Autun

Located 60 miles southwest of Dijon, Autun is a low-key town, but almost two millennia ago (when it was known as Augustodunum) it was one of the most important cities in Roman Gaul. The town is dominated by the Cathédrale Saint-Lazare d'Autun, known colloquially as Autun Cathedral. The hilly area around Cathédrale St-Lazare, reached via narrow cobblestone streets, is known as the old city. Highlights of the medieval center include the medieval city walls and ancient Roman amphitheater.

Although Autun is not as well known as many other cities in France, it is a beautiful up and coming destination and definitely worth visiting to enjoy this hidden destination with some unique gems to explore.

Chalon-sur-Saône

Chalon-sur-Saône is a charming riverside town that boasts a beautiful architectural heritage, known as a city of Art and history. Being that Chalon-sur-Saôneis located in the heart of the Côte Chalonnaise wine region, it allows visitors to discover the fine wines, vineyards and caves as well. The historic center is dominated by the beautiful Saint-Vincent square with picturesque old timber-framed houses and a lovely cathedral. Stroll the quaint shops in the old town, discover the Nicéphore Niépce museum, dedicated to the inventor of photography born in Chalon-sur-Saône, and check out the Tour du Doyenné tower, which offers a beautiful view of the city from the top. Also, don’t miss the Denon museum for its fantastic archaeology and fine arts collections. The town was also once a bustling inland river port, though trading boats have been replaced by pleasure cruises on the Saône and up the Canal du Centre.

Cluny

Cluny is the most famous for its abbey founded in 910. It was one of the most influential congregations in entire Europe, with around a thousand monasteries scattered around France. Even the famous Cardinal Richelieu was once the abbot of Cluny. The church was once the largest in the world, until Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome took the title. Unfortunately, the remains of the abbey are fragmentary and scattered, barely discernible among the houses and green spaces of the modern-day town. But with a bit of imagination,it’s possible to picture how things looked in the 12th century, when Cluny’s Benedictine abbey, renowned for its wealth and power and answerable only to the pope, held over 1100 priories and monasteries stretching from Poland to Portugal. Today, on the right bell tower of the church still stands, but it is easy to imagine its former size with the help of special street tiles marking the location of its walls and columns. There is also a museum that recreates the entire medieval masterpiece.

Also take time to enjoy the atmosphere of Cluny by simply walking the narrow streets with several historic houses from different centuries, some of them almost a thousand years old. The town is lively, especially with the students of the Paris Tech University, that bring a vibrant energy. These students are easy to spot as they all wear grey robe-like jackets, each individually decorated with texts and images. And you’ll find the locals are very proud of their history, with many summer days spent celebrating different cultural events - Art expositions, performances, cinema, jazz and other music festivals, horse riding competitions, and more! Also, make sure to check out the weekend market, a great place to buy local finds, and also to socialize with the locals.

Cormatin

Cormatin is a small village to the north of Cluny, in the Saone-et-Loire department of southern Burgundy. The village is best known (and most visited) for its castle, a magnificent 17th century building set in lovely gardens and parkland in the Burgundy countryside.The chateau is surrounded by moats filled with water and inside visitors will discover the gilded rooms of the most luxurious Louis XIII painted apartment still in existence in France.

Macon

The quaint city of Mâcon sits on the edge of the River Saône. The town boasts beautiful pastel-painted houses and louvered shutters, cobbled lanes, and is a perfect location to explore the nearby wine country of the Saône-et-Loire region in Burgundy. The town has a mediterranean feel with architecture inspired by Italy mainly but mediterranean architecture in general.

Mâcon served as a crossroads for Romans transporting grapes and other goods to the surrounding areas and they influenced a lot of the architecture. Many of the ruins, archeological sites, tunnels, streets, and walkways have a mark to their presence here, with many fascinating ruins to explore. The town is also the birthplace to one of the most famous poets, Alphonse de Lamartine, considered the first romantic poet of France. It is an artistic city evident in the many art galleries showcasing the work of local artists and others. You’ll also find the town inhabitants pride themselves in their food, as do most French people, as well as their fabulous wines.

While in the area, make sure to pay a visit to the vineyards around Mâcon, which are called the Mâconnais. These vineyards create wines known throughout the world. You’ll meet many passionate wine-growers who are more than happy to open their doors to their cellar to sample the amazing wines they produce, and educate you on the wine-making process.

Montceau-les-Mines

Montceau-les-Mines is a city of Saône-et-Loire, that was officially founded in 1856 after the construction of the Canal du Center that connects the valleys of the Loire and the Saone. The history of the town is rooted in coal mining and the industrial development of the entire Creusot-Montceau region from the second half of the 18th century. After the last mine closed in 2000, the city’s urban landscape was completely transformed into beautiful green spaces, enhancing the channel, and industrial tourism, where visitors can enjoy a range of cultural and leisure activities.

Explore the history of this charming town, once home to a thriving mining community at the peak of coal production. The town center, the museums, the historic canal du Centre and its harbor, the heritage buildings are all testaments to Montceau-les-Mine’s mining history at the time of the Industrial Revolution. Few places in France have so many reminders of its great industrial age.

Paray-les-Monial

Paray-le-Monial is west of Cluny in the Sâone-et-Loire department. It is a beautiful town set in the rolling landscape of southern Burgundy and on the banks of the River Bourbince. The town is dominated by the Basilica du Sacré-Coeur, which attracts more than 1 million visitors each year and is an important pilgrimage center. The town is also a host of sevalal historic points of interest. Stroll the medieval town center where you can explore the Town Hall, the houses around Place Lamartine, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, the Chapel of the Visitation, the Saint Nicholas Tower, and The Chapel de la Colombiere. Also take time to discover the surrounding countryside of Paray-le-Monial, a peaceful landscape known as the bocage charolais.

Tournus

The town of Tournus, situated on the Saone River, offers a historic past dating back to the Roman times, when the raised position above the river made for an ideal location to easily defend itself. The city-center is charming and lively offering narrow alleys, old stone houses, artisan shops and quaint restaurants. Discover the 10th century benedictine Abbey of Saint-Philibert de Tournus. The abbey church is the oldest Roman style church of its kind in existence, and is an exceptional building. It is also the only surviving group of monastic buildings dating back to the 12th century which exists in Europe.

Tournus also offers many other sites worth visiting. Check out the Hotel Dius and Greuze museum. The Hotel Dieu was originally the city hospital daing back from the 17th century. On the top floor, some of the hospital rooms have been converted to a museum, the Greuze Museum, that features a collection of historic relics from the region. There are also a number of paintings and sculptures by Jean-Baptiste Greuze and other artists. Other highlights in town include various religious monuments. Along the River Saone, on the eastern edge of Tournus, is also worth exploring. Cross the bridge for some beautiful views of Tournus across the river.

Nevers

Nevers is the capital of the rural Nièvre Department in central France. Sitting next to the beautiful Loire River, the town has its origins as a regional center in Roman times, when it was an important depot for Julius Caesar. It is a lively town with several interesting historic monuments and is renowned for its high quality porcelain. In the past the city was ruled by the Counts and Dukes of Nevers, whose lavish Renaissance house is now the Town Hall. Explore the old town around the cathedral and medieval houses that line the narrow streets. There are several interesting buildings to discover including the Ducal Palace and the Cathedral of Saint-Cyr and Sainte-Julitte among the most important.

Other religious monuments in Nevers include the well preserved roman style Church of Saint-Etienne dating from the 12th century when it was built by monks from Cluny, it is a very impressive example of roman style architecture. Also explore the ornate baroque façade of Sainte-Marie, it is a small chapel referred to as the Chapel of the Visitation of the Virgin Saint.