Bordered by the two rivers that give the region its name, Saône-et-Loire is popular with fishers and sailors as well as people looking for authentic cultural experiences in Burgundy. Cycle along the river from vineyard to vineyard and town to town, stopping to snack on sandwiches made with famous Morvan ham. Use Romanesque church steeples to guide your way.
Base your visit of Saône-et-Loire at one of two main towns along the river, Chalon-sur-Saône and Mâcon. In Chalon, see where photography got an early start and learn about the history of imaging at the Musée Maison Nicéphore Niépce, housed in a historic building. Have a contemplative moment in the neo-Gothic Chalon Cathedral, which contains significant parts of its Romanesque predecessor. Farther south, cross the Pont Saint-Laurent, a 1,000-year-old stone bridge in Mâcon. Watch the lights of the Chalon Old Town reflected in the water below.
Head out of the towns to see the region’s vineyards and architecture. Explore the ruins of the Abbey of Cluny, once Europe’s most important monastery. Gape at the magnificent 12th-century basilica at Paray-le-Monial, a pilgrimage site that gives a sense of how Cluny looked in its golden years. Ramble along hiking and bike trails of the Parc Naturel Régional du Morvan, in the department’s northeastern corner, which has stunning vistas around every corner and the Roman archaeological site of Autun. Climb the enormous Roche de Solutré monolith before the sun goes down, watching the golden light on the vineyards’ fluttering leaves.
Saône-et-Loire forms Burgundy’s southern border. Reach the department’s largest town of Chalon-sur-Saône with a 1.5-hour drive from the closest international airport in Lyon. A local train connects most towns in the area. Rent a car to explore the back roads or rely on the extensive system of bike and walking trails known as the Voie Verte.
Be sure to tour Saône-et-Loire’s castles, its star the Versailles-like Cormatin, whose French-style gardens are the perfect place to relax with one of the region’s famous wines.