’s uniformity and single out in the form slips towards the hilly and softer lanscape. landscape of the Charolais. The crest Granite has especially been used for line of the Beaujolais mountains run- construction. The church of Thizy ning north-south divides the territory The wine-growing piedmont shows to shows the use of red microgranite. But into two catchment areas : in the west different geological situation. In the other rocks have also been used in con- the Loire bassin that is irrigated by the north, the land is noticeable by the struction. Reins and the Trambouze rivers, and in presence of geological formations similar to the ones in the Beaujolais The deterioration of the rocks made the the east the Saône bassin where the mountains, especially by granites such soil siliceous with an acidic tendancy Turdine and Azergues rivers flow. as the one in - and by that favors the formation of heather microgranites such as the one in Saint- and corncrake moors and fits the grow- Julien, whose decay produces silicious ing of Douglas fir, which also leads to The wine-growing soils made of coarse sand , on which soil acidification. hillsides and plateaus vine manages to prosper. Other rocks like the black volcanite of or This geology is at the origin of a river The landform growing from the the dioritic base hornfel (called « Blue water of great quality. The hardness in the north towards the Soanan and Stone) of the Brouilly mountain also and the nature of crystaline rocks Turdine valleys creates a virtually un- form rocky but more clayey soils, no- results in the production of clear wa- interrupted natural border (the crest tably in some high sectors of the vine- ter, practically devoid of impurity and line is only interrupted three times, by growing coteaux, between the Mont- free of carbonate. The abundance of the Ardières, the Azergues and the So- melas massif and the Juliénas hillside.

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 6 A _ Identity of the candidate territory

River transport on the Saône river

At the top of the wine-growing hillside, continues mining for golden rocks in surface of the Dombes plateau, in the as well as in the most part of the High order to make cement. Around the left riverbank of the Saône, the inter- Beaujolais, granitic and volcanic out- Pommiers massif, lighter limestones, mediate level (between 190 and 220 crops form acid-loving lands, open en- such as the one in , make the meters) including the low and high ter- vironments in transition with softwood shades of the buildings vary. This lime- races of quaternary era, the low level forests. stone, called « White Rock », was the (170-175 meters) made up of the most first to be mined in the Beaujolais. The recent river alluvium. Sinemurian grey limestone, recogniz- The alluvial valley presents a very South of the vineyard, run-off erosion able thanks to the inlaying of many young geology. The alluvium form on Secondary terrains follow the ge- shells and oysters (gryphaea fossils), very fertile and neutral loamy-sand ology of the layers, the fractures and has been widely used to create pav- soils, bearing cereal crops, forestry and faults of the Tertiary (North-South). In ing stones, stairs, wash-houses and vegetable cultures, which prosper in the lower part of the Beaujolais, the fencings in the vineyard. These lime- the plain. South of the Beaujolais, the slopes are gentle in the east, and fol- stones, and their associated marls, are Saône valley forms meanders before low the inclination of limestone beds, the the source of often rich and deep going around the Mont d’Or by the steeper in the west because of softer clay-limestone prevailing soils. They east to flow through the Lyon agglom- sedimentary charcoal. In this area, the fostered polyculture in which the vine eration. It spreads to form the Chères crests stand out in the landscape’s only prevailed since the second half the plain, surrounded by the west fringe by th monotony and create peaks. They are the XX century. the Azergues, which flows at the base composed of crinoidal limestone and of the Pommiers massif, in Charnay. are supported by a network of normal faults from the Tertiary. This topography and hydrology, closely The Saône river’s valley linked because influencing one anoher, have shaped the occupation of the ter- The diversity of the limestones is The eastern fringe of the territory is ritory by man. The latter settled along linked to different eras and sedimenta- characterized by a relatively flat space rivers in search for energy and other tion and is especially noticeable in the corresponding to the alluvial plain of ressources to ensure a strategic role. local architecture. The crinoidal lime- the Saône river. Approximately 10 ki- The erosion, especially by water, is one stone, or golden rock, which dominates lometers wide, north of Belleville, or of the major processes that shaped the on the hillsides is at the source of most at the level of the Chères plain, south- Beaujolais landforms. Active through- of the villages’ constructions, farms east of the territory, this plain forms out the different geological eras after and hamlets in this area. Many small several levels of alluvial terraces above the elevation of the territory by the abandonned quarries, dug near villages the minor riverbed, located around 170 Alpines and Pyrenean orogenesis. for their edification, can be noticed in meters. Three principal levels can be the south Beaujolais landscape. Today, noticed : the high level (from 250-260 the vast Belmont d’Azergues quarry meters), that we can also find at the

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 7 A.3.2. The major landscape features The Saône Valley The Saône Valley : At the base of wine-growing hillsides and the Beau- jolais mountain chain, the Saône has created a huge alluvial valley. Along the course of history it became a major axis of transportation and development between Lyon and the Bourgogne. The landscapes alternate between wood- land, water meadows, riverside alluvial forest, arable zones of cereals and veg- etables that grow in fertile sandy-loam soils.

The winegrowing hillside : the slope rises gently from the Saône Val- ley to the crests nearby the Beaujolais mountains. Since the XIXth century, winegrowing has spread up the hill- side to around 500 meters’ altitude and gets more dense in areas of controlled appelations of the Beaujolais crus. The vast stretches of vineyard form a very open landscape in which vertical features, artifical or natural, take on significant visual importance. The vil- lages, hamlets, castles and winegrow- ing domains are historically scattered. The winegrowing Many small valleys stand out in the hillside landscape thanks to tree-covered cor- ridors that underline their riverflow. A few large valleys show a more enclosed landscape of meadows and hedges. Vineyard monoculture offers a great ledibility of lanscapes.

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 8 A _ Identity of the candidate territory

The golden rocks : south of Ville- The golden rocks franche-sur-Saône, the winegrowing region hillside changes slowly to a hilly land- scape composed of rolling plateaus and slopes that spread towards the Saône. This topography, founded on a lime- stone dominated geology, is generated by numerous valleys of various dimen- sions that flow either to the north-east to reach the Saône near Villefranche- sur-Saône or to the south to join the Azergues. The variety of limestones and marls have created calcareous-clay soils that allow a great diversity of ag- ricultural crops, leading to polycultural landscape’s with a wine-growing domi- nant. The name « golden rocks » comes from a yellow limestone (the crinoidal limestone) Ajouter : (“Pierres Dorées” in French) that exists in this area and constitutes most of the local traditional architecture.

The Beaujolais mountains : over The Beaujolais the crest line dominating the vineyard, mountains the landscape changes. The vineyard gives way to a middle-mountain land- scape, composed of vast forests and meadows dedicated to cattle breeding. These landforms, mostly from meta- morphic origin, which spread towards the Loire then to the Massif central, are auspicious to forestry and especially to growing pines. The decline of agri- culture during the second half of the XXth century led to the reforestation of these territories and in particular to the mono-specific plantation of Douglas fir, whose yield and quality of wood make it an interesting species for lumber.

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 9 Black woodpecker Hoopoe

Douglas fir forest

Monks hood Barbastell

Forest wildcat Woodcock

Elderberry orchid

A.3.3. forests, mostly the Douglas fir, which during the XVIth century, there were no occupies a larger surface area. Its forests left in the Beaujolais region. A mosaic spread is assisted by a vigorous self- They grew again from the XIXth century seeding. onwards when agricultural decline oc- of environments cured, and the public authorities en- The Douglas fir is grown and colonizes couraged the plantation of pines and set-aside lands, and results in a uniform douglas fir. Today, forests occupy 50 The territory’s fragmented forest is es- landscape. Up to 50 meters high and 000 hectares, which is one third of the sentially under private management. characterised by its fast growth, the territory. Wood production, ecological manage- Douglas pine (Pseudotsuga menziesii) ment, landscape conservation and as is the most common timber in the man- Under this forest cap thrives a com- a leisure destination for the general aged forests of the Beaujolais. plex biodiversity. The blocks of old public are amongst the many activities trees provide precious shelterfor birds Located in the High Azergues Valley that we have to reconcile to preserve and bats who make the most of all the and in the Trambouze Valley, the Doug- the forest ecosystem. holes, when on the ground dead wood las fir plantations give rise to a charac- enables mushrooms and insects to de- The forest covers 33.5 % of the total teristic landscape : uniform, dark, giving velop. surface of the applicant’s territory. an impression of large scale landscape, The prevalence of coniferous species they are mostly located on ridges. This Composed of small sized plots, the puts the landscape at risk of becoming forest environment is home to specific Beaujolais forests form a mosaic of enclosed and uniform. A differentia- wildlife: trees of all ages and species. In addi- tion has to be made however, between tion to the silver fir and the douglas the woodcock, the forest wildcat, the natural regrowth and the increase in fir, we can find spruce, larch, black black woodpecker, forest bats in beech managed forests. wood, sylvester pine and cedar... Fur- forests such as the barbastell and the ther to the east, while descending from In the first case, regrowth is the conse- greater mouse-eared bat, the common mountains, the forests change and are quence of the abandonment of agricul- raven or the lynx. mostly composed of chestnut, oak and tural land. This phenomenon is affect- The Beaujolais territory has always hornbeam wood. ing the most inaccessible places, which been ausipicous to the development The spreading of forests since the XXth are often sectors where agriculture has of forests. Man disturbed the natural century has allowed some mammals to ceased and there is no urbanisation to organisation following the massive de- regain their place. Today, around 8000 compensate. forestation during the Middle Ages, in deer and 800 boar have been counted In the second case, it is the economic order to provide agricultural lands with in the Beaujolais. Their population is development of coniferous managed construction wood, to such a point that, regulated by management plans and

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 10 A _ Identity of the candidate territory sustainable hunting. A small part is species. Occupied by a specific fauna, served hedges, flower or grass strips also ensured by reappearance of natu- these open spaces, once grazed by between plots. This is where second- ral predators, such as the bobcat or the herds of sheep or goats, contributed to ary fauna regains its place : pollinators, wild cat. the balance of the environment. These predators and parasites also help cul- special places are disappearing today. tures. The environment’s acid soils are appre- This is the reason why the actors of ciated by species such as the bracken this territory are joining to maintain fern or the foxglove. The High Beaujo- this environment, while encouraging The Saône Valley lais also welcomes the aconit tue-loup, the installation and the development of only spotted in the Rhône department adapted agricultural production. at the summit of the Saint-Rigaud The Saône Valley (“Val de Saône” in mountain, the martagon lys and the french) is one of the most emblematic sureau orchids. The open environment and fragile areas of the territory due to its multiple uses : water ressource, and vineyards agriculture, business parks, quarries, Moorland and dry transport by waterway, water sports, etc. grasslands The small valleys and the plains of the Beaujolais are suitable for agricultural The Saône Valley’s landscapes have production. In the hillsides, cattle and conserved their original aspect as low- Below the forests, as in Quincié-en- sheep farming dominates and focuses land forest (Alder, Ash, Oak, Willow) Beaujolais, some slopes appear dry, on meat, milk and cheese production. which develops naturally along river- punctuated by shrubs, rocky outcrops Winegrowing is most prevalent to the banks. The shallow depth and the qual- and sandy areas. This moorland often east of the region. ity of the water (presence of molluscs alternates between « dry grassland » and aquatic grass beds) give this place and natural environments with cropped The hedgerows are home to many spe- a role as a shelter and a breeding site vegetation. cies : from the end of summer and dur- for fish (Bream, Chub, Bleak, European ing fall, trees and bushes are covered Moorland and dry grassland can be Bitterling). with berries upon which blackcaps, li- found in the central part of the territory nottes and sparrows feast. There are The flora is also characteristic: the and contain characteristic and rare spe- also foxes and deer. Marsh Ragwort and the Summer Snow- cies. Dominated by Scotch broom in ad- flake are some of the remarkable spe- dition to hairy greenweed, arrowhead On the eastern plains and hillsides of cies we can find here. woadwaxen and heather, these places the mountains, vineyards thrive be- are home to the woodcock, the night- tween the many affluents of the Saône. During flooding, the waters of the River jar, the northern harrier or even the Implanted by monks and bishops during Saône spread over the water mead- Eurasian eagle-owl. On the limestone the Xth century, they are the result of a ows : this phenomenon leads to the hillsides, the dry grasslands shelter dif- rich ancestral legacy, in which specific creation of new environments, which ferent varieties of orchids, the hoopoe, practices and craftsmanship are passed are conducive to the development of the red-backed shrike and an uncom- on from generation to generation. a particular ecosystem, whose em- mon butterfly: the Piedmont ringlet. blematic flower is the Fritillary which In the middle of the vineyards, the blooms in March/April. Here, solar irradiance is strong, the smallest space left alone by human substrate poor and the water rare, activity is a haven for biodiversity : Some others with specific ecological which limits the implantation of forest low drystone walls, isolated trees, pre- requirements are less rare but none-

Eagle owl Beaujolais’ Moors

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 11 European Beaver European Bee-eater theless remarkable. The Unbranched tation of goods (salt, wood, containers constant temperatures. Their body Bur-reed, the Yellow Water-lily, the and oil) and for local transportation of temperature will then drop to 8°C un- Holly-leaved Naiad and the Brittle- sand and gravel. til the first mild nights of spring. The leaved Naiad are aquatic plants. One mines are one of the main of them has their flowers and leaves Mines and quarries hibernation sites and host the most at the surface of the water, the oth- beautiful community of species in the department. The Glay quarries repre- ers are completely immersed. Among The extraction of the Beaujolais un- sent a matching and reproduction site birds we can see the Eurasian curlew derground ressources began long ago : for at least 4 species, including the Ple- whose voice announces the Spring, The Romans extracted lead from it. For and the Stone-curlew. One can admire centuries, mines and quarries sprung cotus bats and the Daubenton murine the plumage of the Common Kingfisher up all over the territory, so much so bats. From the end of august, males and the European Bee-eater in addi- that each village and sometimes even meet, waiting for females to visit, cre- tion to the Sandpipers, the Stilts and each hamlet, still bear the marks of ating a strange ballet that lasts a few three species of Heron (Night Heron, spaces dedicated to extraction long weeks, until the beginning of october. Purple Heron, Grey Heron) that nest ago. Spawing will only take place during the here. The European Beaver is also pres- summer months. ent, but not permanently installed. Pike From the beginning of the mining op- erations, the mines and quarries were Since 2004, quarry industries have is found in the spawning areas, and the been offering operators a voluntary Bitterling is present too. inhabited by many species. Birds such as the Eurasian eagle-owl, enjoy the step towards environmental progress, The lônes, which are secondary beds quarries’ rock walls in which they build regulated by a charta and ever more of the Saône, totally or partially discon- their nests. The yellow-bellied toad rigorous standards. The challenge is nected of the main riverbed, area real is fond of the temporary pools often to push on towards a respectful opera- pools of biodiversity. The Saône River seen in quarries. With its tion that will be in concordance with is the only river in the Beaujolais terri- heart-shaped pupil, the heritage of the surroundings. It’s tory which is big enough for naviga- its round nose not unusual to discuss with business tion. It is a strategic axis and its yellow managers about natural vegetalization for transportation, and black belly methods or about the emergence of and boats were, exposed in the face of dan- uncommon species. for a long ger, this little toad is easily time, recognizable. Rivers and wetlands In Beaujolais, underground quar- ries and mines welcome almost half of the cave bats species in Europe. The wetlands and aquatic environ- They are especially important during ments can be found throughout the towed by men before winter time, when seasonal lethargy entire territory, mostly at the heads of horses took over this task. sets in. These flying mammals then the catchment areas, as waterpoints Today, river transport is find shelter in the galeries they trea- and permanent streams, wet meadows, still used for the transpor- sure for their calm, humidity and peatbogs, gravel pits, reed beds, river-

Oedicnème criard

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 12 A _ Identity of the candidate territory bank woodlands, etc.). These places are under its claws, but this criteria isn’t they represent, they are gradually be- remarkable for their biological diversity always respected. This crayfish is today ing recognized and preserved. Indeed, with rare plant and animal species. threatened with extinction because of they have a part in managing the water pollution, the physical degradation of supplies (in quantity and quality) and Below the green Beaujolais summits, are useful to many species, for their many springs ooze where the slope streams and rivers and the competition reproduction and foodsupply. breaks and the groundwater crops out. of other exotic crayfish, like the signal The water is generally of excellent crayfish, that spread terrible diseases. Once omnipresent near springs, quality, although a bit acidic because of Among the many springs of the Beau- streams, at the bottom of small val- the rock composition. The locals have jolais, the one in Saint-Rigaud is prob- leys and plains, most of the wetlands even grown into the habit of putting ably the most well-known and the most have vanished, having been drained or marble slabs at the water springs in visited. According to an ancient belief, filled. Although declining, they keep order to balance the pH. Waters com- it is endowed with miraculous powers : on shaping the landscape. During the ing from limestone terrains are, on the it could cure rheumatism, sore-throats, inventory conducted in 2012, at least contrary, more basic. fevers... and above all it could make 1300 wetlands were identified in the Beaujolais ! According to another study Coming from the same family as the women fertile again ! The story goes conducted in 2014, one out of five area cabbage and mustard, watercress that an old healer monk, who was the of wetland is under threat, thus the ne- boasts several species, some of which last survivor of his religious community, cessity to act in order to preserve them. grow on drylands and others on wet- was buried in the spring itself, thus giv- lands. Among them, the watercress ing it his powers. If ponds and swamps are easily iden- from fountain, eaten since Antiquity tified, water meadows and bogs are Today, this belief lingers on, as the and grown since the XIXth century, ex- often more difficult to recognize. Sev- many crosses left by pilgrims decorat- ists in its natural state in the Beaujolais eral critera help to identify wetlands. ing the site prove. They were made region. Firstly, the vegetation changes color from the materials found around it, ac- and differents species appear when the You are however not advised to eat cording to custom. Another belief says ground is wet - for example, there are a it in this form, since its renowned for that the Saint-Rigaud spring comes lot of rushes. Secondly, the color of the hosting a dangerous parisite : the liver from the Alps, thanks to a gigantic 100 ground is changed because of the wa- fluke. Also called goldencress, the « do- kilometers drain. Don’t be fooled, it’s ter (rust-coloured, blackish or greyish rine à feuilles opposées » is also easily only a local tale ! In truth, the water depending on the type of soil). found in springs and cold waters. This comes from rainfall that seeps into the plant has interesting healing proper- ground and then spouts out because The wetlands are shelter for very spe- ties : it prevents and treats gall-bladder of the overflow due to the waterproof cific species, adapted to water. Some of them, such as the golden cinquefoil troubles such as gallbladder and liver loamy soil. This phenomenon also and the sundew are vulnerable and congestion or kidney stones. explains how we can find springs so delicate. Their presence shows how The whitefeet crayfish can be seen close to the summit, which is pretty healthy the wetland is and how effec- in clear streams, upstream from the rare. Misunderstood, even overlooked, tive the methods used to preserve it Reins, the Ardières and the Azergues. these wetlands have sparked legends are. Its name comes from the white color and tales. Today, considering the stakes

White-clawed crayfish

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 13 A.3.4. Cultural and human landscape

Located on or near two important com- munication and migration axes the Beaujolais soil was trodden by man and fauna from prehistoric times. The proof of their presence is manifest in the mountains, on the hillsides and to the far reaches of the plains. Thus we can find traces of human oc- cupation from the Lower Paleolithic (Acheuléen) up to protohistoric times. The famous deposit of Alix, covering a considerable surface of 400 hectares, contains an abundance of artefacts of the lithic industry of the Middle Palaeo- lithic (Mousterian), elements of which are found up to the high course of the Loire, Side of the Puy-en-Velay. From this site, and from other more concen- trated sites (Anse, Belmont-Charnay, Nety-Milly à St-Etienne-des-Oullières,

Ludna à St-Georges-de-Reneins, Le Ga- Map of archaeological deposits ret à Villefranche-sur- Saône, Les salles à , etc.) there are rel- ics of diverse activities dated to the Upper Palaeolithic (Aurignacien-Gravet- tien), the Mesolithic and the Neolithic. However, no settlements have been identified in the Beaujolais. These activities of working, shaping and polishing various stones, produced at least two materials from the geology of the Beaujolais: Jurassic flint from Alix (essentially Bathonian in age) and the metabasalt from Brévenne (Devonian green amphibolite schist). An almost complete record of these activities has recently been assembled and present- ed to the public at the museum of the Espace Pierres Folles at St-Jean-des- Vignes.

The main soil types of the Beaujolais vineyard A : Granitic soil of the crus area (Juliénas) B : Altered granitic soil (Chénas) C : Granitic soil (Fleurie) Flint of Alix D : Schists and altered granitic soil (Morgon) E : Sandy-Clayey soil (Beaujolais) F : Clayey-calcareous soil (Beaujolais Villages) ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 14 A _ Identité du territoire candidat

Agricultural and silvicultural landscape of Green Beaujolais

When a diversified Chénas or the Juliénas, are produced high quality pastures and fodder for in soils covering different types of Car- the rearing of cattle, sheep and goats. geology fully partici- boniferous granite. Other good wines pates in the economy such as Côte-de-Brouilly or Morgon and heritage of the are primarily associated with more re- A remarkable archi- stricted, rare geological facies : the De- territory vonian amphibolite honfels schist and tectural heritage, The Beaujolais offers a great diversity microdiorite. Some good wines (Rég- the strong mark of of landscapes, resources as well as nat- nié, Brouilly, Saint-Amour) benefit from the geology in the ural and human heritage. This is largely the fluvio-glacial clay rich sands of the due to the complexity of its geology. Pleistocene. The Beaujolais-Villages construction and the Geology is clearly clearly expressed are found essentially on polygenic silica traditional architectu- throughout a remarkable multiplicity of rich lands of either Palaeozoic volca- ral heritage landscapes born of the agricultural eco- nic or metamorphic origin. The popular nomic activity, and it is at the heart of Beaujolais wines are produced in the If the geology of the Beaujolais is often an architectural heritage whose reputa- area of Mesozoic clayey-limestones of covered by vines, forests, pastures or tion is known outside the territory. The the southern Beaujolais or, in the an- human habitation, it is no less visible geological heritage of the Beaujolais is cient Quaternary alluvium bordering through the architectural heritage of therefore everything that the geology the Saône River plain. this territory. Rich in its stone varieties of this area has created in the history the traditional construction is a true and lives of its inhabitants, as crafted “permanent exhibition” of the numer- by them, in the past as in the present, The forest and rural ous types of Beaujolais geology. Tour- a true geo-heritage. ists are above all struck by the beauty landscapes from the and special atmosphere of the “Pierres geology to forestry Dorées” area (Aalenain yellow crinoidal The winemaking lands- limestone). One of the villages Oingt management and has been listed amongst the “Most cape of the Beaujolais, cattle rearing Beautiful Villages in France”. Together, a group of villages have submitted an a direct link between Forestry activity occurs across a large application to become a “Towns and geology, wine cultiva- part of the Beaujolais territory, mostly Lands of Art and History”. Certainly in the high ground to the west. This for- tion and wine produc- other villages display this yellow stone est production shows a clear relation- architecture which draws admiration tion ship with the geology. The distribution and affnity of inhabitants and visitors, Adjacent to the Haut Beaujolais Moun- of the plantations with the commonly amongst which Theizé, Jarnioux ou tains, the oriental slopes, exposed to used species, the Fir, Douglas Fir and Charnay are well known. Around these the east and gently sloping, are mainly Spruce, correlate well with the distri- you will find a remarkable heritage of oriented towards viticulture, where bution of the Carboniferous rhyolite dry stone work, with an abundance of precisely where the geology of the and siliceous volcanic and hypovolca- walls, low stone walls and traditional territory displays its most beautiful di- nic rocks of the Haut Beaujolais. These rural shelters “cadoles”. versity. Thus, most of the good wines, same terrains benefit sometimes from the celebrated Moulin-à-Vent, Fleurie, an enriching in lime that results in very

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 15 Jarnioux’ Castle Saint-Nizier’s viaduct

There is equally another widespread A.4.1. and valorization projects, by offering heritage, both of major or minor im- educational activities and by taking portance, a true reflection of the “Ci- The Syndicat care of the communication and the vilisation of the Stone” that is so clear scientific aspects of the project, the throughout the Beaujolais : churches, Mixte Syndicat Mixte du Beaujolais is the town halls, factories and simple rural The Geopark Beaujolais project is im- main player in the implementation of homes made of Carboniferous grey- plemented by the Syndicat Mixte du the application to the UNESCO Global pink porphyroid granite or red micro- Beaujolais which brings together sev- Geopark label. granite; viaducts, windmills and country eral tools for implementing sustainable houses built in Visean black and grey development. volcanic rocks; factories and bridges The territorial charter is the core The Syndicat mixte du Beaujolais is made of Cambrio-Ordovician green document concerning the sustainable therefore in charge of carrying the development strategy for the territory gneissic schist’s; chapels and wells of development policies and bringing to- in all domaines : agriculture, economic Triassic sandstone; castles and church- gether municipalities at a supra-local development... A common base for all es of Bathonian white oolitic limestone; level. the policies and actions planned on wash houses, steps, frames and walls the territory. The Syndicat Mixte du made of Sinemurian grey shelly lime- Beaujolais has been using this tool stone etc. The territorial coherence program since 1999 and has revised it every is an urban planning document and a ten years. tool for strategic planning which per- mits municipalities and intercommunal- The territorial project is built around 4 ities to establish coherent policies. This strategic priorities: A.4. program regulates territorial evolution Putting natural riches and heritage with land planning and development at the heart of the Beaujolais; projects geared towards sustainability. THE ORGANIZA- Developing the territory in a sustain- TION IN CHARGE able way through a reconsidered ter- The Geopark in Beaujolais ap- ritorial organization; AND THE STRUC- proach : Since 2012, the Syndicat Welcoming firms and employment in TURES OF Mixte du Beaujolais has been in charge the Beaujolais; of the Beaujolais Geopark project. By Asserting a territorial governance in bringing together local stakeholders MANAGEMENT order to support projects and manage around this project, but also by guid- the future of the Beaujolais. ing and accompanying municipalities who manage geosites into planning

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 16 A _ Identity of the candidate territory

Bayère’s Castle Icehouse Charnay’s Castle

These initiatives are organised into Hosting policy : territorial marketing A.4.2. key issues and priority directions; the that aims at welcoming new active peo- Geopark project is linked to many of ple in this rural environment in order to How does them : reinvigorate the economic structure, shops and local craft. the organization The forestry charter : Implemented by the forestry orientation law enacted The leader program is a European work ? in 2001, the territory foresty charter is program which supports innovative a tool created in order to organize the projects in rural areas. It encourages The Beaujolais Syndicat Mixte is a planning and sustainable development experimentation and innovation in se- grouping of local authorities whose project of the territories, allowing the lected applicant territories. Structured operation is governed by elected mem- inclusion forests in their cultural, social, around a Local Action Group (GAL) it bers representing the four inter-munic- ecological and economical environment. is a local democratic body that unites ipality associations. public and private stakeholders who work to develop the territorial strategy The landscape charter : since 2008, and decide which projects to support. The political body : The management the landscape charter has helped iden- Between 2009 and 2014 our territory, comity has 49 regular members and tify the landscape’s features as part of through this Leader program, has had 15 substitute members. The manage- a diagnosis in order to make local rep- ment committee meets once each quar- resentatives and stakeholders aware of the goal of becoming an eco-territory; assisting innovative projects to control ter and takes the decisions about the the necessity to preserve the quality specific competences of the SMB and energy and enhance local know-how in of the Beaujolais landscape. This char- votes the budget. The executive board the wood-derived, textile and agricul- ter is meant to anticipate the specific (Bureau Syndical) is elected by the tural industries. dispositions necessary for the sustain- management committee from within ability of the quality of the landscape its members. Its 16 members include a in urban planning documents, and rec- president, 4 vice-presidents and 11 del- ommendations of territorial develope- egates. This executive board meet once ment. a month to follow the implementation of the territorial project and deal with day-to-day business.

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 17 Syndicat Mixte du Beaujolais

Ouda MECHAIN, responsable Daniel PACCOUD, administrative Président

Aménagement du Développement local Geopark Territoire

Edith TAVERNIER, Marylise BAILHACHE, Douglas MARTIN, Charlotte Clément CAZÉ, Bertrand GIRARD, Quentin CHARBONNIER, chargée de missions chargée de missions Bruno ROUSSELLE, animateur Charte Stagiaire animateur Leader politique d'accueil et Coordinatrice Geopark et BESOMBES, chargé de missions chargé de mission Forestière de Territoire géologue urbanisme économie de proximité tourisme chargée de projet géo-patrimoines

Equipe technique dédiée au Geopark Beaujolais

L’ensemble des agents dédiés aux services transversaux (politiques contractuelles, économie, environnement, agriculture, tourisme, communication, SIG, administration, …) apportent également leur contribution à la démarche Geopark, de manière ponctuelle en fonction des besoins

Geopark and Syndicat Mixte du Beaujolais staff organization chart

A.5. A.5.2. lais geopark in 2016. The communication, partnerships Working groups TECHNICAL SUP- and lobbying working group focuses on three axes: the internal communi- PORT AND INTER- cation within the territory, raising the As the Beaujolais Geopark project is visibility of the Beaujolais Geopark pro- much more than an institutional pro- LOCUTORS ject and being present at the main re- ject, there are many people involved gional and territorial events and encou- in the process. Experts and qualifed IN CHARGE OF raging the development of geotourism. volunteers have completed the techni- THE PROJECT cal team. Thus Bruno Rousselles, geo- Serge Gabardo is our referent for the logist and curator of the Espace Pierres working group « Educational action Folles Museum, is the expert in geology and public awareness-raising ». Former A.5.1. for the application and is the techni- school director and Beaujolais elected cal reference for the scientific working representative, he is experienced and The Geopark group. His skills are precious and essen- uses his skills to further the territorial tial to the project, so a convention has project. Beaujolais team been signed between the SMB and the The « educational action » working Espace Pierres Folles in order to esta- group aims at managing the educatio- blish partnership conditions. The Beaujolais geopark’s technical nal aspects of the Geopark project. This support team is composed of three The Scientific committee or scien- working group is composed of local and employees and one intern : tific working group : The scientific regional educational stakeholders and commitee consists of experts from the is pursuing a triple objective : facilita- Marylise Bailhache, applicant territory or who have worked ting the creation of new educational Officer for tourism and local develop- on the applicant territory. Linked to the offers or the reinforcement of asso- ment universities and their researchers, this ciations who are in partnership with group works on the methodology, the the project, geosites and the territory Charlotte Besombes, inventory and the documentation of ; promoting cooperation between edu- Project geopark officer and CIFRE the geosites, such as a general guide cational stakeholders and structures postgraduate (University of Grenoble). on the geology of the Beaujolais re- for public cultural actions and the Clément Cazé, gion. development of innovative, good qua- lity educational initiatives; to optimise Geoheritage officer Chantal Pegaz is an ardent ambassa- the development of these educational dor of the territory and instigated the Alexandre Chignier, actions through the implementation Geopark project. She is the referent for Geopark application intern of a shared, capitalised and evaluated the « Communication, Partnerships and methodology. Lobbying » working group., which esta- blished an Ambassador for the Beaujo- Ginette Dufour is a former geography

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 18 A _ Identity of the candidate territory teacher, local councillor and is passio- It is by relying on the human resource mids they have become the object of nate about mineralogy. This is why she from the territory itself that the Geo- informative guided walks. The strong has become the referent for the « Geo- park project ensures a scientific and wish to create geosites in this territory, sites » working group. territorial coherence. linked with water history, strengthens the Association IPP (the Association The « Geosites » working group is The idea of proposing the Beaujolais composed of local stakeholders drawn as the future French Geopark did not Whether the Morguières of Theizé, from diverse backgrounds. In the buil- only win the support of the mayors and the wetlands of the Haut-Beaujolais, ding of the project, this group has pro- councillors, but it won immediate ap- the River Saône, the Douglas fir for- duced a methodology for the inventory proval of the inhabitants of the whole ests, the former quarries of Glay, the and prioritisation of identified sites in region. In talking about the geology gravel pits, the agriculture or the farm- the database, creating detailed files on of a territory, its influence on people’s ing, everyone can find a fitting place each site (cf. appendices). This group lives as well as man’s action to discover, in the Geopark project to show the in- has been divided into territorial wor- understand and draw on the best part telligence and the knowledge of our king groups in order to work on the ma- of the ground below our feet, every- ancestors who have used the geology nagement of geosites by municipality. one feels involved in such a story and in the castles and villages, from the They have also engaged key actors in wants to make their contribution to- unassuming vernacular heritage and in the project. In the long term this group wards it. Widespread mobilisation natu- agriculture. Therefore, all we have to do will establish management and valori- rally takes place and is accompanied is to look at and admire this geological sation plans for the sites together with with enthusiasm from all the various mosaic. Tourism stakeholders, such as the current managing bodies. stakeholders of the territory. For in- the association «Atouts Beaujolais » or stance the wine growers through the the SMB, promote the heritage inter- work of characterisation of the “ter- est in the geosites to generate curios- A.5.3. roirs” completed in a very scientific ity in geowalks: the discovery of the manner by SIGALES, has deepened the geological ressources linked to Beau- The Geopark understanding the origins and “raison jolais tourist attractions (landscapes, d’être” of the different Beaujolais des- architecture, knowledge, local produce and its local ignations. etc.). There is a lot of communication at network meetings and wider general meetings The association « Elles&Beaujolais » in order to explain what a Geopark is, comprises women who are passionate and enable everyone to participate in about their region and wine culture, the project. Rich from the involvement of local through their educational project for stakeholders and inhabitants, the Geo- primary schools, to raise awareness park project also works with many par- amongst children about the geology of tners throughout the territory. The pre- their region and teach them to respect paration for application to the UNESCO their environment. Global Geopark Network has been achieved thanks to the participation of Landscapes, a natural but fragile re- all the territorial stakeholders. Indeed, source have become a major concern since the launch of the Geopark project, for the Beaujolais. The entire territory each initiative has sought to draw on has adopted the Charte de Fontevraud, the existing associations and to create an International Charter for Vineyard momentum between them. Thus it Land-scapes following the member- helps ease the isolation of these ini- ship of the “Pays des Brouilly“ to this tiatives in place within the applicant charter. These landscapes tell about territory. The forum of the 28th of the evolution of the territory, from the February 2013 was organized in that Palaeozoic to modern days, and every- spirit: to allow the inhabitants to voice one is proud to know how to read them. their opinions for they are the best Associations which have maintained ambassadors for their heritage riches, these testimonies from the past have and are its finest connoisseurs. Since understood what development and then, the project governance has been communication they can build using built with the same philosophy: wor- the Geopark project. king groups have brought together the elected representatives, technicians The geomorphological processes that and civil society stakeholders who are led to the setting up of “extraordi- the heart of the project. Particular tools nary” stones of Régnié and Lantignié were developed in order to allow the have not even been identified. They widest diversity of people to partici- had become the bane of winemakers, pate and be involved. In fact knowledge and they now take central stage in the of the land cannot be only institutional. press. Having been used to form pyra-

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 19 B / Geological heritage B.1. GENERAL GEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TERRITORY

B.1.1. Beaujolais’ Geology and its Impact on the Natural and Human Landscape

Bordered by the vast Variscan French Massif Central domain to the west and the external periphery zone of the Alpine domain, the Beaujolais has one of the most complex geologies found within France and Europe. Its rocks are formed in nearly every type of inter- nal and external geodynamic setting. There is a surprisingly high range of processes and span of geological ages represented there. For more than two centuries numerous scientific studies have highlighted the importance of this region for unders- tanding large parts of French and Euro- pean geological history : the Devonian oceanic and intra continental ophiolitic Massif Central episode, the Variscan volcano-sedimentary and orogenic “Microgranite Rouge” of the Reins and Rhône department is north-south cycle in the -Vosges zone, the Trambouze Valley’s. This gives to the (mountains to the west, hills and plains general post-Variscan peneplanation, area a great wealth in architectural and of the Saône to the east). However the Mesozoic epicontinental marine rural heritage. Wine making, forestry, the geological substratum of the Pays transgression in the North West Tethys agriculture and raising cattle, as well as Beaujolais runs slightly oblique to this domain, the Tertiary tectonics of the industry and tourism have benefitted, axis; the main geological units of this Alpine foreland basin, the peri-orogenic and continue today to benefit from this region form distinct bands of varying development of the large fluvio-glacial diversity of geological resources. width that are aligned approximately system of the Saône Basin and the pre- NNE-SSW. These geological alignments historic occupation and axis of migra- broadly determine the position and tion of this basin and its periphery. B.1.2. organisation of the relief, the hydro- graphic network, human settlements In this land where the geology is so and the economy. They are a major generous, its influence on the lands- The major structural characteristic of this eas- cape and human activities is particular- geological units tern segment of the Massif Central and ly marked. Local construction benefits constitute a direct legacy dating to the from an exceptional number of stone of the Beaujolais times of the Hercynian Orogeny. qualities such as the renowned “Pierre Dorée” of South West Beaujolais, At the heart of this structural organisa- The overall orientation of the princi- “Granite Gris des Crus”, the “Volcanite tion there is a vast collection of prima- pal geographic entities of the northern Noire” of the Haute Azergues or the ry terrains composed of metamorphic

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 20 B _ Geological heritage and magmatic formations. These rocks gea. The Palaeozoic of the Beaujolais etc. These igneous and sedimentary make up three quarters of the territory. holds a remarkable testament of the processes are linked to the evolution In its westerly part these formations deep roots of the vast, high Variscan of the active continental margin which rise into a mountainous massif. The mountain chain whose importance is existed and functioned on the edge of crystalline basement is generally sub- central to global paleogeographic his- Gondwana between the Cambrian and divided into three parallel bands with tory. The abundance and complexity the Ordovician, and maybe as far back a wide central volcanic band (exten- of the Beaujolais Palaeozoic terrains as the late Precambrian. ding from Amplepuis to Lamure and the contribute directly to the geological Pays de la Grosne) separating two thin- and heritage richness of the territory. ner granitic and metamorphic bands 2. The Lower Palaeozoic volcano- The Beaujolais Palaeozoic history can (from the Pays de to the vicinity sedimentary suite was transformed be divided into six principal phases, of the Crus (Ardières-Mauvaise); and into gneiss from the end of the Ordo- each of which is represented by prima- from the Pays de Thizy-Cours-la-Ville rily igneous, metamorphic or structu- vician. This occurred in a subduction to Monsols). To the west and south- rally distinct units: setting due to the progressive closing west of Villefranche the Mesozoic shale of the Rheic Ocean between Gondwana and limestone formations form low hills and Euramerica. During the Silurian and with gentle sides which about isolated 1. A variable series of both ortho- and a large part of the Devonian, the deve- higher mountains such as those in the para- gneisses found in the Monts du lopment of the Beaujolais gneiss took south-east of the territory (north of the Lyonnais (the extreme south-east of place in the Upper Gneiss Nappe of the or in the Mont d’Or). Finally, the Beaujolais region) and the sectors internal zone of the Massif Central (the in the eastern margins of the Beaujo- of , St-Loup-Dareizé or Montme- “Avergne-Voges” domain). The rocks lais there are superficial Tertiary and were buried at depth and then trans- Quaternary formations running parallel las-St-Sorlin. These either originate ported to a higher level in the conti- to the River Saône. These large allu- from essentially acid volcanic and plu- nental crust. During these intracrustal vial and fluvio-glacial deposits extend tonic rocks, with accessory basic and movements the rocks were extensively across the course of the river and its ultra-basic units, or they are formed affected, but to differing degrees and terraces. from extensive detrital quartz rich sedimentation that occurred in diverse at different times. They experienced geodynamic contexts: epicontential mid to high pressure metamorphism, B.1.3. basin, volcanic island arc, intracrustal isostatic re-equilibrium and anataxis, fault trough, upper continental crust compressional tectonics and thrusting, The Paleozoic metamorphic and igneous crystalline basement

It was during the Palaeozoic that the principal episode in the geological history of the Beaujolais took place; lasting almost 300 million years, it nearly spanned the entire Era. Loca- ted in the centre of France and to the west of Europe, this territory has re- corded the geodynamic evolution of the Massif Central. For a long time this continental segment has been key to the general understanding of the pan- European geodynamics. To the north- east of this massif the diverse and complex Beaujolais basement is made up of most of the significant geological units of the Massif Central. It offers a comprehensive history of the initiation and evolution of the Hercynian oroge- nic cycle which resulted in the suture of the Gondwanan and Euramerican continents and the formation of Pan-

Gneiss

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 21 Timeline of the Beaujolais’ geological history

Beaujolais’ detailed geological map

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 22 B _ Geological heritage

Anthraciferous tufs in Saint Jean La Bussière Volcano-sedimentary series of the former quarry in Cours

complex of the Beaujolais and the Bré- (metasiltstones and metaarenites). venne characterise a new geodynamic In the Upper Visean after some epio- environment; an active continental rogenic movements (Voges phase), a margin linked to a subduction zone, final volcanic and hypovolcanic phase probably as part of the final closure of affected the whole of west Beaujolais. the Rheic Ocean. The volcanic part of A vast rift valley formed between Feurs the Beaujolais series contains strati- and Mâcon into which voluminous lava form metallogenic deposits which have and pyroclastics from an intense calc- once been mined (the deposits of Ches- alkaline volcanism were deposited. sy-les-Mines). These were interbedded with coal The tectonic phase known as Brévenne layers and together formed the Tufs took place at the transition from the Anthracifères. Rhyolitic ignimbrites Metagabbro in Rivolet Lower Visean to Middle Visean. It which can show good prismatic join- as well as significant shortening. brought about the folding and meta- ting (the columnar lava of St-Victor-sur- morphism of the whole Devonian- Rhins), rhyodacitic lavas and microgra- Dinantien series. This episode had a nitic hypovolcanic units accumulated 3. Following the final phase of mid south-east vergence. The overturning in great thicknesses, and today largely Palaeozoic tectonics which deformed thrusts were directed towards, or onto dominate the geology of the West and the older metamorphic suite, an Up- the underlying Lyonnais metamorphic North-West Beaujolais. The anthracite per Devonian to early Carboniferous basement. veins gave rise to a number of mines (Dinantian to Lower Visean) series of (Ste-Paule, St-Vincent-de-Reins, St- volcano-sedimentary and volcano-plu- Claude-Huissel…). The volcanic rocks tonic rocks were developed. This hap- 4. Prior to the drama of the intercon- were actively worked as a major source pened either concurrently or successi- tinental Variscan collision, two sedi- of aggregate for road building (St-Jean- vely, and the rocks are known as those mentary and volcanic episodes left an la-Bussière, St-Vincent-de-Reins, St- of the Beaujolais and the Brévenne. important mark on the geological his- Didier-sur-Beaujeu, St-Julien-en-Beau- The first, which is associated with the tory of the Beaujolais at the end of the jolais, Rivolet). metasediments of Gresle to the west, Lower Carboniferous (Middle to Upper The Sudetenland major tectonic phase is mainly characterised by detrital sedi- Visean). folded and epimetamorphosed all the ments (units from the -Cruizon igneous and metasedimentary base- and ). They contain peridotite ment of the Beaujolais Upper Devonian olistoliths (Ponts-Tarrets unit), quart- First, during the Middle Visean a detri- and Lower Carboniferous. The Visean ziferous and sodium volcano-plutonics tal, limestone sedimentary series that volcano-sedimentary formations and (plagiogranites and quartz diorites of was interbedded with rhyolite lava the Sudetenland phase tectonics can the St-Vérand unit / trachytic lavas of flows, was deposited in a peri-volca- be easily observed in the remarkable the Callet unit) and ophiolites (gabbros nic, shallow equatorial marine setting. quarry of Cours-la-Ville, a veritable and dolerites of the Rivolet unit). The These metasedimentary schists and “window” on the Beaujolais geology in second suite of rocks in the Brévenne grey limestone marbles covered large Carboniferous times. area primarily shows basic rocks (meta- areas; today they notably found in basalts and metagabbros) and ultraba- the region of Thizy-les-Bourgs (the sics. Associated with these are more limestone and conglomerate series of 5. During the Upper Carboniferous silica rich volcanic rocks that formed Montagny, which until recently was (Namurian-Westphalien), in Beaujolais in an intracrustal oceanic rift margin quarried for lime), the massif of St-Ri- as in the rest of the Massif Central, setting. The igneous and sedimentary gaud and the area of Tarare-Valsonne a generalised episode of infracrustal

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 23 partial melting brought about the rise B.1.4. Beaujolais, they have been removed and emplacement of numerous monzo- by erosion. granitic plutonic massifs (the granites The marine For a long time, the Mesozoic sedi- of Sarcey and St-Laurent-de-Chamous- ments of Lyon and the Beaujolais have set, Odenas-Fleurie, Monsols and St- Mesozoic been the focus of numerous studies. Jacques-des-Arrêts). Most of these sedimentary This is due to their complexity, the intrusions brought about important number of sedimentary ensembles and contact metamorphism with diverse cover because of their specific position at honfels facies, such as those seen the eastern edge of the Massif Central. on the west flank of Mont Brouilly at These studies have aimed to define Odenas, or the Crêt du Py at Villié-Mor- Above the erosional surface of the Per- the details of the Mesozoic oceanic gon. At the end of the Carboniferous mo-Triassic, the Mesozoic sea has left transgression at the western limit of extensional strike-slip tectonics which numerous strands of evidence in the the South-Eastern French Basin. Geo- are well known in the nearby Stepha- Beaujolais, principally in the south-east logists from many research units have nian age basins of St-Etienne, Autun (in the region of Villefranche and the worked in this area, however most have and Creuzot, also affected the Beaujo- massif of Mont d’Or). The sedimentary come from, and indeed still come from lais (La Chapelle-sous-Dun, St-Nizier- series preserved spans from the Middle The University of Lyon and its affiliates d’Azergues, Brévenne area etc.). Into Triassic to the Upper Jurassic, which (The Catholic University of Lyon, Bour- these depressions detrital continental is almost 80 million years. Cretaceous gogne University, European Universi- sediments were deposited mixed with sediments cannot be found in the ties, Museum de Lyon, etc.). coal beds, of which some were suitable for mining.

6. The Variscan system in the Mas- sif Central came to a close during the end Carboniferous and Permian. Wit- hin a continuing extensional context, a dense network of microgranites deve- loped and quartzose hydrothermal acti- vity gave rise to abundant veins as well as more diffuse mineralised zones (E.g. The Thizy-les-Bourgs-St-Jean-la-Bus- sière alteration zone). These incorpo- rated numerous minerals largely of Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Sb, barite, fluorite (the mines at Claveisolles, Chénelette, Pro- pières, Beaujeu, Lantignié, , etc…). In the terminal stages of the Variscan orogeny at the close of the Carboni- ferous, intense erosion brought about peneplanation of the Beaujolais. Pro- ducts of eroding reliefs invaded peri- pheral depressions (detrital Permo- Triassic sandstone formations). The major unconformity that separates the Palaeozoic crystalline basement from the sandy detrital sediments at the base of the Mesozoic is clearly visible at the side of road north of the Larfarge cement factory in Châtillon-d’Azergues.

Beaujolais’ stratigraphy

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 24 B _ Geological heritage

The great abundance of lithology’s and etc.). These marls are clearly visible in structures that can be observed in the the tile quarry of Prony in the village sedimentary sequences of the Meso- of Oingt. zoic in the Beaujolais were brought During the Toarcian at the end of the about due to the varied marine geologi- Lower Jurassic, similar offshore ocea- cal history of the territory. This history nographic conditions prevailed as is marked by a great range of deposi- seen during the Pliensbachian. It was tional environments. The paleoenvi- however were marked by an impor- ronmental diversity was a direct result tant oceanic-climatic event known as of the specific paleogeogaphic position the “TOAE”, (Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic of the Beaujolais at the hinge between Event). There was an abrupt slowing the “Terre Centrale” (Massif Central) in the argilocalcareous sedimentation and the epicontinental Alpine Basin; a leading to the heavy concentration of long lasting setting that favoured the fossils, notably of cephlopods (Ammo- rapidly alternating and repeated ocea- Sinemurian limestone with gryphae nites, Nautilus and Belemnites). In the nographic depositional conditions. The rest of the stratigraphy is above Lafarge Cement Quarry at Belmont this The Mesozoic transgression was ini- all characterised by many open marine event is well developed and clearly vi- tiated in the Triassic and was first environments. These oscillate between sible; there are also many vertebrate represented by littoral and marginal- shoreface, distal and deep offshore set- remains (ichtyosaurs, plesiosaurs, littoral environments with a continental tings. crocodiles and fish). A giant, 9m long, influence. The essentially sandy sedi- Ichtyosaur was exhumed in 1984 and mentation was brought about under a a cast is on display in the Museum of hot and dry inter-tropical climate with The celebrated Sinemurian grey, regu- the Espace Pierres Folles. The major the active erosion of Terre Centrale. lar bedded, limestone with Gryphea part of the museums paeleontological These thick sandy deposits indicated reveals a shallow marine environment collections come from this quarry. a stable littoral dynamic: stratified dominated by tropical storm currents Still within the Lafarge Quarry, as deposits formed by longshore drift or and marine swells. It has a reputation in many other southerly sites in the tides, channelized deltaic deposits, as a high quality building stone, and Beaujolais (Mont d’Or, Glay, Ville-sur- wave and current ripples, desiccation its many fossils of oysters and giant Jarnioux etc.),there are outcrops of cracks and salt pseudomorphs etc. One ammonites also add to its aesthetic yellow crinoidal limestone, or “Pierre must not forget the reptile footprints appeal. Some quarries show this stone Dorée”. Dated to the beginning of the (Archosaurs or Lacertoids) which have off magnificently, such as at St-Jean- Middle Jurassic (Aalenian) it is equally made the formation very well known, des-Vignes, Limas, Theizé, etc. well known for the strong mark it has notably in the Mont d’Or (St-Germain, Higher up the sequence the Lower made on the natural and architectural Chasselay), the preferred study location landscape in south Beaujolais. Here one Pliensbachian (Carixien) limestones and for Lyonnais Ichnology. can discover, at many sites, the traces marls are literally steeped in belemnite of an ocean dynamic dominated by tidal At the very beginning of the Jurassic, rostra. Following on the Upper Pliens- currents and tropical storms that cir- the first real carbonate environments bachian (Domerian) sediments repre- culated in the shallow waters of the appeared. In following the Pierres sent the shallowest epicontinental sea North-West Tethys Ocean. Folles geological footpath at St-Jean- levels; in the distal offshore there are des-Vignes the Hettangien beds abundant remains of deep sea nekto- The following Bajorcian “Ciret” facies is show many mottled argilocalcareous nic organisms (ammonites, belemnites a series of rhythmically bedded marly li- sediments. These were deposited in a changeable shallow, tropical coas- tal domain alternating between open marine conditions (shelly and oolitic limestones), restricted lagoons (fine grained shale rich limestones and azoic shales) or mixed environments (bedded or sandy limestones, sublithogrpahic limestones). Equivalent depositional environments, more rich in limestone and chalk, appear at the top of the Mesozoic stratigraphic sequence (Cal- lovien and Oxfordien) in the region of Belleville (, Lancié).

Ichthyosaurus discovered in Lafarge quarry

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 25 mestones laid down in a distal offshore as that of Bresse. It was here that the the ridge of , south of Vil- setting. Finally, there is another forma- Beaujolais began its unique develop- lefranche. The brittle tectonic activity tion, also well known in construction: ment, constrained to the west by this continued a little in the Miocene but the Bajorcian white oolitic limestone, marked tectonic feature. appears to have been much calmer in or the “Pierre de Lucenay “. This was the Pliocene and Quaternary. The strike slip activity accentuated formed in a depositional environment in the Oligocene and provoked the in- The western Beaujolais was uplifted comparable to that of the yellow cri- tense fracturing of the basement and to create mountains as a result of the noidal limestone and is mostly seen in the Mesozoic sediment cover throu- formation of horsts (the Beaujolais outcrop on the left bank of the lower ghout the easterly part of the territory. mountains) and grabens (the Saône stretch of the Azergues River. It was due to this powerful brittle tec- domain), as well as by the flexure of The majority of the Mesozoic sedimen- tonic episode that the very dense fault the basement linked both to extensio- tary rocks, calcareous sandstones and network developed in the Mesozoic nal Oligo-Miocene tectonics and end marls, were widely quarried and can be sequence, which is shown clearly on Miocene Alpine compression. In the seen in the buildings (dressed stone, the local geological map. These move- heights of the Beaujolais some clues masonry rubble stone, paving slabs ments accompanied the general shif- of this period still remain: perched up and ceramics etc.). Like the Palaeozoic ting of the geological sequences to the high (at 850 to 900m), the bottom of rocks, those of the Mesozoic play an east and south east. The stratigraphic the Mesozoic sediments (base Triassic) important role; they make a beautiful sequences seen from the geological can be seen; these were uplifted at the contribution to the wealth and renown footpath of Pierres Folles at St-Jean- end of the Tertiary. It was thus that of the architectural heritage of the des-Vignes, or at the Lafarge Quarry the Beaujolais geography developed Beaujolais. in Belmont, spectacularly show the dip its contrasting nature between the eas- and fracture characteristics of the Me- tern plain and the western mountains. sozoic rocks. The large fault to the east B.1.5. of the Beaujolais that separates the Palaeozoic crystalline mountains from B.1.6. The alpine era the Mesozoic, Tertiary depression and and the tectonics the Quaternary sediments of the River The superficial Saône is difficult to see from close up, structuration but is clear in the landscape. It too was Quaternary of todays born of these tectonic events. The hy- formations drothermal circulation of fluids along Beaujolais the length of this fault led to the depo- sition of extensive metal rich deposits Benefitting from the large depression during the Oligocene and Miocene; for that was gouged during the Tertiary It was during the Tertiary that the example, the Romanèche-Thorins, the between the Beaujolais Mountains and Beaujolais territory progressively principal Manganese deposit in France. the Jura Mountains, the vast hydrogra- took on the face that we know today. phic peri-Alpine network was created This slow landscape transformation It was finally during the course of this and developed during the Quaternary. followed the long Mesozoic marine same Oligocene tectonic phase that It progressively created the large allu- episode. It originated from the uplift the resistant linear relief seen in the vial and fluvio-glacial domain of the of the Alpine mountain chain and the south east of the territory was deve- structural evolution of the external loped. Examples of these include the River Saône. In effect, the high and foreland (Dauphiné, Dombes, Bresse, threshold of Limonest (Mont d’Or) and low alluvial terraces either side of the Saône-Rhône). Since the first Alpine movements in the Upper Cretaceous, but above all since the Upper Eocene, the structural development of the Beaujolais region has followed the compressive and strike slip tectonic phases which have accompanied the genesis of the periphery of the great Alpine domain. The beginning of the Pyrenean oroge- ny in the East Massif Central and at the edge of the Alpine domain is seen in the Upper Eocene by a series of north- south fractures that have been cut by others orientated NE-SW. This activity initiated the development of a number of subsiding extensional basins, such Normal fault of the geological path of «Pierres Folles»

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 26 B _ Patrimoine géologique river would not have the height that the application process. The situation following table lists the 26 geological can still be seen today, if this region was: citizens of Beaujolais are those sites within this application. Other geo- that is peripheral to the Alpine domain who probably know best their territory, logical sites have been identified but it had not been invaded by voluminous as well as sites of natural and cultural is necessary to deepen knowledge on fluvio-moraine sediments. These were interests. The geosites of the aspiring these. It is possible to group them into initially spread over the Dombes and Geopark Beaujolais have been identi- six major types: the edge of the Jura during and after fied thanks to a participative inventory, the advance of the great Alpine gla- which have permitted involving local ciers in the Middle Pleistocene. Before stakeholders at the same time that it 2 metamorphic sites the development of the Saône Basin in has engaged a thought on sites pre- the Upper Pleistocene, a considerable viously unrecognized or less valorized. As an evidence of a complex geological mass of material had been picked up There are nearly 150 sites that have activity, metamorphic processes have by the river and its fluvio-glacial tri- been identified and then submitted to affected several areas in Beaujolais. butaries and dropped in its bed and the validation of a scientific committee The oldest examples are gneisses on its banks forming thick horizons of affiliated to the project. dated Cambro-Ordovician, located in clays, sands, gravels and pebbles. To southern territory. In the north, near this, all the sediments derived from the Based on this extensive list, prioriza- the Mont Saint-Rigaud (SG_20), im- piedmont of the River Saône, which at tion of geosites had to be performed to portant Carboniferous shale deposits times reach quite high levels also fea- highlight the most interesting sites and structure the massif. Corneal rock of ture. Current studies (notably in the representatives of local identity. Geo- Mont Brouilly (SG_19) has a very good Ardières Valley) show that they are not sites can be divided into two groups: contact metamorphism. only products of normal erosional pro- the geological sites and non-geological cesses, that of dejection and colluvial sites. Geological sites will be presented deposition. in this section, while non-geological sites will be presented in part B.4. 4 magmatic sites At the end of the last glaciation (stadial 2 or the Würm in Alpine chronology), The constitution of the geological a general layer of loess covered the B.2.2. basement of Beaujolais in the Primary slopes and high terraces of the Dombes was characterized by intense volcanic and Saône Rivers. Types of activity. Volcanic deposits are contem- poraries of the subduction process geological sites before the inter-continental collision. Extensive spreading of volcanics and tuffs cover much of western territory. It B.2. The rich geological heritage of the area is possible to observe especial volcanic is observable on the field by the pre- facies in the quarries of Cours (SG_01), LISTING AND sence of many sites of varying size. Creuzeval (SG_02) or with the colum- They contain elements to understand nar jointing of Saint-Victorèsur-Rhins DESCRIPTION (objects or phenomena) of the long (SG_23). Granitic plutons from the OF GEOLOGICAL geological history of Beaujolais. The Hercynian orogeny are visible in some SITES WITHIN THE PROPOSED GEOPARK

B.2.1. Inventory method and selection of geosites

A first inventory of geosites was launched at the start of the process of application in 2013. It aimed to engage widely inhabitants of the territory, so as to involve them from the outset in

Picard Tuf in Saint Victor sur Rhins

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 27 List of the geological sites

28 ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 28 B _ Geological heritage

Selected primarily for their naturalistic interests (see non-geological sites list), the Couty’s bog and the Monneries’ wetlands are filtering water and regu- lating flows. Calcareous sedimentary formations have modest karst area, but it is necessary to make mention. The Sarrasins’ cave (SG_13) located in Morancé is probably the best known because it contains traces of human occupation.

Block of ammonites at the «Espace Pierres Folles» places, either as massive rock (at La processes of erosion. Tectonics also B.3. Terrasse (SG_09) or in Rochefolle site) played a big role in the organization or in altered form (granitic sand locally of landscapes. Several sites have geo- named “gorrhe”). morphologic forms: the mont Tourvéon DETAILS ON THE (SG_21) emerges in the landscape with VALUE OF GEOLO- a unique conical shape, the quartzite 9 sedimentological sandstones of la Tour Bourdon, the GICAL SITES “lônes” (oxbow lakes) and islands of sites the Saône river.

The aspiring Geopark B.3.1. Beaujolais has major sedimentary se- 5 mineralogi- Beaujolais’ ries remains in the cal sites geology and southeast quarter (“Pierres Dorées”), The complex scientific activity mainly from deposits geological his- Benefiting from a plethora of forma- of Secondary marine tory in Beaujolais tions and study subjects that are offe- environments which has led to an red by the geology of the Beaujolais include many fossils extraordinary there have been many discoveries and (belemnites, crinoids, diversity of scientific studies. Numerous thesis ammonites, ichthyosaurs). minerals. More (PhD) and uncountable articles have The famous Golden Stone is than 100 mineral been published on this area for more visible in many quarries (Glay Chessylite species have been than 200 years. Much of this body of (SG_03), Lafarge (SG_08)). The recorded on all territory. work was produced in the 20th century two geological trails of Pierres Folles Mineralization essentially dates from at the time of the revision or comple- (SG_24) and Mont d’Or (SG_25) initiate the Paleozoic and Tertiary. Some mi- tion of the geological maps of France. the understanding of the stratigraphy nerals of the territory are emblematic All the major scientific subjects of both and tectonics. The oldest sediments and known worldwide: the chessylite pure and applied geology have been (Carboniferous) are visible in the (or azurite) from the small village of addressed here in the Beaujolais: petro- western and north-western territory Chessy (SG_17) or the romanechite graphy and magmatism, tectonics and (former quarry of Thizy-les-Bourgs (manganese oxide) from Romanèche- metamorphism, stratigraphy, sedimen- (SG_07)). Thorins (SG_18). Pyrite, barite, fluorite, tology and paleogeography, palaeon- galena, pyromorphite or wulfenite are tology and paleoecology, geochemistry other types of minerals present on the and paleoclimatology, engineering geo- 6 geomorphological territory. logy and geotechnics, pedology, prehis- sites tory, physical and human geography etc. Continuing today this territory still The relief of Beaujolais comes from a Hydrogeological sites provides material for studies and inte- combination of factors that participa- resting discoveries, notably in sedimen- ted in the set up of the current lands- Water is abundant in the area, and it tology and palaeontology (cf. Suan et capes. The main reliefs appear relati- has a special relationship with geology. al. 2013, Vincent et al. 2013). This is vely dull, testimony of the slow work of For example, the Saint-Rigaud massif thanks to the Lafarge Cement compe- the widespread erosion throughout the plays the role of a real natural water tition and the vast wealth preserved in territory. The most resistant rocks have tower giving birth to four major rivers: the Jurassic formations of its quarries. been highlighted as a result of various Ardières, Sornin, Grosne and Azergues.

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 29 B _ Geological heritage

Range International National Regional Local

Number 4 2 11 9 of sites

International, national, regional or local sites’ range B.3.2. B.4.1. International, Natural national, heritage sites regional or local Geological diversity has greatly in- importance fluenced the development of specific natural environments throughout the Thizy church in red microgranite from the high of sites Beaujolais. Many sites are concerned: Beaujolais («Haut Beaujolais» in French) calcareous grasslands of Pierres Dorées evidence of the richness of Beaujolais’ Even if it is not spectacular only with (NSG_PN_03), moors developed on gra- landscape observation, Beaujolais’ geo- basement: Montmelas’ castle (SNG_ nitic terrains of the northern vineyard PH_01), Bagnols’ village (SNG_PH_04), logy remains one of the most diverse (SNG_PN_01), slope bogs of the volca- geology in France. Some sites have Thizy-les-Bourgs’ church (SNG_PH_10). nic Haut-Beaujolais (SNG_PN_06), wet- Other elements of the built heritage international value, gained through lands of the Saône valley (SNG_PN_02). are remarkable because of the stone scientific publications or natural We can note that the interactions use in their construction. This is the rarity. The national inventory of the between the natural environments and case of the viaducts of upper Azer- geological heritage (De Wever, 2009) the geological basement are large, and gues valley (SNG_PH_07) built in local has raised awareness of this natural they are essential to the development volcanite. The museum of the priory richness of France. In the list of geolo- of a wide variety of species. of Salles-Arbuissonnas (SNG_PH_09) gical sites selected for the application, allows the visit of the last clunisian it is possible to distinguish: 4 sites of cloister of Rhône department, where international value, 2 sites of national B.4.2. the stone is remarkably enhance in the value, 11 sites of regional value and 9 walls. sites of local value. Historical and cultural Another type of link between geology heritage sites and human occupation of historic sites: The historical heritage is very rich in the habitat. The positioning of some B.4. Beaujolais, and can be observed in villages or prehistoric settlements is various forms. The historical and reli- directly related to the local geology or Listing and des- gious heritage buildings has a impor- geomorphology. Thus, the hilltop vil- tant place, with the presence of nume- lage of Ternand (SNG_PH_08) is settled cription of non- rous castles, churches, small villages on a marble vein highlighted by ero- geological sites with their remarkable architecture or sion. Some villages of Pierres Dorées materials used in their construction. area are often located in high position with high geo- They are often concerned with the use on rocky headlands (like Oingt, SNG_ heritage interest of local stones and are very beautiful PH_06 ; and Charnay, SNG_PH_05)

Strong links exist between geology and natural environment or human activities. Thus, many natural, cultural, historical, religious, industrial or lands- cape sites find themselves linked to the geological heritage of the territory.

Charnay’s village in the golden stones area («Pierres Dorées in French)

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 30 B _ Patrimoine géologique

View on the Saône Valley from Beaujolais’ hills with generally open quarries nearby. Montmelas’ castle (SNG_PH_01) also benefits from a dominant position in the wineyard area. Otherwise, the ar- chaeological sites of the territory are strongly linked to their particular envi- ronmental context (sites of Ludna, Alix or Anse).

B.4.3. Economic and industrial heritage sites Espace Pierres Folles, Museum of geology and paleontology Several sites show the industrial heri- B.4.4. B.4.5. tage of Beaujolais, which has greatly contributed to the economic develop- Landscape sites Visit sites and ment of the territory. The most beau- Landscape sites offer views of the tiful remains of this industrial past, museum spaces Beaujolais area and are very good ga- strongly focused on the textile sector, Several visit sites and museum spaces teways to understanding of the local are located in the west where the spe- are present on the Beaujolais’ territory. geomorphology and landscape organi- cific nature of the geological substrate Both localed in Romanèche-Thorins, zation. They illustrate the diversity of has strongly encouraged the use of the Hameau Duboeuf (SNG_SV_02) is landscape entities: the site of La Ter- river water. The main river valleys of a museum area on the vine and the rasse (SNG_SP_01) in the vineyard of wine which has a room dedicated to the Beaujolais Vert still have the marks the Crus, the Sapins lake (SNG_SP_02) the explanation of links between the of this industrial history. In the upper in the Beaujolais Vert, the Echarmeaux’ vines and soil, while Touroparc (SNG_ Reins River valley, we can still see the pass (SNG_SP_04) in the Haut Beau- SV_03) includes a small museum about remains of hydraulic works for rotating jolais, the Saint-Bonnet’s pass (SNG_ the culture and local history, including a turbines of small factories or sawmills SP_06) above the vineyard and rivers, room on the Romanechite and exploi- (SNG_PE_03). In Tarare, the develop- the site of tower Chappe (SNG_SP_05) tation of the mines in the village. The ment of the city along the Turdine in the Pierres Dorées area. The Tacot Ninkasi Brewery (SNG_SV_01), based in River (SNG_PE_01) is closely related trail allows to walk 20 kilometers Tarare in old dry cleaners, conducts gui- to the water quality of the river. The through the Pierres Dorées area, ded tours where the visitor can discover Quartier Déchelette (SNG_PE_02) in the hydrogeological context of the sec- Amplepuis is a former industrial hou- tor which allows a water of high quality sing area built in local rock. for the production of craft beers.

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 31 List of the non-geological sites

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 32 C / Geoconservation C.1. CURRENT OR POTENTIAL PRESSURE ON THE PROPOSED GEOPARK

C.1.1. Territorial dynamics of the Beaujolais The aspiring Geopark Beaujolais is composed of diverse and fragile natu- View of the vineyard in automn ral areas. One of the major issue for the territory and its natural environments the current territorial dynamic. Urbani- is the preservation of the ecological zation and land pressure of the south C.2. functioning at the scale of the whole is threatening some viewpoints and territory. Because of its proximity with landscapes (geological path of Espace CURRENT the metropolitan area of Lyon in the Pierres Folles for instance). Buildings STATUS IN TERMS south, the development of the terri- close to geosites are a real threatening, tory is not uniform, and some areas are as the creation of new roads or buil- OF PROTECTION more impacted by the demographic dings which could lead to the destruc- growth. Thus, the South-East part of tion of certain sites of interest. Some OF GEOLOGICAL the territory is directly concerned by other sites are concerned by plundering urbanization and land pressure issues. of minerals, fossils or archeological ob- SITES WHITIN The proximity of Lyon can be consi- jects. Some sites are highly frequented THE PROPOSED dered as an asset for visibility and by tourists: it is the case of the Mont accessibility, but also can be a threat Brouilly, which has been equipped re- GEOPARK for natural environments. The South/ cently and has to face problems with North axe of the Saône river valley is frequentation. Measures have been strongly urbanized along the commu- taken to address the problems that C.2.1. nication paths. The territorial cohe- might interfere with the quality of the rence program (SCoT) of the Beaujolais site (bins, ecological toilets). Intensive Multiple methods ensures the conservation of ecological farming practices (wine growing in the corridors at a good scale for wildlife east, forestry in the west) can have an of conservation movements. Widely dominated by the impact on some geosites if operation growing of vine, the vineyard area is works are not done well. Improvements Natura 2000 sites presenting fragmented natural spaces, are in reflexion, notably within the par- In the Beaujolais area, 2 sites are inte- often disconnected one to another. In tnership with the Forestry Charter to grated into the Natura 2000 network: the western part of the territory, Lyon’s reduce the impacts of forestry works. the Saône valley and the Vallossières influence is not so strong: rural and na- Natural pressures are also present, mine. They were identified as geosites tural spaces are taking up more place. even if they are minors and do not re- present the major issues. After all, pres- for the close relationship they have sures linked to the closing up of the with local geology. The objective of C.1.2. environments exist, as a consequence Natura 2000 program is to maintain of the abandon of some lands. Natu- and restore natural habitats to achieve Different types ral erosion collapses or landslides of favourable conservation status. So geo- of pressure some outcrops are real and many sites logical heritage is also considered. of importance are concerned by them. Two types of pressure can be identi- fied on the applicant’s territory. First, anthropic pressure is a consequence of

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 33 C _ Geoconservation

territory and validates the Local Urban Political-administrative level Protective tools regulatory Protection tools for land Plans of the municipalities. Joint work is done on geosites, with their integration Natura 2000 in the various planning documents, so Europe (ex : gîte à chauves-souris des mines de Vallossières) as to preserve the integrity of the geo- logical objects and immediate surroun- Sites classés dings. Thus, 11 geosites are actually (ex : val de Saône) registered in the local urban plans of State their municipalities and regulating ur- Sites inscrits (ex : Mont Brouilly) banization and various buildings that might impact them. Sites du Conservatoire régional Region d’Espaces Naturels (ex : tourbière du Couty) C.2.2. Arrêtés Préfectoraux de pro- Espaces Naturels Sensibles Department tection de biotope des départements (ex : les landes du Beaujolais) (ex : les carrières de Glay) Inventories

Acquisition foncière de terrains for future par les collectivités locales Municipalities and Plans Locaux d’Urbanisme ou par des associations conservation intercommunalities (ex : carrière de Lucenay) de protection de la nature (ex : mines de Chessy) All geosites are not yet covered by the protective measures mentioned above. Table of types of protection according to the international, national, regional or local scope of the sites However, a large majority of them ap- pear completely or parlty, in inventories Classified Prefectural orders of geological or natural heritage. If this and listed sites of biotope protection type of identification does not gua- rantee an advanced mode of protec- As everywhere in France, Beaujolais This type of protection is set up by tion of these sites, it make them appear has sites which are subject to speci- the prefecture (local representant of on various regulatory documents and fic legislation created in 1930 by the the State) in order to protect a natu- could help evolve the recognition of French State, in order to preserve natu- ral habitat or biotope with one or more geological heritage in the future. ral monuments, landscapes and sites of animal and/or plant wild and protected outstanding interest (historical, legen- species. This prefectural order enacts Geoheritage inventory dary, artistic or scientific). There are 1 the prohibition of certain activities that classified site (the Saône valley) and may affect the ecological balance of Launched in 2007 by the Ministry in 14 listed sites, some of them are geolo- the environment and/or the survival of charge of ecology at the national level, gical, natural or cultural sites integrated protected species living there. One site the inventory of geological heritage to the geosites list. is subject to this type of regulation in aims to identify the sites and objects the territory: the moors of Beaujolais of geological interest and bring them to Conservatory (Croix Rosier and Croix Saburin). knowledge. The Rhône-Alpes regional of Natural Areas inventory was conducted in partnership Sensible Natural with the DREAL (regional service in In France, Conservatories of Natural Spaces (ENS) of Rhône charge of the environment, territorial Spaces are non-profit associations management and housing). In this department inventory, several sites of Beaujolais involved in the conservation of natu- have been identified and are incorpora- ral heritage. With 29 organizations on The departmental policy of Sensible ted in the list of major geological sites. French territory, they became mana- Natural Spaces is to preserve, manage gers recognized for the relevance of and open to the public spaces whose Since the end of 2015, a new legal tool their work built on conservation, and natural character is threatened or for the protection of geological heri- referents for their scientific and tech- vulnerable. There are 16 sites on the tage was born in France: the prefec- nical expertise. They intervene in land territory of aspiring Geopark. tural geotope protection. According to management and use. They rely on re- the Grenelle II law (article L.411-1 of gulatory protections to preserve a wide Local Urban Plans the Environment Code), it is now pos- variety of environments by themselves sible to protect a site for its geologi- or in partnership with local stakehol- With the Geopark project, the Syndicat cal interest: “it is forbidden to destroy, ders. The association of Rhône-Alpes Mixte of Beaujolais wants to integrate alter, degrade a geological interest site region works on 8 sites in the Beaujo- more widely the urban planning sec- ; to remove, destroy, degrade fossils, lais area, with 5 sites which are directly tor. SMB is responsible for conducting minerals, concretions, when a particular concerned by geosites. the development plan for the whole scientific interest or the requirements

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 34 Map of natural environments and protection perimeters

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 35 C _ Geoconservation of preserving the natural heritage jus- but also with high geological interest. evidence of an intense hydrothermal tify the conservation of the site”. activity which was played in this sec- tor. It has become difficult to highlight At the same time, several Sensitive ZNIEFF 1 & 2 them because of their dangerousness. Natural Areas contain one or more geo- To carry out its missions of manage- sites. Working in collaboration with the The ZNIEFF (or in english: Natural ment and conservation of geosites, the Rhône department (which is in charge Areas of Ecological, Fauna and Flora Geopark Beaujolais must undertake to of this policy to protect natural areas) Interests) of type 1 are generally small improve security around these minera- would be a good way to engage better places of specific interest which are logical and mining sites, but also esta- management of these sites with strong home to protected and identified plant blish regulations regarding the atten- interest. and animal species. ZNIEFF of type 2 dance of these. It will also be important are larger geographical areas that so- A work of raising awareness towards to respect the natural characteristics of metimes include several ZNIEFF 1. the public authorities has been led those sites that have become protected by the SMB for elected officials and bat shelters. technicians of communities are more knowledgeable about the Geopark project and what it entails in terms of C.3. site management and maintenance. In this way, a paper was written for DATA ON THE a better consideration of geosites in municipalities. The “Convention on the MANAGEMENT recognition and management of Geo- park Beaujolais geosites” (see conven- AND MAINTE- tion in Annexes) is moving along two NANCE OF ALL main objectives. First, it is to formalize the recognition of a site as a geosite HERITAGE SITES identified and selected as part of the Geopark project. Secondly, both parties’ signatories agree on the methods of C.3.1. geological site management and equip- ment provided by the Geopark Beaujo- Protection of sites lais, in accordance with the Charter of Geoparks. The Syndicat Mixte du Beaujolais has no real direct management capacity on identified geosites because the struc- C.3.2. ture has no particular competence in this field. However, the SMB is com- Vulnerable and mitted since the launch of the Geopark project to working with various partner unsecured sites organizations (Conservatory of Natu- The mineralogical sites have a special ral Areas, public river-basin territorial status because they are sites with agencies, nature protection associa- various issues. Most of these sites are tions, etc.). The Geopark Beaujolais often inaccessible because mines gal- team ensures to be present alongside leries were closed after the end of the these partners when developing mana- exploitation. However, they have not all gement plans on certain sites and to been rehabilitated and some sites are include consideration of the geologi- dangerous or very poorly secured. The cal heritage. Thus, work has already non-management of these sites has been initiated with the Conservatory sometimes resulted in strong atten- of Natural Areas and the Frapna asso- dance of amateur mineralogists who ciation to work together on a better regularly visit mines to find minerals. management of sensitive sites. Several There were many small mines in the sites are concerned: Couty’s bog, Bois- Beaujolais area which have not all tray’s swamp, valley of Sornin Stream, been heavily exploited (except sites of Propières’ mine, Valtorte mineral depo- Chessy and Romanèche-Thorins) but sit, moors of Beaujolais, oxbow lakes whose traces are still visible today. All and islands of Saône River valley, mont these sites have become increasingly Brouilly, mont Saint-Rigaud. These vulnerable over time and are highly sites are mostly sensitive natural envi- degraded. These are exceptional sites ronments with high biodiversity issues of geological heritage because they are

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 36 D / Economic activity and development project D.1. D.1.1. Economic Vines and wine activities of the Pays Beaujolais: Geology and The Beaujolais region is endowed with a privileged geographical position in winegrowing one of the most dynamic region in soils, the alchemy France. Local resources have been involved in the development and tradi- The vineyards of the Beaujolais are tional economic sectors such as viticul- centrally located in the Beaujolais terri- ture, textile industry thanks to the qua- tory. With a large surface area (17 000 lity of river water, forest exploitation, hectares), it is entirely located on the Visit of the EGN Experts in 2015, in a pit soil survey - SIGALES etc. This territory, which is so close eastern border of the Massif Central, to Lyon, also benefits from an endo- between the ridges of Haut-Beaujolais Their objective is to get a sufficient genous economic development which in the East and the Tarare Mountains knowledge of winegrowing soils, allows a significant proportion of its further to the South. The vineyards identify different types of soils and a workforce to work locally, albeit decli- largely dominate the hillsides which map of them. If the latter were known ning. The relatively virtuous economic -slope eastwards to the River Saône. model of Beaujolais has suffered from already, their variations and their divi- various crises. Beaujolais have not These vineyards and the wines they sion weren’t. Two environments can be always been able to differentiate or produce have a particular feature: they easily distinguished: soils coming from locally capture sufficient added value. are made from a single grape variety crystalline rocks and soils coming from This observation, unfortunately banal, (except for the white Beaujolais): the clay-limestone. has motivated in Pays Beaujolais frank white juice of the black Gamay grape. reactions of the socio-economic actors These vineyards produce red wine; the in favor of maintaining the local eco- typical “Beaujolais” wine, as well as 12 The SIGALES professionnals, helped nomy. As such, we should mention the protected generic designations (the 10 by the interprofession, have led a very Beaujolais Chamber of Commerce and Beaujolais crus, the Beaujolais and the meticulous and profound field work on Industry, already at the head of the Beaujolais Village) which have a great the 13,000 hectares of the vineyard “Made in Beaujolais” brand, which in diversity of characteristics. A wine is (auger holes, soil pits, profiles...). While 2015 committed itself to the creation the fruit of the earth (soil and subsoil), waiting for the final study in 2017, of a “Very Beaujolais” territorial brand of the climate, of a grape variety and the resultas concernin the soils of ten which strongly supports the values of of the know-how of the winemaker. Beaujolais crus are available. We can the territory and its enterprises. Despite only having one grape variety identify 3 types : and a similar climate for the entire area In this mobilization of the territory in The most widespread soils deve- of the vineyards (even if many climate favor of its economic fabric, the local lop from granite rocks; they occupy variations can be observed from the authorities are not left behind and more than half of the surface area geographic location, topography and al- seize all the opportunities that are of the crus , Fleurie, Ré- titude), it is the geology and the pedo- available to them to support the local gnié and Moulin à Vent, and under logy that gives this variety of terroirs. economy. As such, the territory has half of the surface area for the 6 benefited from various national calls Since the 19th century, many studies other crus. Soils develop from the for projects. Finally, a specific part have been led in order to know how alteration of granite into Saprolite, of the territory must be honored, na- vines and wines have been influenced which is commonly referred to as med “Beaujolais Vert”, a dynamic and by the terrains they cover, which have “gore”. It displays a wide variety exemplary territory which has been different structures and natures. of alteration and the modification involved in the European Leader pro- into clays. cedure since several consecutive sche- Recently, the interprofession started mes and has been involved in actions a capital work about the winegrowing Then in order of size of surface of exemplary cooperation. Today, this soils in the Beaujolais. Indeed, wine- area, next are the soils derived territory claims its commitment as a makers have realized how important from deposits and ancient alluvium “Territoire à Energie Positive” recogni- are the soils and the necessity to know of the piedmont which constitute zed and supported by the Auvergne- the latter better. This study has been glacis or gently inclined plateaus. Rhône-Alpes region and the Ministry conducted by the consultancy group These are well-developed gravel of Ecology and Sustainable Develop- SIGALES, organizd by geologists, soils soils, with more or less significant ment, which should again allow local scientists and agronomists, which spe- clay levels. They were identified resources honor as a part of a sustai- cialises in mapmaking and the study of on all the cru soils except for nable economic development project. soils and terroirs. Chiroubles.

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 37 Hereafter, there is the summary des- cription of each of the Cru’s soils. Regnié is one of the most gra- nite rich Cru soils, followed by Chiroubles and Fleurie. The varied slopes of the area result in soils at different stages of development. Several hills are capped by evol- ving ancient superficial forma- tions composed of gravels or big scattered sandstone blocks that complete the granite terroir area with their deeper soils that contain more clay at depth. Fleurie is the most typical cru developed over a granite soil. More than 90% of the soils are directly developed from pink granite with numerous, thin veins (dark lampro- phyres, microgranite and quartz). Morgon has the second biggest vineyard after Brouilly which ex- plains the diversity of its soils. The three main terroirs of the crus are well organized because the soils developed from the granite cover all the hillsides from the village of Villé-Morgon to Corcelette and Saint-Joseph, those of the “pierres bleues” group are concentrated at the top and on the eastern slope of the Côte du Py. They are pro- gressively covered to the east by piedmont formations and reworked ancient alluvium. Then, a curious ribbon of clay with blocks covers the granite and snakes through the ledge between Morcille and Douby Chiroubles : the soils on which

Map of Beaujolais’ vineyard soil - SIGALES and Inter Beaujolais its vines grow are remarkably ho- mogenous : the pink granite that is cut by little veins of dark lam- prophyres and quartz, constitutes Soils developed from ancient vol- nuanced with local variations. These the only parent material for the cano-sedimentary rocks that have soil covers extend over rounded relief soil. Backing up on the Beaujolais been more or less transformed are and changing from one cru to another. Mountains, this appellation is the commonly referred to as “”blue The slope, orientation, energy received highest altitude of the 10 crus. rocks” they have display schisto- by the soil, aeration and shelter from Wine growers, champions of anti- sity or other forms of metamor- prevailing winds differs from one cru erosion techniques, are working on phism. These soils can be encoun- to another, but also between local dis- the thinnest, sandy soils tered in the area of 5 crus: Côte de tricts. All of this is a rich palette that Brouilly, Juliénas, Morgon, Brouilly Saint-Amour : Ancient alluvial permits the winegrowers to express and Saint-Amour. clays, flinty clays, granite, schists, themselves; their aspiration, know-how diorites, Triassic sandstones, and and specific character are expressed in also some calcareous rocks com- Each cru has its own “pedological per- the final wines, and no one can say that bine to give an extraordinary diver- sonality” that is made up of a combi- they feel they make the same products sity to the soils of this cru, which is nation of these different soil units and on these different soils... the least spread.

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 38 D _ Economic activity and development project

Côte de Brouilly : the « blue Brouilly : The most widespread D.1.3. rocks » are a complex combination and southernmost of the Beaujo- of resistant micro-diorites and lais Crus gets its name from the Forests more alterable shale. The hardest hill Mont Brouilly. It’s name doesn’t forms are the backbone and the come from a neighbooring village, and logging summit of the Brouilly mountain. it comes from the six municipali- From a geographical point of view, the Approximately two thirds of the ties that surround the Brouilly, of Beaujolais Mountains are the fringe cru’s vineyard is set on very steep Quincié, Odenas to Saint Etienne of the North East Massif Central. The slopes, covered in blue rocks of la Varenne. At the bottom of the acidic and unclogged soils of the Beau- intermediate hardness. The alte- slopes, clay screes of “pierres jolais massif are ideal for the forests’ ration of dioritic rocks is more sil- bleues”, siliceous volcanic or development and to the production of schists form an irregular crown. ty-clayey than it of the granites, good quality wood: rich and profound The high Cercié and Saint Lager which are more sandy-gravillon- soils in low landforms. The climate is flats are rised on both sides of the neuse and more present on the also beneficial to the forest. west slopes of the mountain. Ardières, and are crowned by of- ten rockyancient alluvial deposits. The Beaujolais forests are young and Chénas : In the municipality Lastly, on Charentay appear four were, for the most part, planted during of Chenas to the west there are little limestone hills. the XXth century on ancient decli- rough granite slopes, an extension ning agricultural parcels and moors. In of those of Moulin à Vent. Around these days, the authorities promoted the municipality of La Chapelle- D.1.2. the plantation of resinous pines (silver de-Guinchay the land slopes less and Douglas fir). The 30% of hardwood and is formed of a wide granitic Agriculture forest are found in the fringes of Beau- outcrop which disappears to the jolais. East under ancient alluvium with The Applicant Geopark of the Beaujo- small pebble horizons (SIGALES, lais is a territory of contrasts, where In the Beaujolais, 96% of the forests 2014). Located between Chénas in the agriculture covers 44% of its enti- are owned by private landlords whose the Rhône Department and La Cha- re surface. This activity is shapes the primary objective is to produce wood pelle-de-Guinchay in the Saône- image and the lifestyle of the territo- and sell it. Forests’ fragmentation (the et-Loire Department, Chénas is ry. The emblematic crop which made average surface of a parcel is 1.2 acres), Beaujolais’s rarest cru. this region world renown is the wine the dominance of Douglas fir and local growing. With more than one million traditions have led to a certain type Juliénas : Some granite derived of hectolitres of wine produced a year of forestry: high regular forests that soils, but many soils coming from and the festivities of the Beaujolais are clear-cut at the end of each cycle the « blue rocks » combination. Nouveau, the Beaujolais is known (every 60 years). They disappear to the east and are worldwide. replaced by ancient alluvium and The Beaujolais massif must today underlain by clayey subsoil. The re- 37 38 match the French vision of forestry: sistant Triassic of the Mont de Bes- But the territory is also produces multipurpose forests. They must com- set is formed of Triassic sandstone many other goods that are distributed bine logging, receiving the public and and gives different soils. between the different areas of the ter- protecting biodiversity. Housing den- sity in the massif (74 people/km²), tou- Moulin à Vent : This cru com- ritory: rism (rising with the development of bines a good proportion of pink The Saône river plain the only green tourism) and the growing preoc- granite soils and a lenient topogra- zone of the territory dedicated to cupation concerning the environment phy, since altitudes and medium arable crops, orchards and vege- lead to numerous criticism that show slopes are the most moderates table production; an ignorance of local forests and fo- of the ten crus. The granitic soils restry in general (ecology, forest mana- are high and evolved enough. The - The hills of the Beaujolais, gement, logging...) soils coming from the piedmont essentially dedicated to wine growing and that consists of 12 formations and ancient alluvial re- The high Beaujolais is known for the appellations; a reflection of the bounds, quite complex to describe quality of its logging: pines and Dou- terroirs’ richness: Beaujolais, Beau- and manage, are very present in glas fir. Logging in the Beaujolais is jolais Villages, and the 10 crus: this east part, but less thick than strong since resinous trees are nee- Brouilly, Chénas, Côte de Brouilly, anywhere else since granite has ded for construction work (backbone Chiroubles, Fleurie, Juliénas, Mor- often been found there around and framework), the massif is easily gon, Moulin à Vent, Régnié, Saint- one meter underground. As an reached and fir trade is rising in Europe Amour. example, it has been noted that and abroad. Sawmills in the massif are some hectares of marls have been The Beaujolais Mountains which not equipped to saw big volumes of discovered to the extreme east of culminate at the Saint-Rigaud wood and many of it is send to indus- the appellation area, these are the Mount. Free from urban influences trial sawmills, for example in the Alps most calcareous of the Beaujolais they reveal farming and forestry. where they don’t produce Douglas fir.

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 39 D.1.4. extreme South of the Saône and Loire Department to the gates of Lyon. This Plenty of mines is a colourful territory: those of the golden stones villages, of the hillsides, and quarries of the Val de Saône the ruby coloured wines. This is why from a tourism point of view the Beaujolais is divided into 4 For many centuries the Beaujolais was zones: Beaujolais wineyard, Beaujolais able to draw on its geological diversity. green nature, golden rocks Beaujolais From Roman times up to the present and Heart of the City Beaujolais. day there has been mining of nume- From this diversity emerged the Syn- rous materials, minerals and useful dicat Mixte’s strategic plans, that Des- substances. tination Beaujolais and the Offices de Tourisme put in action, around the The significant mining activity around themes of wine tourism, agritourism, landscapes and heritage, outdoor lei- Chessy-les-Mines produced Copper, sure activities and fluvial tourism. The Iron and Sulphur at the time of the geopark approach is a cross touristic industrial revolution. Tens of mines are marketing and touristic development spread out across the territory which axis. The tourism development strate- worked Copper, Iron, Lead, Zinc, Arse- gies are based on the professionaliza- nic, Tin, Antimony, Fluorite and Barite. tion of local actors, the development of It is known as the richest mining region ecotourism, of geotourism and nature Creuzeval quarry in Saint Didier sur Beaujeu in France, as highlighted by its royal tourism, of cultural and heritage sites decree awarded at the beginning of and on transverse packages (child- the 15th century. The Beaujolais has Around 20% of the wood cut in Beau- ren and family, tourism and disability, over one hundred types of minerals. jolais are sawed in the massif. groups...). The coal mines supplied the lime kilns Douglas fir (or Oregon pine) was first in which the Carboniferous and Jurassic. discovered on the west coast of the The Golden Stone is used in the indus- United States of America and was in- trial manufacture of cement (site of troduced in the Beaujolais in 1872 by Lafarge in Belmont-d’Azergues). The D.2. the Comte de Sablon, in Claveisolles. marls of the Lias and the quaternary After noticing its rapid growth, the clayey alluvium have been exploited, Douglas fir seemed promising and on and still partially, for the production of Existing and the path to become the Beaujolais’ lead ceramics (bricks, tiles, etc). Carbonife- planned in- essence. Some of the trees brought by rous volcanic and hypovolcanites are the Comte de Sablon have survived all exploited as crushing and road mate- frastructures these years and storms in the bois de rials (CBR SAS in Saint-Didier-sur- Corcelle, in Claveisolles. Beaujeu, Lafarge quarry in Rivolet, Eif- fage-GMRT of Saint-Vincent-de-Reins D.2.1. Today, almost all plantations are Dou- and Saint-Jean-la-Bussière, STAL TP of glas fir. Its heartwood is resistant to Saint-Julien, Blacé). Finally, the quater- Existing facilities mushrooms and insects when outside, nary alluviums of the Saône River are when other resinous trees have to be extracted and used in the manufacture and infrastructures chemically protected and treated. It’s a of concrete (Vicat gravel pit in Arnas). local alternative to exotic woods. Next to agriculture, forestry is at the core D.2.1.1. of the region’s local economy. On the D.1.5. Touristic infrastructures massif, we count around 900 compa- 6 Tourism Offices, 1 Information Center, nies and 1800 jobs. Some people pre- Tourism 1 Maison de Pays work on the Beaujo- dict that wood will be the 21nd cen- and leisure lais territory and manage 16 places of tury’s lead material: it’s eleven times touristic visit and information (inclu- The name « Beaujolais » is known more insulating than concrete, light, ding 3 seasonal sites). In these places, worldwide for its wines. Despite this renewable, CO² neutral... The Beaujo- stay advisors offer information about international reputation, the lands of lais massif has the potential it needs to surrounding activities (animations, the Beaujolais remain secret... meet this challenge thanks to geology! offers, housing, eating, museums...) Between mounts and hillsides, the as well as services (box office, reser- Pays Beaujolais displays a multitude vations, equipment rental...). A study of landscapes. It spreads from the conducted by the Syndicat Mixte du

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 40 D _ Economic activity and development project

Beaujolais, who is at the head of the Geopark proceedings, is taking place in order to reorganize the existing in- frastructures in one and only office of tourism, with a closer partnership with the Geopark Beaujolais and Only Lyon Tourisme. Tourism in the Beaujolais region is rural and suburban at the same time, with a wide range of housing and eating options. The Geopark Beaujolais has a housing capacity of 37,000 units (10 5000 commercial units and 26 500 private vacation units). Green tourism housing (country cottages and bed and breakfast) are represented on the ter- ritory. The site and touristic activities panel is quite wide: natural sites where one can practice outdoor sports, leisure and Espace Pierres Folles family tourism, cultural and heritage sites, wine gastronomy, fluvial and geo- lar objects. The botanic garden is Charte de Fontevraud framework tourism. located in the area of the former provide visitors and walkers with a quarry and is also free-access. better idea of the landscapes and It includes about 530 species of the various components of the ter- D.2.1.2. regional flora whose diversity is ritory. Geotouristic sites the fruit of variety of soils and geology. This garden is sponsored Within the Geopark Beaujolais terri- by “Botanic Gardens of France and D.2.1.3 tory we can mention the infrastructure Francophone Countries”. The touristic sites dedicated to scientific mediation and discovery of the Earth’s history. The Glay quarries has been The Pine Lake (Lac des Sa- developed as a pedestrian path pins) is a lake dedicated to tou- The Espace Pierres Folles and dotted with interpretation pa- rism. It has become a major site (Saint Jean-des-Vignes) : the Es- nels which explain the extraction of the Rhône-Alpes Region with pace Pierres Folles is the show- and stonecutting and the human more than 300 000 visitors per case for the geology of the terri- history of the site. This is a good year. The site includes both a lake tory. Located at the heart of the example of rehabilitation of a for- of more than 38 hectares and a golden stone countryside, near to mer quarry. Classified as sensitive natural space for bathing. Since its the Lafarge quarry, the museum is creation, the Pine Lake provides open to the public from the 1st of natural habitat (ENS) by the Rhône many facilities for outdoor leisure March until the 30th November, Department, the Glay Quarries are and stay open to the groups by free access and animated by the activities. association “Amis des Carrières de reservation during the whole year. The animal park Touroparc Glay”. This museum of paleontology, as in Romanèche-Thorins is mainly well as core and applied geology The geological path of the centred on today’s living world, but offers a fairly complete discovery Mont d’Or : 9 kilometers long, this a museum area covers the topics of the various facets of Earth’s his- free-access path runs across the of local history, and the history of tory (stratigraphy, paleontology, limestone mountain that overlooks the manganese mines. (200 000 paleoecology, etc.) and of applied the city of Lyon. Dotted with in- entries in 2015) geology (mineral resources, use terpretative panels and panoramic The Hameau Duboeuf is loca- and transformation, oenology). tables, this path allows the disco- The museum also highlights the ted in Romanèche-Thorins and is very of landscapes and formation essential resources of the territory a famous museum dedicated to of rocks constituting this moun- for man, its habitat, its heritage wine, its promotion, production and tain. and its economic development. history. Geological and educational The free-access geological path The Mont Brouilly is the viticul- themes are developed there which has been developed with inter- tural mountain of Beaujolais and relate to Beaujolais local products, pretative equipment and invites is an important tourist area within in order to highlight characteristic you to discover the regional geo- the territory. Facilities have been “terroirs” of the applicant territory logical history through spectacu- put in place during 2014 in the (120 000 entries in 2013).

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 41 ral heritage. So many elements that illustrate the richness of the Beaujo- lais subsoil which punctuates the characteristic villages at the heart of Beaujolais, encouraging you to journey through time. Within these sites, we can find: Oingt, the Most Beautiful Vil- lage in France ; the 2 Cluniac sites of Salles-Arbuissonnas and Saint Mamert ; many protected buildings classified as historic monuments ; a hundred The geoscope belvedere of Mount Brouilly of castles from the 10th to the 20th The Maison du Terroir Beau- outdoor activities can be practiced, century ; the territory of the Pierres jolais is a touristic institution in such as rowing, sailing, kayaking, clim- Dorées awarded the label «Vignoble a half-timbered house (with a bing, speleology or rope paths, fishing et Découvertes» by the national asso- Renaissance courtyard) located in activities, etc. Seen from the sky from ciation Atout France; famous vineyards the heart of the historic capital of an aircraft, the Beaujolais is a magical with its 12 renowned appellations, 6 the Beaujolais: Beaujeu. This site territory revealing its landscapes. « one star Michelin » restaurants and offers a visiting space, a terroir 1 « two stars » restaurant. products shop, an exhibition room, Above the structural equipments in animations, bike rental... (20 000 D.2.1.5. the Beaujolais territory, we can notice entries in 2015). Cultural and heritage sites tools that allow the territory’s valoriza- tion. The communauté de communes The applicant territory has 21 mu- of Saône Beaujolais, for example, puts D.2.1.4. seums which have been born from the in action a local heritage support and Natural sites passion of great collectors, dedicated rehabilitation program on the territory. to inventors, and to traditions that have The remarkable natural heritage of the forged the Beaujolais. Among them we One of the Beaujolais singularities is Beaujolais is protected and enhanced its ever full agenda. The agenda of the find the Paul Dini museum (23 800 in several ways: The Sensitive Natural Pays Beaujolais is rich in special acti- visitors in 2015), Le Prieuré in Salles- Area of the Val de Saône and 15 other vites and events which have an impact Arbuissonnas (5 000 visitors in 2015). sites listed for their landscape quali- from the local level to the international ties ; many Sensitive Departmental In addition to the museums there are level. Local products are often at the Natural Areas; 34 “flower” towns and many cultural and heritage sites as well heart of the activity, such as during the villages, the Rhône Department also as a remarkable and varied architectu- Feast of the Crus or the Beaujolais nou- being recognised as a “flower” Depart- ment ; Nombre of remarkable parks and gardens ; The village of Fleurie has been designated as a holiday “Station Verte” ; 14 villages have committed to the Agenda 21 project of the national society “Notre Village” as approved by the MEEDAT ((Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Country Planning).

The Pays Beaujolais is very much a hi- king territory and has more than 1600 kilometers of marked paths for many activities: hiking, horse riding, bike riding (with bike trails approved by the National Federation), self-stabilising scooter etc. Between mountains and valleys, across hillsides these little roads and winding paths are play- grounds for cyclists of all levels. The excursions are either self-guided or accompanied by an educational guide, a naturalist or trained personnel. Other Biological swimming at the Pines Lake («Lac des Sapins» in French) ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 42 D _ Economic activity and development project veau, which takes place after the third Chessy les Mines is currently Thursday of November and attracts developing an interpretative path more than 50 000 visitors. to help visitors discover the mining activity, minerals and the place’s In the same way, the two main cultu- history, in partnership with the ral festivals (“Continents et Cultures” in Beaujolais and the festival of the BRGM. One of its objectives is to International Marathon of the Beaujolais Nouveau watercolour artists of Bagnols) each connect this path to the other Gol- geosites and be accessible to the attract between 10 000 and 12 000 den rocks geosites. public. visitors. Other unifying popular events Bagnols has many heritage based on traditional activities; such The implementation of Geopark monuments (its famous castle, as the festivals of the Mousselines in display stands in the main sites a quarry, a dovecote, some mor- Tarare, the Vague des conscrits in Ville- welcoming visitors, such as the guières...) The plan there is to orga- franche or even the festival of mecha- Espace Pierres Folles or Tourism nize a track (created at the begin- nic music in Oingt. Offices. A study is pending and ning of the Geopark proceedings) There are also the sporting events of should end with the implementa- to guide visitors on an itinerary international and national notoriety tion in 2017. through the village. Amongst the that attract also many people (Pine The conception of ecological planned equipments, we can find a Lake Triathlon, Beaujolais International toilets in sites that haven’t got lookout area with an interpretation Marathon, Raid Aventure Beaujolaise any lavatories. The Geopark Beau- table, heritage mediation signs or etc.) which reinforce the image of the jolais assigned an architect to the restoration of St Roch’s chapel, Pays Beaujolais as a territory dedicated study, conceive and offer solutions which will become an exhibition to outdoor leisure and sports. adapted to geosites. With a view to room for the Geopark. respect sustainable development, The White rocks quarry in this mission was conducted hand Lucenay is at the heart of a study in hand with professionals of the D.2.2. before its installation. The Geo- wood sector, in order to promote park team organized a « knowle- the use of local materials (Douglas Planned dge café » with a view to retrace fir wood from the Beaujolais, well- infrastructures the geosite’s history with resource known for its construction qua- people, to enhance the contents of lities). The first two prototypes D.2.2.1. the interpretation materials. The were made by a local firm located Signs and transverse municipality voted the budget it in the Mount Brouilly. A collective equipments needs to plan a new interpretation purchase order should be finalized space about stonework and quar- Since 2015, the applicant Geopark by the end of 2016, in order to ins- ries, as well as botany. Beaujolais is working towards the tall ecological toilets in 2017. implementation of a common signing The Morgon balcony : in Gleizé, Notably, the Geopark team’s role is of and transverse equipments, in order is an interpretative path addres- paramount importance since it moni- to construct and equip geosites in a sing fauna, flora, geology and ver- tors and supports proceedings of plan- homogenous and coherent manner. ning, interpretation, mediation, transla- nacular heritage of the river. There With this view, 4 projects are pending: tion of each geosite in order to ensure are still some equipments to imple- the coherence between them. ment in order to ease the visitor’s Designing a furniture line, that access to the site, including the creation of a parking lot. is the variant of the Geopark’s gra- D.2.2.2. phic charter for equipments and The listed village of Ternand, signs. A furniture catalogue is in Planned equipments is located on a rocky promontory. finalization in order to be given to and arrangements In the Geopark’s framework, the geosites managers to facilitate the Within the framework of the Geopark municipality wishes to promote harmonization of site equipments, project, many new projects are being the village and environment’s geo- as well as taking into consideration developed. Among them, the projects logy. An interpretative path will be each site’s characteristics. that are equipping websites have been created in the forest of the Longe- The implementation of welcome mentioned. On the Mount Brouilly for val castle, in order to enhance the totems, financed by the SMB, instance already benefited from dif- visitor’s understanding of biodi- which will allow visitors to identify ferent steps of the project (sustainable versity, landscapes and geology. geosites. On these totems will be management, paths, geoscope...) and The old Curs-la-Ville quarry is only information in French and English two new steps will come : the manage- open to visitors with a guide, a few about the Geopark and the geo- ment of a small green quarry and the times a year. That’s why the city site in question, but also elements hosting of events promoting the site council voted the creation of an of geoscientific mediation. These and finished arrangements (festival on observation and geology interpre- totems will be put on operational the Mount and an opera in the quarry). tation point.

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 43 D _ Economic activity and development project

partnership with association and ty’s history and industrial past (on local actors. the Turdine River) should give birth to a free-access interpretation trail The Déchelette area and the that will promote hydrology. Clos du Crêt park in Amplepuis are at the center of a study led by An exhibition project about the CAUE, about the reorganization the Geopark Beaujolais landscapes of the park and the promotion of is in study, following the edition the Déchelette area. The phase of of the « cahier de territoire », by practical proposals should inter- the CAUE. vene soon. The creation of an artistic trail An educational trail is under has been mentioned : it would study at the Creuzeval quarry of allow to create a link between Saint Didier-sur-Beaujeu, in order art and the sites, to have a new to teach about geology, soils, envi- look on the territory and a new ronment, the quarry and its mining reflexion about the earth’s history operations. and heritage. The Espace des Brouilly fore- court must be rearranged in order to be at the junction of the selling of wines (Brouilly and Côte-de- Geopark line furniture Brouilly Crus) and the mount. The D.3. plan is to ease the explanations about the terroirs, by promoting Geotouristic Other projects are also in study, in order experimentation and immersion: to better understand the equipments grape vines, rocks, entertaining potential and arrangements to implement, such explanations about the links in question as in: between minerals and plants, an invitation to climb to the summit The Saint-Rigaud mount, of the Mount... which is undergoing a remode- For a long time, the Pays Beaujolais has ling study in the framework of offered geotourism without knowing it, especially with all the aspects lin- the geopark proceedings and its Many projects are still under study, ked to the “terroir” and the heritage. enlistment on the Saint Jacques such as the securing and reorganizing The project for entry into the Geopark de Compostelle path. The CAUE is of some mining sites and morguières. Network has been a real catalyst for working in a close partnership with But some ideas have been matured ideas, desires and projects which iden- the Geopark team on this project, enough to be operational, such as: which could lead to the installation tify and endorse the riches of the ter- of interpretation material and func- The educational room of the ritory, especially its geological wealth. tional equipments. Hameau Duboeuf’s that will see its interpretation method changed The Chiroubles terrace is a in order to make it coherent with D.3.1. highly touristic place that bene- the geopark proceedings and the fits from an exceptional vantage pedological studies led by SIGALES. Types of visitors point, a restaurant and a local product shop. A landscaper was Touroparc’s mining museum and attendance appointed to study and define the enjoys a large collection of Roma- nechite but could do with a better In 2015, the total number of nights equipments to be build, such as a promotion with a view to attract spent in the Pays Beaujolais is estima- path and a lookout with landscape new visitors. ted at around one million. This ranks reading elements and geological the Beaujolais as the second most po- mediation. The mine’s path project would pular tourist destination, just behind allow us to show visitors the mi- A global approach of the Gol- Lyon, which is listed in the UNESCO ning assets of the Beaujolais re- den rocks path and geosites is World Heritage. Tourist traffic is spread gion. The problematic securment also in study in order to equip dif- over a fairly long period of time, since of the mines that welcome visitors ferent sites : the jalopy path, the the season runs from April to October. should be addressed by allowing Golden rocks itinerant geosite... The Beaujolais region has two peak the access to the path only under The Communauté de communes is periods of frequentation: the first one guidance of a guide at first. currently pondering the creation is in July- August, and the second one of a path linking several munici- The « Tarare au fil de l’eau » in November at the time of the “New palities and points of interest, in guided tour, which shows the ci- Beaujolais Feasts”.

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 44 D.4. Sustainable development policies Model of the development project for the small quarry of Mount Brouilly overview

The Pays Beaujolais has a wide cus- to this day have confirmed this position tomer base, since it is close to Lyon, with local tourism professionals. We The Geopark Beaujolais action is set which attracts many foreign visitors, found a growing enthusiasm for geo- in the Pays Beaujolais’ Sustainable and seeks to diversify its offer by ope- tourism and geosites. Moreover, we Development Charter. Its guidelines ning towards the Beaujolais. The clien- have had positive reviews after fairs, have been translated into working tele is made up mainly of French people solicitations and educational tours for actions, set in the transversal plan of (76%) coming from the Rhône-Alpes tourism professionals from abroad (the action established by the SMB in order Region (30%) and from neighbou- UK, Canada, Belgium...). to support the spread and the imple- ring Regions (20%). This explains the mentation of the Geopark Beaujolais’ significant proportion of non-market strategy. The latter has five axes: accommodation in the territory. Howe- D.3.3. Conservation and planning: ver, the reputation of the Beaujolais this axis concerns the protection and its geographical location in the An analysis of geosites, sustainable develop- centre of Europe allows us to target ment policies, and the equipment foreign clients (24% of the visitors) of geotourism of territories. The implementation who come from neighbouring countries potential of this axis is organized by the (Belgium, the Netherlands, the United- Geopark Beaujolais team, who also Kingdom and Germany are the most The geotourism themes in Pays Beau- funds the transversal equipment represented). It is in November that the jolais have already been established: (guiding, signs....). But the funding Beaujolais welcomes most internatio- the discovery of “terroirs” and heri- of the accommodation goes to the nal visitors, with almost 60 different tage. These are the two aspects that geosites managers. It’s interesting nationalities. expand on the geology of the territory to notice that many investments by means of human activities. (organization of geosites, signs, D.3.2. Exceptional terroirs thanks to the totems, ecological toilets...) were riches of the Beaujolais : The study made in 2016 and the preceding Visitors’ and characterising the “terroirs” which un- years. Annual budget 260 000 derline the clear link between pedology euros + human ressources. professionals’ and local produce, and the raising of Geoeducation and teaching: interest for education and awareness which will in this axis, the applicant Geopark geotourism be put in place at the end of the study, wishes to link all local stakehol- serve to illustrate this objective. ders of the Geopark’s educatio- In a context of the current globaliza- An abundant heritage, a reflection of nal aspect, to develop a specific tion of tourism, where supply is greater the subsoil diversity. Building heritage teaching method and to make of than demand, tourist destinations and is the expression of geological diversity the territory a terrain for research. professionals must adjust to the clients’ that can be seen in many geosites. The Annual budget 12 5000 + human desires, while searching to be different Geopark project allows coordination resources. from other providers. Meanwhile, all and gives a common goal to many ini- Economic development (inclu- recent studies led by Atout France tiatives, with more clarity and visibility. ding touristic development) ; this (Ministry of Tourism) and the Regio- We can highlight the will to create a axis seeks to cooperate with local nal tourism committee of Auvergne- shared calendar of guided tours, exhibi- tourism stakeholders in order to Rhône-Alpes region, show that clients tions and other events around Geopark, develop the geotourism and pro- seek meaning, a fresh, back-to-the- in order to implement a network of geo- mote economic activities hand in roots experience. The ecotouristic and hand with geological heritage. An- geotouristic approach of the Beaujolais sites and places to visit. nual budget 2000 euros + human region unleashes its full potential since ressources it answers the clients’ desires but also the local stakeholders and representa- tives’ wish to preserve the environment In 2016, this action plan and its bud- and quality of life. This development get were extended until 2022 in strategy and the actions undertaken

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 45 products of the terroirs (wine...) and other products (bakeries, crafts...), urban equipments (roun- dabouts, flower bushes...).

Geopark presentation for foreign tour operators D.4.2. order to ensure continuity, in a spirit experiences with visitors. Geological of consolidation and optimization of Improve knowledge of stake- what already exists. It could be an- holders about geo-heritage. In heritage nually revised, completed or adjusted. order to do that, the Geopark’s In terms of geological heritage conser- The development of new co-funding, team often conducts information vation and protection, the applicant partnerships and synergies with other and training sessions about the Geopark commits to respecting the stakeholders and actions has also been Geopark and geo-heritage (guides, principles listed in the transverse ac- mentioned. speakers, tourist office staff, tou- tion plan. Some axes have already been rism providers, guides de pays...). brought forward: Sometimes the Geopark organizes Guarantee the geosite’s pro- D.4.1. educational tours and sites’ visits tection and conservation. The in order to sensitize, inform and geological sites must be protected Geotourism train local stakeholders about geo- from any damage, especially those site management. and economy that are fragile and need special Beyond what has already been pre- Bring together a network of attention. stakeholders and geo-events. sented previously, the Geopark Beau- Strengthen the existing pro- All year long, activities and events, jolais’ action plan also schedules an tection measures in order to such as conferences, meetings and axis on local economic development, ensure a better implementation visits around geology are organi- which would include geotourism and of the geological heritage’s mana- zed, some of them by the Espace promoting economical activities in par- gement plan. The creation of new Pierres Folles association. As an tnership with geological heritage. In protection perimeters is to be terms of geotourism and economy, example, we can mention the Marche des Cailloux (“Walk of the considered in the future, especially the Geopark Beaujolais is working on for the geosites which are current- 4 action plans: Stones”), organized by the « Itiné- raires, paysages et patrimoine » ly outside protected zones. A spe- Develop tourism products: association that receives great cial partnership with the scientific this is one of the first actions led interest each year, or the Stone committee of the Geopark Beaujo- by the Geopark, hand in hand with festival organized by the associa- lais is of paramount importance for tourism provider « Atouts Beaujo- tion « Amis des Carrières de Glay ». an effective protection. lais », by developing the « geocu- The SMB is also working with site Always include geosites’ peri- rious » concept. It consists in one- managers and tourist offices in meter in urban planning on the day trip suggestions including a the territory in order to implement territory. A collaboration with the geosite, a touristic offer and a meal the summer visit schedule. These SCOT Beaujolais team is already (in a restaurant or a geo picnic). actions are to be developed in the in place. Likewise, an agreement This idea is growing fast since Tou- years to come, in order to become concerning the acknowledgment rist Centers will widen the offer by a geotouristic animation. and management of the Geopark developing their own geocurious Promote the development of Beaujolais has already been written. products. activities and products linked In addition to those planned actions, The « Grain of sand Odys- to geo-heritage by organizing a the applicant Geopark considers accom- sey » is at the crossroads between geo-initiative competition. Many panying geosites’ managers in order economy and tourism, since it local stakeholders and firms of the to sensitize them to respecting the consists in visiting a gravel quarry cru wish to invest in the Geopark. Geopark’s charter. As a supporting (partnership with Vicat Granulats That’s how the idea of a competi- structure, the SMB must check that the and marketed by the Villefranche tion, taking place in 2017, came to Geopark’s values are respected in-situ Beaujolais tourist office). Visi- life : a competition so that farmers, but also in communication around the tors are invited to embark on the craftsmen, winemakers and muni- Geopark’s discovery and interpretation Nicéphore and discover the Pré de cipalities can become stakeholders spaces. For more information of the Joux gravel quarry, in Arnas : its in their own way in the Geopark geological heritage’s protection and geology, its mining operations, its Beaujolais. This call for tender will preservation actions on the territory, flora and fauna, the rehabilitation be designed by the communication please refer to the C part (about geo- of the quarry... bargemen, captains, workgroup and should use theme conservation) of the application file. dredgers and sailors all share their sections such as: geo-events, geo-

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 46 D _ Activité économique et projet de développement

ATOUTS HANDICAPS INTERNE Forces : Faiblesses : D.5. Diversité des ressources géologiques et patrimoniales Des ressources géologiques abondantes et variées mais Appropriation et engouement des acteurs locaux moins visibles qu’en zone de pour la démarche Geopark en Beaujolais montagne (à révéler) Développement d’une offre familiale de découverte Encouraging Une gestion encore peu insti- du territoire de manière ludique tutionnalisée des sites d’intérêt responsibility Un territoire facile d’accès sur l’axe Nord-Sud européen et géologiques à proximité immédiate d’une grande métropole européenne : Lyon ... and empower- Une notoriété internationale liée aux produits du terroir : les vins Un tourisme à la saisonnalité peu marquée … ment of EXTERNE Opportunités : Menaces : Vivier de touristes de courte durée à proximité Pression foncière liée à la proximité de la métropole lyon- communities De nombreux partenaires et acteurs locaux naise et à la qualité du cadre s’emparent du géo-tourisme de vie Visiteurs en recherche de sens, de bien-être, ... de découverte intelligente et ludique à la fois The Geopark Beaujolais seeks to in- … volve residents and local communities SWAT analysis table of the geo-touristic potential of Beaujolais in its construction and management. The goal of this involvement is the approach to create and formalize a sus- geological heritage’s appropriation by tainable network of exchanges with as many people as possible, but also other territories. to evaluate and enhance the residents’ interest in this project, and hence make In 2016, the forum was focused on D.6. the human resources and long-term questions of geosciences: speakers interest around this project grow. from universities and the geopark Awareness- network in France debated these ques- Thus, the Geopark Beaujolais has tions. Dr. Margarete Patzak, of UNESCO raising implemented many tools, but also was also there to present the new meeting and speaking places where UNESCO Global Geopark label. Every policies anybody can express him or herself year the forum draws around 150 parti- about the uses of the territory and cipants: representatives, local stakehol- allow a concerted management of ders from associations of civil society. Education is a priority in the Geopark the geosites. The Geopark Beaujolais It’s a milestone for the Geopark Beau- proceedings. The Geopark Beaujolais is procedure is a strong participative jolais. connected with resource stakeholders approach. Bottom-up from its manage- around this theme. They are gathered Lastly, a network of Geopark ambas- ment with the residents participating in the « educational action » work in the implementation and decision sadors has been built up from 2015. In order to relay the action of insti- group. An action plan was voted in making in working groups, the local tutional stakeholders involved in the 2015 in connection with the Geopark’s stakeholders were also involved in the territory and committed to defending activities. This action plan’s objectives geosites’ pre-inventory in 2013. the Geopark Beaujolais’ values and its are: th An annual forum (4 edition in 2016) development, a voluntary ambassa- Networking and cooperation allows stakeholders who are involved dor’s network was created. The Geo- between the territory’s stakehol- or interested in the proceedings to park Beaujolais ambassadors are com- ders. come together to get information and mitted to making the Geopark better discuss. In February 2013 it was orga- known and to promote its interest to The creation of education tools nized around participative workshops visitors and local residents, as a living and documents by the Geopark. in order to make the inventory of places heritage that must be passed on to Collaboration and co-production of interest in the geosites. Moreover, in future generations. The title « ambas- with institutional stakeholders in the events that have taken place in the sador » is given after consultation of education. territory, other French Geoparks have an ad’hoc commission of the SMB, to been invited. Indeed, during the 1st whoever asks for it and corresponds Cooperation with universities and Geopark Beaujolais forum, the Bauges to certain criteria and is committed to laboratories. Geopark was invited to speak about its the implementation and promotion of The educational theme is directed to- experience. In the same way, during the Geopark Beaujolais (see charter). wards various types of public: the second Geopark Beaujolais forum, In September 2016, 6 organisations the Natural Regional Park of Monts have already received the title of « Am- Students and pupils. d’Ardèche, a Geopark applicant came to bassador » (Atouts Beaujolais, Amis Visitors of the Geopark. present its application and talk about Guides en Terre Beaujolaise, Tourist the work it had carried out. Thus the Office Beaujolais vignoble, Espace des Sensitization and knowledge- project of the Beaujolais is not only a Brouilly, Destination Beaujolais, Tourist enhancement actions for profes- local project, but it is a participative Office Beaujolais Pierres Dorées). sionals.

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 47 D _ Economic activity and development project

D.6.1. D.6.2. Educational Visitor awareness actions for pupils and information Since the beginning of the procee- The Natural Heritage Guide was edited dings, institutional partnerships were in 2015 by the Natural environment established with institutional educa- Conservatoire and the SMB, supported tion stakeholders, the Lyon academy, by the Rhône-Alpes region, the Agence from the Ministry of Education. The de l’Eau (Water supply Agency) and the Inspection Académique and the DAAC Plattard and Vicat groups. After a year (academical delegation for arts and of work with around fifty local stake- culture), gave support and became holders and professionals, this guide partners of the project. These par- promotes the richness of the territo- tnerships have allowed the Geopark ry’s resources: its natural environment, Geopark Beaujolais’ discovery map Beaujolais to become a part of the its geology and vineyards that made education system and ease commu- it famous. This Guide, included in the and partners. In 2015, two educational nication with teachers. For example, region’s natural environment guides, tours were organized, as well as visits in 2015: the DAAC launched a call for was sent to schools and sold to visitors. of the geosites, and offered first to the applicants amongst teachers for the Atouts Beaujolais association (touristic The Geosites’ Discovery Map : this Geopark Beaujolais. The Geopark Beau- providers’ association) in April 2015. tool was suggested by the Education jolais was introduced during the award Another educational tour for represen- actions workgroup. Conceived and ceremony of the Geosciences Olympics tatives and local development techni- written hand-in-hand with education of the Lyon academy. The Ministry of cians was organized in October 2015, stakeholders, it was printed in 2015 in Education supports and advises the hand in hand with the CAUE, called 10 000 copies. Geopark Beaujolais in organizing its “Geotour in Beaujolais, working towards action plans. Teachers met three times The geological book: currently, the a high quality landscape”). Many site in 2016 in order to discuss and move Beaujolais has no book about its geo- visits were also organized, such as the forward on the different educational logy. In 2016, the scientific workgroup one around the Mount Brouilly, in May projects linked to the Geopark. started the creation a book about the 2015, for Beaujolais vineyard Office territory’s geological history. This book of tourism. In 2016, the Geopark was The Geopark Beaujolais is also wor- bought together many local stakehol- introduced and a visit was organized king hand-in-hand with the CAUE 69 ders and is a capital tool to know more for the association of the Rhône-Alpes (Conseil d’Architecture, d’Urbanisme about the Beaujolais’ complex geology, region’s guides, in February 2016. This et d’Environnement du Rhône) on landscapes, environment and biodiver- training workshop allowed professio- supporting and producing educational sity. nal guides to be able to talk about the projects. Thus, for 2016/2017 school Geopark in their future visits. In the year, a technical class of the secondary same way, the Geopark Beaujolais was agricultural school Bel Air is working on D.6.3. introduced during a Rotary club general a project called « What landscape for meeting, in Villefranche-sur-Saône, in tomorrow ? Reading and understanding Professionals April 2016. Professional training works- the landscape to act on wine-growing hops were set up about the knowledge territories ». This project is transversal. and stakeholders’ of vineyards in Beaujolais; hand in hand Thanks to meetings with environment awareness and with the SIGALES study group and the and development professionals, stu- Chambre d’Agriculture. Visits of pits dents can observe, analyze and acquire information and pedological information, as well as knowledge about the wine-growing conferences were planned. Beyond the actions directed towards landscapes of the Geopark Beaujolais. pupils and visitors, the Geopark Beau- The idea is also to analyze the envi- jolais works with and organizes trai- ronment’s evolution and the impact of ning sessions or visits for professionals human activities on landscapes in order to act as responsible professionals and Eductour (field trip) with the association Endorsement of the Geopark Beaujolais citizens in the future. The final produc- of touristic operators ambassadors’ charter tion of this project (in 2017) will be a photographic and artistic exhibition with a view to showing the landscape’s evolution over the last fifty years and imagining what it will look like in the future.

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 48 E / The applicant’s arguments and interests

The Geopark Beaujolais is a long considered project and many wanted to know more about that has been shared with all local stakeholders who, the territory’s profound identity. for more than twenty years, have committed This desire to act as partners will allow, to protecting and promoting its heritage. beyond the local community’s support, to come up with new projects, on a lar- network and exchanged about the pro- ger scale. The territory is also involved in a research program thanks to the E.1. ject and the Beaujolais’ geo-heritage. CIFRE. This thesis, done by Charlotte Its participation in the International Besombes under the direction of Ro- Developing Intensive Course in the Lesvos Petri- main Lajarge for the PACTE-Territoires fied Forest Geopark in June 2016 was laboratory of the Grenoble University, a strategy and an opportunity to spread this network. and which will be presented in 2017, Its integration in the French Geoparks’ a project for deals with the Geopark proceedings, network has been a priority since the in liaison with the French Geoparks the territory start of the proceedings: by participa- network and with other European Geo- ting in the French geological society parks. Its temporary title is: « From meetings (Geoles meetings, Geo-Inven- geological heritage to territorial re- The Geopark label will bring the terri- tory conference in Toulouse in 2015...) sources in action ». tory a qualitative recognition, in addi- but also by inviting to the region other tion to a real opportunity to develop French Geoparks speakers to hear them Lastly, the Beaujolais’ singular iden- and reinforce the territories’ geotou- talk about their experience. The Lu- tity, thanks to its geological diversity rism. Moreover, the identification, pre- beron Geopark took part in the Stone and the riches of the territory’s history servation and communication of the festival in Beaujolais in 2015. Further and life would be an interesting asset. geological sites through educational cooperation is evolving. Thus, it is not Indeed, it is different from many other and mediation policies are an important only a local project, but indeed a colla- Geoparks, especially from the French point. Beyond these objectives and the borative approach meaning to create ones, thanks to the use and appro- geological theme, the Geopark project and officialize a stable network with priation of the geological richness by in Beaujolais has enabled a new local other territories. the residents, which can express their socio-economic strategy, based on a interest in their internationally famous network of stakeholders and partners. vineyards. This specificity gives our The Beaujolais, in targeting these ter- territory its wealth and singularity, and ritorial policies is seeking to become E.3. will give it, we hope, a place in the list and remain an innovative territory, of prestigious sites that are included in thanks to its sustainable development Reasons for the UNESCO Global Geoparks list. ambitions and the involvement of as many people as possible. The Geopark joining the application is transversal and became, UNESCO Glo- in 2012, central to the territory’s ove- rall project. bal Geoparks network E.2. Promotion actions have already been Being included implemented on certain sites and geo- sites on the territory, as well as the in a network action plan, with local stakeholders’ help, and the territory intends to invest in order to implement actions for the The integration of the Beaujolais in territory’s development. The UNESCO the UNESCO Geoparks’ network will Global Geopark labeling would confirm allow it to exchange with other Geo- the merit of these promotion and pro- parks about good practices and during tection actions of the Beaujolais’ geo- events. It will expand the cooperation logical heritage and would strengthen and reinforce the Geopark network of local stakeholders’ determination to geological heritage preservation and invest in the Geopark’s development. communication on a global scale. Since Given the enthusiasm that welcomed the project was launched, in 2012, this project in the territory, a network the applicant territory of the Geopark has already been created: stakeholders Beaujolais has taken part in European took part in the project one way or ano- and Global conferences in the Geoparks’ ther some supported the proceedings

ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 49 Syndicat Mixte du Beaujolais Design : www.mathieulinotte.com Graphic 172 Boulevard Victor Vermorel - 69400 Villefranche-sur-Saône Tél. 04 74 65 74 40 • [email protected] www.geopark-beaujolais.com ASPIRING GEOPARK BEAUJOLAIS 2016 50