Cultural Sites

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A must see is the quiet traditional Burgundy town of Louhans. We also suggest you visit Chalon sur Saone between Dijon and Mâcon for a stroll around the historic centre and to see the cathedral.

One of the most important castles in the department, the Chateau de Pierre-de-Bresse, is an imposing renaissance style castle with extensive formal gardens about 13 km from here.

The town of Tourus also has an interesting centre with an abbey and several interesting historical buildings to see.

Close to here, the castle of Cormatin has several lavishly decorated and furnished rooms and is in an attractive setting surrounded by carefully maintained French-style gardens.

Between Tournus and Cormatin we also suggest you pause for a visit to the village of Brancion which has been substantially renovated in recent years and is very pleasant to explore. Close to here we also enjoyed visiting the small villages of Chapaize and Uchizy

One particular highlight of Southern Burgundy is the renowned monastery at Cluny, one of the most visited religious complexes in France and in medieval times one of the most important monastic settlements in the world. The village of Cluny is also very pretty. 

You can also enjoye the riverside walk through the town of Mâcon to the south-east of Cluny.

Between Cluny and Macon we suggest you take a walk around the small village of Berzé-le-Chatel, which has several notable historic buildings including a medieval fortress which overlooks the small village (there are attractive views from the terraced gardens at the castle).

Close to here the village of Solutré-Pouilly is surrounded by the famous vineyards of the region and dominated by the Rock of Solutré, a rocky outcrop that was occupied in prehistoric times and is also classified as one of the 'grand sites of France'.

One of our favourites sites in this region is the Arboretum de Pézanin at Dompierre-les-Ormes. This extensive arboretum includes a lake and many species of trees and plants, and also the 'European Gallery of Forests and Woodlands' with a focus on explaining the importance of forests and landscapes.

West of Maçon the Chateau de Drée is one of the best examples of 18th century classical architecture in the region and the surrounding gardens are officially classified as a French 'remarkable garden'.

Passing now towards the south-west of Saone-et-Loire, be sure to visit the 12th century basilica at Paray-le-Monial. This pilgrimages site attracts more than a million visitors each year and also helps understand what the abbey at Cluny would have been like when it was first constructed.

The priory church at Anzy-le-Duc  a little to the south of Paray-le-Monial is a very lovely example of 12th century roman architecture with some interesting medieval frescoes.