The best cycling routes around Saint-Denis-De-Vaux

A route through a green corridor, that brings joy.

The Church of St. Peter and Paul (Église Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul) in the municipality of Givry was built between 1772 and 1791. It is considered a masterpiece of French Classicism. It was designed by the famous regional engineer and architect Émiland Gauthey. Its striking, bright yellow facade, which makes it visible from afar in the village, is very noticeable. Its round shape and the large bull's-eye windows (Œil-de-bœuf) also make it unique.

The Château de Cormatin is a magnificent moated castle from the early 17th century. The castle was built between 1606 and 1625 by the Marquises d'Huxelles. It houses the best-preserved state rooms from the Louis XIII era in all of France. Famous are the "Gilded Rooms" (Salles Dorées) with lavish paintings, sculptures, and gilded ceilings. The extensive grounds, covering around 12 hectares, are among the most beautiful gardens in France. Highlights in the outdoor area include a large boxwood labyrinth, an open-air Baroque theatre, water features, and a historic vegetable garden. This spot only offers a brief glimpse of the rear grounds.

The idyllic church is located directly on the Voie Verte de Bourgogne du Sud cycle path.

The Halle ronde (the "round hall") in the French municipality of Givry was built between 1825 and 1830. It was designed by the regionally known architect Lazare Narjoux. It originally served as a grain hall (Halle au blé) to supply the surrounding mills and the population with grain. Due to its rare, circular design, the market hall has been classified as a historic monument since 1931.

The completely car-free "Green Way" leads over around 70 kilometers from Chalon-sur-Saône to Mâcon. The path winds through picturesque vineyards (Côte Chalonnaise), past medieval villages like Saint-Gengoux-le-National, historic castles, and Romanesque architecture. On the route, you will pass the historic town of Cluny with its famous, thousand-year-old abbey. Near Cluny, you will cross the longest tunnel in Europe open to cyclists, at 1.6 km (note the winter closure for bat protection). Together with the parallel river route Voie Bleue along the Saône, the route can be combined into a fantastic 145 km circular tour (Grande Boucle de Bourgogne du Sud).

Founded in 910, the Benedictine abbey developed into the starting point of the Cluniac reform movement. In the High Middle Ages, it was one of the most influential religious and political centers in Western Europe. At its peak, the Cluny congregation comprised around 1,200 monasteries with over 20,000 monks across the continent. Cluny was independent of secular rulers and local bishops. It was directly subordinate to the Pope in Rome.

This path is part of the famous Voie Verte de Bourgogne du Sud, France's oldest car-free railway path. The section runs along a perfectly asphalted, flat former railway track. It passes directly under a classic old stone arch bridge and is lined with wooded embankments. The stretch directly between the old train station in Saint-Gengoux and Cormatin is about 8 kilometers long. It is ideal for families, cyclists, and inline skaters, with no significant gradients.