South Burgundy Loop, from Chalon to Mâcon

  • 5 days / 4 days riding
  •  / ref. BU8
  • / Difficulty Easy
  •  / Round trip
from 770 €
per person
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Your bike tour in South Burgundy

Explore Southern Burgundy, from Chalon to Mâcon, almost entirely on cycle paths!

Follow the banks of the Saône along the newly developed towpaths of the “Voie Bleue” before joining France’s first “Voie Verte”. This magnificent cycle route allows you to easily cross the Côte Chalonnaise and its famous Val Lamartinien, offering some of the most beautiful scenery in Burgundy! Cycle through the heart of the famous vineyards (from Pouilly Fuissé to Givry or St Véran) with breathtaking natural sites such as the Roche de Solutré in the background! And succumb to the charms of a magnificent historical heritage where Romanesque art reigns supreme: from the fascinating abbey town of Cluny, to the small private castles of Berzé-le-Châtel or Cormatin, to the historic centres of Tournus or St Gengoux le National.

Tour highlights

  • A looping tour exclusively via greenways
  • The vineyards and medieval villages of the Val Lamartinien
  • Cluny and its Romanesque abbey

Day 1 Arrival in Chalon-sur-Saône


Take the time to discover the beautiful historic heart of the city of Nicéphore Niépce. Who was he? He was the inventor of photography! A major museum is dedicated to him.

Day 2 Chalon-sur-Saône – Tournus | 34 km


For your first cycling stage, follow the banks of the Saône river before taking small roads to Ouroux-sur-Saône. The towpath along the river (the famous Voie Bleue!) then takes you quietly to Tournus, where the medieval streets and the magnificent Romanesque abbey church of St Philibert promise some great discoveries.

Optional
Visit of the Hospices de Tournus (Included in the "Visit Package")
Hôtel Dieu de Tournus

Tournus Tourisme

Free visit of the Hospices (former hospital) built in the 17th and 18th centuries. It has preserved all of its old rooms (three patients’ rooms and two chapels), fitted out with their original furniture: the traditional closed oak beds, still aligned around their central stove. The Hospices also houses a rich apothecary, including Nevers and Dijon ceramic and blown glass bottles.

Day 3 Tournus – Mâcon | 32 km (or 41 km via the vineyards)


Keep on the Saône river banks! Pedal to the rhythm of the fishermen and the small Romanesque churches, with the Mâconnais vineyards in the background. Then reach Mâcon and its streets with their colourful facades and round-tiled roofs. Take time to stroll along its elegant quays… before heading to the lively terraces in the heart of the city.

Option: for wine lovers, a small detour via the vineyards is proposed.

Day 4 Mâcon – Cluny | 30 km (or 36 km via the vineyards and Pierreclos)


After leaving the centre of Mâcon, take now the Voie Verte. This route offers a variety of magnificent landscapes. First of all, cross the Lamartinien valley, a series of small hills covered with vineyards so much appreciated by the French poet Lamartine, and where Berzé-le-Chatel and its medieval fortress stand proudly. Then head for the fascinating town of Cluny! The remains of its Romanesque abbey, scattered throughout the town, bear witness to its enormous size and the importance of the monastic order founded here in 910!

Option: we suggest a short trip to the castle of Pierreclos, which offers an exceptional view of the Roche de Solutré.

Optional
Visit of the Abbey of Cluny (Included in the "Visit Package")
Abbaye de Cluny

Alain DOIRE_Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Tourisme

Visit the Abbey of Cluny, former headquarters of the West biggest medieval monastic order: You will discover numerous monastic buildings and vestige of the main church partly destroyed during the French Revolution. You will be amazed by this place grandeur and will easily imagine the greatness of the abbey of the 10th century.

Day 5 Cluny – Chalon-sur-Saône | 51 km


Make the most of your last day of cycling to admire once again the vineyards and countryside crossed by the Voie Verte… but also some of the other treasures on offer. Whether it is the castle of Cormatin and its gardens, a unique place in France with superbly preserved interiors dating back to the reign of Louis XIII; or the small village of St Gengoux-le-National whose medieval town promises an assured journey back in time. Then continue to Buxy and Givry (and their cooperative cellars!) before finally reaching Chalon-sur-Saône.
Departure at the end of the stage.

Possibility to book an extra night in Dijon.

Optional
Visit of the château de Cormatin (Included in the "Visit Package")
Château de Cormatin

OT Cluny

Discover the Chateau of Cormatin thanks to the guided visit of the 17th apartments, the main stairs, the 1900’s library and the kitchen. Keep going on your own with a walk in the gardens (flowerbeds, labyrinth, copse, the green theater, Lamartine’s walk, vegetable garden).

The little extra with Biking France (optional):


Our « Visit Package », with entrance fees to

. Hospices de Tournus
. château de Cormatin
. Cluny abbey

Family trip – from 10 years old.


Select your category

category Standard
category superior

Your accommodation

These hotels offer all the comfort and well-earned rest after a cycling day (private bathroom). A perfect place to enjoy all the centres of interest around.
These hotels provide charming services on high quality as well as a great location.
Pictures for indicative purposes. Depending on the availability.
Including :

• 4 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
• Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
• Equipped cycle rental for 4 days
• A personalized travel app, including all your cycling stages as well as tourist and practical information
• City taxes
• Hotline 7 days a week

Not including :

• Dinners / Lunches / Drinks
• Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
• Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
• Single room supplement (4 nights included)

Including :

• 4 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
• Luggage transport during the bike stages (1 luggage 20kg per person)
• Equipped cycle rental for 4 days
• A personalized travel app, including all your cycling stages as well as tourist and practical information
• City taxes
• Hotline 7 days a week

Not including :

• Dinners / Lunches / Drinks
• Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
• Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
• Single room supplement (4 nights included)

Children discount :from 0 to 2 years old : - 90%
from 3 to 11 years old : - 20%
from 12 to 15 years old : - 10%

(Children's discounts only apply when triple or quadruple rooms are occupied by at least 2 people paying the full rate)

Hybrid bike BERGAMONT Vitess 6 - 27 speed gears

OPEN or CLOSED frame

  • 1 rear pannier
  • 1 handlebar pannier
  • 1 smartphone holder
  • 1 repair kit
  • 1 lock per couple

Helmet not provided.

(These models of bike may be replaced by another one, similar)

e-bike BERGAMONT E-Horizon 4 RT

UNIVERSAL frame

  • 1 rear pannier
  • 1 handlebar pannier
  • 1 smartphone holder
  • 1 repair kit
  • 1 lock per couple

Helmet not provided.

(These models of e-bike may be replaced by another one, similar)

Practical details

Rental bikes will be available from our local partner.

At the end of the tour, leave the rental bikes at your hotel, we will pick them up.

Your travel appYour journeyHow to arrive in Chalon sur SaôneReturn

Your travel app

You’ll have personalized access to our travel app, which you can download onto your smartphone.
This app includes all your cycling stages, tourist and practical content, as well as your accommodation. The application will guide you along your route, like a GPS, during your cycling stages.

If you would like a printed version of the roadbook (including color maps of your stages), please let us know when you book your trip. It will be provided at your first accommodation.

How to arrive in Chalon sur Saône

By train
From Paris Gare de Lyon train station >> Dijon ville train station >> Chalon-sur-Saône train station (about 2h45 by TGV train + train).
For more information, do not hesitate to visit : www.sncf.com/en

By plane

  • From Orly airport:
    – Taxi transfer to Paris Gare de Lyon train station >> Dijon ville train station >> Chalon-sur-Saône train station (by TGV train + train).

– Bus shuttle (Orly Bus) : from Orly Sud > > Paris centre – stop ‘Denfert Rochereau’ >> Metro line 6 + line 14 >> Paris Gare de Lyon  train station >> Dijon ville train station >> Chalon-sur-Saône train station (by TGV train + train).
http://aeroportorly.paris/orlybus.php

– Orly Val (automatic metro): from Orly Sud or Ouest >> Paris – stop ‘‘Chatelet les Halles’ >> RER D – stop ‘Paris Gare de Lyon’ >> Dijon ville train station >> Chalon-sur-Saône train station (by TGV train + train).
http://aeroportorly.paris/orlyval.php
www.transilien.com/en
www.ratp.fr/en/plans-lignes

  • From Beauvais airport:
    – Taxi transfer to Paris Gare de Lyon train station >> Dijon ville train station >> Chalon-sur-Saône train station (by TGV train + train).

– Bus shuttle >> Paris – stop ‘Porte Maillot’ >> Metro line 1 >> Paris Gare de Lyon  train station >> Dijon ville train station >> Chalon-sur-Saône train station (by TGV train + train).
www.aeroportparisbeauvais.com/en/acces-et-transports/navettes/

Return

If you have to return to Paris (city centre) / Paris Airports:

  • A return transfer by train is possible and organised on your own. Please visit: www.sncf.com/en
    Plan to go to the train station with your luggage (and your potential own bike)
    (Personal bike return costs are on your responsibility.)
    – Gare de Chalon-sur-Saône >> Dijon-ville train station >> Paris Gare de Lyon (by TGV train + train).

Nearby Airport:
– Lyon – Saint Exupéry Airport : www.lyonaeroports.com


Trip overall rating : 5 *****/ 4 testimonials