Your email will not be communicated to any third party or company outside France Bike Trips / Velorizons. You may receive occasional emails from France Bike Trips, with the possibility to unsubscribe at any time. CNIL (French National Commission for Data Protection and Liberties)
Please type in your search terms.
You can prefix chosen words with the '+' sign to make them mandatory, or with the '-' sign to avoid results containing this word from appearing, e.g. west +nepal -canada
A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.
In the heart of one of the richest terroirs in France are hidden some beautiful gems, in the form of narrow roads with very little traffic and beautiful cycle paths winding through the vineyards...
Starting from Chalon sur Saône, we discover the southern part of Burgundy on a dedicated cycle route, first by the route along a wild and bucolic Saône, then by the route lined with small medieval villages and vineyards. A 9-day version allows us to extend this discovery by the very pretty Ouche valley and its canal, which takes us to the capital of Burgundy.
Our stays in Burgundy are placed under the sign of the epicurean pleasures : visit of cellars, restaurants with Burgundian gastronomy, tastings along the way, local products, etc...
Itinerary start: France Bike Trips services begin on day 1 at 9 am at our local partner hotel Chalon sur Saône. On request we can book the previous nights accommodation for you in Chalon.
Our tour of Burgundy begins in Chalon-sur-Saône and already a first stop is necessary! Its old town with its beautiful medieval houses and its Saint-Vincent cathedral, the Saint-Laurent island with its street full of restaurants that reveal the excellence of Burgundian cuisine, without forgetting its Nicéphore-Niépce museum, one of the most beautiful museums in France dedicated to photography... It is well worth a visit! Our path then follows the Voie Bressane greenway, a former railway that has been rehabilitated as a soft path up to Ouroux-sur-Saône, before returning to small country roads that wind along the Saône. The river crosses a protected area and reveals a wilder aspect. We reach Gigny-sur-Saône and its leisure centre where we can take advantage of the banks of the Saône and its marina, and boat lovers can even hire a boat to discover the river from a different angle. Our stage continues along a towpath to Tournus, renowned for its Abbey, a masterpiece of early Romanesque art, and its historic centre with its many gastronomic and starred restaurants.
Distance and altitude gain : approx 33km and 50m
This morning, we set off again towards the south, still following the Saône on this route which we will follow until Mâcon. Let us not forget that we also cross the vineyards of the Mâcon region, the occasion for us to make some stops to discover and taste good wines. We continue our route through several villages, which gradually leads us to the gates of Mâcon, located on the river. This charming town has a southern character, with its colourful facades and round-tiled roofs. A visit to the historic centre allows you to discover the charming Place aux Herbes and its splendid Renaissance wooden house; the Vieux Saint-Vincent, a vestige of the former Saint-Vincent cathedral; the religious buildings of the Saint-Pierre church and the Saint-Vincent cathedral; the apothecary of the Hôtel-Dieu; or the Saint-Laurent bridge and its beautiful view of the quays and houses of the old town. The Musée des Ursulines houses collections of archaeology, paintings and sculptures.
Distance and altitude gain : approx 33km and 65m
We leave the Côte Chalonnaise to join the hillsides of the Mâcon region: a change of colour, a change of scenery and a change of height! A long tunnel (the Bois Clair tunnel, the longest tunnel in Europe open to cyclists) allows us to make this transition smoothly. We progressively discover another terrain made up of karstic rocks and strewn with vines that make the reputation of the Mâconnais. On our way, a few stops are necessary to discover Charnay Lès Mâcon and its Romanesque church, Berzé and its medieval heritage, Berzé le Châtel and its medieval fortress, and of course Cluny and its abbey, its beautiful residences and its museum of art and archaeology, the arrival point of this third stage in Burgundy.
Please note that the Bois Clair tunnel is open to cyclists from 15/04 to 30/09.
Distance and altitude gain : approx 30km and 250m (an extra 8km and 100m if you don't take the tunnel)
We head back north on the cyclepath, the stage will be short in order to take advantage of the unmissable visit of the castle of Cormatin: surrounded by a large moat, this building built from 1606, impresses by the monumentality of its facades in military style. Our tour takes us through several villages of character before ending in Saint Gengoux, a small medieval town with a beautiful architectural heritage with its keep, its surrounding walls and its galleries... A lot of charm for this last stopover in Burgundy!
Distance and altitude gain : approx 25km and 75m
We complete the loop by visiting the last villages of the Côte Chalonnaise, such as the fortified town of Buxy with its Red Tower, the small winegrowing village of Givry and its monks' cellar for a final tasting, before reaching Chalon sur Saône, the final point of this 5 day Burgundy tour. It is possible, if you wish, to extend your discovery of Burgundy by joining Dijon, consult the 9-day version below!
Distance and altitude gain : approx 32km and 100m
Itinerary end: France Bike Trips services end in Chalon sur Saône at 5pm for the 5-days trip and around 5pm in Dijon for the 9-days trip. On request we can book the following nights accommodation for you in Dijon or Chalon sur Saône.
Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.
We are halfway through our adventure in Burgundy and finish the visit of this southern part by discovering the last villages of the Chalonnaise coast such as the fortified town of Buxy, the small winegrowing village of Givry and its monks' cellar or Dracy le fort and its castle. We bypass Chalon Sur Saône by the west and go on to visit the castle of Germolles, and above all to discover one of the greatest wines of Burgundy, Mercurey. A stop in one of the village's cellars to taste this internationally renowned wine is a must! We get back on our bikes to reach the charming village of Rully, dominated by a beautiful castle, from which a panoramic view of the Chalonnaise coast awaits us to finish this day in beauty.
Distance and altitude gain : approx 33km and 250m
After two days of riding between the wine domains, appreciating the châteaux and the prestigious names, we go into a more discreet but no less endearing Burgundy. The itinerary does not leave us time to get bored. Through an exceptional network of small roads winding between the vineyards as we leave our accommodation, then between the fields, we head west towards the Dheune valley, a right bank tributary of the Saône. We descend the Dheune and pass through the villages and the bucolic atmosphere that emanates from them. Our route then skirts the limestone spine of the Côte de Beaune from the south, to abandon the vineyards for good, at least for today, in favour of the limestone cliffs. Our stage of the day, Nolay, is in sight.
Distance and altitude gain :
Today's stage is shorter depending on the option chosen, but it includes some gentle uphill sections that will certainly slow down our pace somewhat. Let's remember that this trip is not a race, on the contrary, and that we take our time to appreciate the places we cross. From Nolay, after having completed the previous day's visit (Saint Pierre district, paleontology museum, town hall), our itinerary takes us not far from the cliffs of Saint Romain. In the heart of a real limestone cirque, the village of Saint Romain can be seen from above! Some parts under the woods, others in the open, the landscapes change and invite contemplation. We then head north, following the golden coast to the west. We end up at the source of the Ourche river, towards Lusigny sur Ouche. After a short stretch near the Ouche, we head to Bligny, where we set up for the night.
Distance and altitude gain :
Unlike yesterday's stage, today's stage is a little bit longer in distance, but has a rather downhill profile. A set of small villages that we discover with delight, so enchanting is the setting of this pretty valley. Thorey, la Bussière, Saint Victor, Barbirey, Gissey, Sainte Marie, Fleurey and Velars, so many opportunities to capture the warm soul of this small country valley. 200m of negative difference in altitude separate the source from the confluence of the Ouche, 200m along which we will let ourselves slip quietly along this day!
Distance and altitude gain :
We are now only a few laps away from the centre of the capital of the Dukes of Burgundy. This short day offers us the possibility of a little rest after this busy week, and especially the possibility of enjoying the many sites (natural and architectural) of the city... and then, for those of us who come to look for other treasures, the renowned Dijon gastronomy, well beyond the famous mustard. In short, a city to discover without hesitation, with or without a bicycle.
Distance and altitude gain : approx 20km and 10m
Extension to Beaune: possibility to continue your discovery of Burgundy with an extra day (D10) by bike (40-45km approx.) to Beaune (please contact us).
Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.
This tour has not yet received any reviews.
