Lacrost on the Saône River

Lacrost lies on the left bank of the Saône, opposite Tournus; the village was built on a rocky outcrop. For travellers looking to give their stay a cultural and historical focus, the village brings together a Burgundian Romanesque church, traces of stoneworking and a historic washhouse. In September, the annual “La Crotaise” walk is an additional attraction, with routes leading to sights and landscapes across the commune.

Crossing the Saône and construction history

The Pont de Lacrost bridge lies south of Tournus and carries the D975 departmental road across the Saône towards Lacrost. It consists of three semicircular concrete arches resting on two piers in the river. The bridge’s function and construction are clearly distinct: the road defines the crossing and its direction, while the arches and piers form the structure. For visitors interested in regional architectural history, this offers a tangible riverside subject that stands apart from the historic buildings in the village.

Church and traces of stoneworking

Lacrost’s church stands in the elevated centre of the village. Designed in the Burgundian Romanesque style, it houses the statue “Notre Dame de Grâce”. These two features complement one another without describing the same thing: the style identifies the design of the building, while the statue is a specific work of art inside. For travellers who take architecture and art into account when choosing a destination, this combination is a cultural highlight.

The local heritage also includes emblems left on houses and gravestones by quarry workers, stonemasons and members of the Compagnons du Devoir. These traces connect three named groups with two distinct locations: homes and burial sites. This aspect of local history is therefore different from the church, whose style and statue are specific features of a single building.

The washhouse of Lacrost

The washhouse lies south of the village, below the Chemin de Préty. A stone vault covers its basin, and the polished edges of the basin are made of pink stone. Each stone in the edging is shaped using the so-called “en cadettes” system. This detail draws attention not only to the material but also to the shaping of each individual edging stone. The washhouse thus brings together the basin’s spatial construction and the craftsmanship of its edging.

La Crotaise in September

The “La Crotaise” walk takes place in Lacrost every year in September. Its routes lead to sights and landscapes across the commune. The event is therefore seasonal, unlike the enduring attractions of the church, bridge and washhouse: it offers a recurring reason to visit at a particular time of year. If you would like to plan your stay around La Crotaise, check the latest event dates and access arrangements before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Artaix, Baudrières, Bussières, Saint-Gengoux-Le-National, Frangy-en-Bresse, Chaintré, Beaumont-sur-Grosne, Bourbon-Lancy

For the regional travel overview: Saône-Et-Loire.