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Short Visits
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| Chalon sur Saone |
St-Martin-en-Bresse (3km)
The local small town with a supermarket, boulangerie, petrol station and several small shops. Very handy for day-to-day
items - Kim can get to the supermarket in 8 minutes by bicycle!
Chalon sur Saone (20km)
With a population of 60,000 this is a bustling, prosperous town spreading out from the historic centre. On the
banks of the river Saone, Chalon boasts one of the best street markets we know (and after 30+ years of visiting France we've
seen a few!), held each Sunday from 0900 to 1200. A very interesting town to wander about or for shopping, it also offers
Carrefour and Geant hypermarkets.
The Countryside
Take a stroll through the adjacent oak forest or a leisurely cycle ride through the area to realise how rural and
peaceful the area is. The economy is firmly agricultural and thrives on the rich, fertile soil - tourists are uncommon
- this is 'La France profonde'.
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Half-day Trips
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| Dijon |
The choice for half-day trips is enormous; here are some of our favourites:
Dijon (70km)
The ancient capital of Burgundy with a population of 150,000. An hour by road brings one to this historic city.
The centre of town combines the historic old with newer development and is a great place to explore. Some of the region's
finest dishes are available from the family run restaurants throughout the city - a satisfying French lunch is a must.
Tournus and Cluny (100km round trip)
A trip combining these two old towns is a must for history buffs. Tournus has one of the finest churches
in the region - St Philibert - which once belonged to the Benedictine Abbey of Tournus.
Cluny was, for almost 2 centuries, the effective centre of the Christian church, the seat of power being the Benedictine
Abbey around which the town grew. Sacked by the Huguenots in the 16th century, only parts of the abbey now remain.
The town attracts tourists and Christian historians year-round.
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Day Trips
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| Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc |
Lyon (150km)
The second largest metropolitan area in France with a population of almost 2,000,000, Lyon is not only a modern, vibrant
city, it also has two areas - St Jean and Croix-Russes - designated as UNESCO world heritage sites. If France is
the gastronomic capital of the world, Lyon is the gastronomic capital of France.
The city deserves a full day's visit where one can admire the historic centre, shop 'til you drop' and, of course, try
the food that has earned the city its reputation.
The Wine Route (200km round trip)
From Chablis in the North to Macon in the south, over 120km of beautiful countryside dotted with names to make every
winelover purr. Puligny Montrachet, Mercurey, Chablis, Pommard - the list seems never-ending. To follow the route
is a delight not only for the opportunity to stop at the 'degustation' (tasting) establishments, but also to discover the
wonderfully soft, fertile, rolling landscape.
Lake Geneva (360 - 500km round trip)
An early start and a late return perhaps, but worth it for the dramatic scenery. Heading east through the Jura
mountains the lake can be reached in a little over 2 hours. Meeting the lake at Nyon, take the road to Lausanne and circumnavigate
the lake clockwise. A stop at Morges is recommended to get the stunning view of Mont Blanc beyond the opposite shore.
Pass through Lausanne, Montreux and into France again - the northern edge of the lake is Swiss, the southern edge is French.
Return via Evian to Geneva, then either back through the mountain pass or take the spectacular Autoroute to Macon and back
home.
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