Saône-Et-Loire: Culture, Nature and Routes

Saône-Et-Loire offers a range of options to consider when planning your trip: archaeological interpretation, natural areas, regional food and drink, and cycling and hiking routes. Think about whether you would most like to include exhibitions, landscapes or a particular route in your plans.

Archaeology and digital interpretation

At the foot of the archaeological site of Bibracte is the museum. It presents the site's walls, workshops, houses, public spaces and necropolis. The virtual gallery features more than 150 objects from the museum's collections and the world of Bibracte. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider both the site's different areas and the gallery's objects as themes to explore.

Cluny takes a different approach to interpreting the remains that survive and those that have disappeared: digital reconstructions, augmented reality stations and a 3D film are used to interpret them. If you are interested in archaeological interpretation, you can focus on different aspects: in Bibracte, the walls, workshops, houses, public spaces and necropolis on display; in Cluny, the digital interpretation of visible and vanished remains.

Landscapes and natural areas

The Mâconnais is characterized by karst rock formations and vineyards stretching towards the Saône. These landscape features give a trip a different focus from archaeological exhibitions: here, rock formations and winegrowing take centre stage.

The ENS-71 network comprises six sites owned by the département and one additional site currently designated as an ENS 71 site. The sites showcase the habitats, wildlife and plant life of Saône-Et-Loire. Existing ENS-71 sites are free to access year-round; nature guides offer themed group visits there. When planning your trip, you can choose between exploring the natural environment itself and taking part in a themed guided group experience.

Cycling and hiking routes

The Boucle de Bourgogne du Sud is a 144-kilometre cycling route that combines cycling with gastronomy and wine tourism. It connects the Voie Verte of the Côte chalonnaise with the Voie Bleue between Chalon-sur-Saône and Mâcon. If you are looking for a specific route as well as culinary themes for your trip, this route offers both. Chalon-sur-Saône and Mâcon are listed as starting points for the Boucle; both can be reached by trains that allow bicycles on board.

The Via Cluny is a 550-kilometre French-Swiss hiking route from Payerne to Cluny. Its 26 stages, two variants and eleven possible loops offer a choice of different sections and route formats. This distinguishes it from the Boucle de Bourgogne du Sud, which is listed as 144 kilometres long and combines cycling with gastronomy and wine tourism. On the Mâcon–Cluny stage, the route passes through the Bois-Clair Tunnel, considered the longest tunnel in Europe open to cyclists.

The history of cycling routes is also part of what the area has to offer: the voie verte between Buxy and Cluny was the first voie verte in France. The Canal-du-Centre route is signposted in both directions along its entire length. Its character is defined by cultural heritage, industrial heritage and open countryside; the restored Moulin de Sorine is also part of the route.

Getting around and regional food and drink

Cluny is served by bus route LR 701, which connects Chalon-sur-Saône, Cluny and Mâcon. Together with the aforementioned starting points in Chalon-sur-Saône and Mâcon, this connection helps you plan a journey combining bus and cycling. Bus timetables and bicycle transport arrangements may change; check the latest information before you set off.

For a culinary experience, the Maison du Charolais offers a guided tasting as part of L'expérience Charolaise. This complements the gastronomy and wine tourism associated with the Boucle with a specific tasting experience.

Discover more destinations: Aluze, Bussières, Montagny-Lès-Buxy, Le Breuil, La Chapelle-Saint-Sauveur, Saint-Désert, Romenay, Cluny, Saint-Loup-Géanges, Le Tartre, Saint-Germain-Du-Bois, Mercurey, Clessé, Grury, Gueugnon, Givry, Châteauneuf, Verdun-Sur-Le-Doubs, Antully, La Petite-Verrière, Fleurville, Cuisery, Chassigny-Sous-Dun, Lans, Lournand, Sens-Sur-Seille, Mancey, Charmoy, Torpes, Charbonnat, Saint-Eusèbe, Sarry, Issy-L'evêque, Vinzelles, Sancé, Mâcon, Le Creusot, Igé, Crêches-Sur-Saône, Charnay-Lès-Mâcon, Chalon-Sur-Saône, Chagny, Berzé-La-Ville, Autun, Lux, Hautefond, Montchanin, Dennevy, Iguerande, Le Rousset, Chauffailles, Etang-Sur-Arroux, Mont-Saint-Vincent, Bourbon-Lancy, Vareilles, Chassey-Le-Camp, Chaintré, Martailly-Lès-Brancion, Dracy-Le-Fort, Saint-Émiland, Poisson, Saint-Gengoux-Le-National, Vaux-En-Pré, Toulon-Sur-Arroux, La Chapelle-De-Guinchay, Vers, Sailly, Allériot, Montceau-Les-Mines, Coublanc, La Roche-Vineuse, Dezize-Lès-Maranges, Bouzeron, Rully, Verzé, Sampigny-Lès-Maranges, Cheilly-Lès-Maranges, Saint-Maurice-De-Satonnay, Moroges, Vergisson, Chamilly, Saint-Jean-De-Vaux, Chapaize, Bray, Sologny, Chardonnay, Tramayes, Barizey, Pruzilly, Louhans, Clessy, La Chapelle-Sous-Uchon, Saunières, Montret, Matour, Fleury-La-Montagne, Vitry-En-Charollais, Saint-Boil, Saint-Aubin-Sur-Loire, Simandre, Chatenay, Saint-Firmin, Saint-Sernin-Du-Plain, Saint-Gengoux-De-Scissé, Solutré-Pouilly, Ligny-En-Brionnais, Laives, Melay, Saint-Symphorien-De-Marmagne, Joncy, Davayé, Céron, Tintry, Martigny-Le-Comte, Fuissé, Bourgvilain, Paris-L'hôpital, Buxy, Ozenay, Lucenay-L'évêque, Pierreclos, Chaudenay, Devrouze, Mont, Épinac, Gergy, La Vineuse, Saint-Amour-Bellevue, Dettey, Lacrost, Chissey-En-Morvan, Frangy-en-Bresse, Marcigny, Hurigny, Varennes-sous-Dun, Saint-Sernin-du-Bois, Montmort, Maltat, La Frette, Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux, Bresse-sur-Grosne, Loisy, Montcenis, Palinges, Demigny, Saint-Nizier-sur-Arroux, Beaubery, Saint-Point, Saint-Aubin-en-Charollais, Beaumont-sur-Grosne, Flacey-en-Bresse, Grevilly, Préty, Chenôves, Thil-Sur-Arroux, Tronchy, Vauban, Viry, Saint-Léger-Sous-La-Bussière, Trambly, Bellevesvre, Saint-Rémy, Blanzy, Ciry-Le-Noble, Anzy-Le-Duc, Prissé, Fontaines, Damerey, Baudrières, Baudemont, Brandon, Dracy-Lès-Couches, Chasselas, Mellecey, Cuiseaux, La Clayette, Beaurepaire-En-Bresse, Barnay, Cormatin, Sennecey-Le-Grand, Saint-Vallerin, Épertully, Leynes, Burnand, Bruailles, Champforgeuil, Montagny-Sur-Grosne, Saint-Laurent-D'andenay, Uxeau, Serrigny-En-Bresse, Saint-Vallier, Volesvres, Saint-Marcel, La Boulaye, Saint-Martin-En-Bresse, Saint-Martin-La-Patrouille, Saint-Usuge, Saint-Vincent-En-Bresse, Paray-Le-Monial, Plottes, Pontoux, Saint-Bonnet-De-Cray, Saint-Bonnet-De-Joux, Saint-Didier-Sur-Arroux, Saint-Julien-De-Civry, Saint-Léger-Lès-Paray, Saint-Martin-D'auxy, Saint-Martin-Du-Tartre, La Guiche, Remigny, Vitry-sur-Loire, Saint-Marcelin-de-Cray, Nochize, Morey, Laizy, Étrigny, Prizy, Bosjean, Saint-Didier-en-Brionnais, La Chapelle-Thècle, Sagy, Bergesserin, Virey-le-Grand, Bourg-le-Comte, Cronat, Le Puley, Toutenant, Amanzé, Boyer, Huilly-Sur-Seille, Saillenard, Charette-Varennes, Serley, Anost, Artaix, Bissy-Sous-Uxelles, Champlecy, Change, Charolles, Chevagny-Sur-Guye, Chiddes, Chissey-Lès-Mâcon, Ciel, Curgy, Cussy-En-Morvan, Digoin, Dompierre-Les-Ormes, Gigny-Sur-Saône, Igornay, La Comelle, La Grande-Verrière, Lugny, Mazille, Mervans, Montbellet, Montpont-En-Bresse, Morlet, Mussy-Sous-Dun, Oyé, Couches, Ozolles, Tournus, Sennecé-Lès-Mâcon, Saint-Gervais-En-Vallière, Saint-Albain, Romanèche-Thorins, Montmelard, Sigy-Le-Châtel, Sornay, Tavernay, Frontenaud, La Tagnière, Tancon, Saint-Ythaire, Azé

For the broader travel overview: Burgundy.