L’Abbaye Caladoise

L'Abbaye Caladoise is a charm hotel and gastronomic restaurant run by hosts Catherine and Olivier Degand, located in Villefranche-sur-Saône in the heart of the Beaujolais. The house emphasises the charm of old stones, contemporary comfort and sustainable practices. The establishment holds a Bib Gourmand, offers curated set menus, event catering and private receptions in its historic spaces, and combines local Beaujolais identity with refined culinary techniques. The property occupies an authentic 15th-century abbey with renovated rustic interiors: an elegant dining room with exposed beams and tomettes, a covered terrace, a cosy salon and landscaped outdoor spaces that create a serene, refined country-house atmosphere. The kitchen delivers inventive, fine and seasonal French cuisine rooted in regional terroir and respect for ingredients; menus change daily according to arrivals and the restaurant offers prix-fixe formulas alongside classic à-la-carte dishes. Chef Olivier Degand, originally from Troyes, trained from the age of 17 and worked with Gérard Boyer (La Chaumière), Michel Guérard (Les Prés d'Eugénie), Jacques Maximin (Le Doyen) and at the Palais de l'Élysée, and brings an inventive yet traditional approach to the plates. Signatures include Pâté en croûte Bressan (Champion du Monde 2016), Filet de turbot with seasonal vegetables and lemon verbena herb oil, Millefeuille de foie gras de canard, Volaille de Bresse aux morilles, Feuille à feuille croustillant with crème vanille and caramel beurre salé, and Tarte à la praline (Médaille d’argent Mondial de la Praline 2024).