Discover Montbellet: Voie Bleue and Romanesque history

Montbellet brings together cycling along the Saône, Romanesque architecture and walks by the water. The Voie Bleue offers a cycling perspective, while churches and chapels give the area a historical focus. There are also meadows with distinctive flora and fauna, as well as a farming connection at the Moulin des Essarts. If you are looking for a hotel in Montbellet, these different themes can help you decide whether the destination suits your interests.

The Saône and the Voie Bleue

Montbellet is bordered by the Saône to the east and vineyards to the west. The Voie Bleue runs through Montbellet as a cycling route along the Saône between Mâcon and Heuilliez-sur-Saône. On the Tournus–Fleurville section, the Voie Bleue associated with Montbellet largely follows the developed and signposted towpath beside the river. The route is therefore a specific point of reference for travelers who want to include cycling along the Saône in their plans.

Meadows with interesting fauna and unique flora lie along the Voie Bleue near Montbellet. The wildlife there includes beavers, foxes and kingfishers; some rare species are also found. The landscape thus includes meadows and diverse wildlife and plant life, alongside the river and vineyards. Montbellet also offers walks by the water. If you would rather explore on foot, these provide a different focus from the cycling route along the Saône.

Romanesque architecture and exhibitions

The Chapelle du Prieuré de Saint Oyen is a Romanesque chapel built between the 11th and 12th centuries. Originally, it was an extension of the church in Montbellet. This church belonged to a priory that was dependent on Saint Claude Abbey in the Jura. The chapel’s history is therefore also connected with its original place within the church hierarchy.

The church of Saint-Didier represents a further phase of construction: beneath its bell tower is a Romanesque bay dating from the 12th century, and the nave was extended in 1702. Montbellet thus offers two distinct historical points of interest: the Romanesque chapel and its priory history, and the building history of Saint-Didier, with its Romanesque bay and the later extension of the nave.

Since 2010, the Chapelle des Arts has served as an exhibition venue for artists. It offers a different cultural focus from the architectural history of the churches and chapel: here, the venue for artists’ exhibitions takes center stage, while the historic buildings mentioned above can be understood through their architecture and origins.

Walks and local agriculture

Walks by the water offer a way to explore Montbellet on foot, while the Voie Bleue is described as a cycling route. When planning, you can therefore distinguish between a walk along the riverbank and cycling on a route beside the Saône.

A local connection to agriculture can be found at the Moulin des Essarts. Sourdough bread made with organic ingredients and baked in a wood-fired oven is available there to order. If you would like to include the bread in your plans, it is best to place your order in advance.

The Moulin des Essarts also regularly hosts farm-related gatherings and events with volunteers and farmers. Dates vary, so check before your trip whether a gathering falls within your planned stay.

Discover more destinations: Barnay, Saint-Julien-De-Civry, Chasselas, Oyé, Montmelard, Paris-L'hôpital, Dennevy, Dompierre-Les-Ormes.

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