The best traffic-free bike rides around Saint-Albain

An idyllic, paved cycle path directly on the riverbank. It is a section of the well-known French long-distance cycle route „La Voie Bleue - Moselle-Saône Radweg" (Route V50) along the Saône. The entire long-distance cycle route covers around 700 kilometers from the Luxembourg border town of Apach (near the tripoint) to Lyon. The Saône section follows the natural meanders of the Saône, passing meadows, historic villages, and well-known wine-growing regions such as Mâcon. The route is mostly flat on former towpaths.

An idyllic, asphalted cycle path right on the riverbank. This is a section of the well-known French long-distance cycle route "La Voie Bleue - Moselle-Saône Radweg" (Route V50) along the Saône. The entire long-distance cycle route runs for around 700 kilometers from the French border town of Apach (near the tripoint) to Lyon. The Saône section follows the natural meanders of the Saône, passing meadows, historic villages, and well-known wine-growing regions such as Mâcon. The route runs mostly flat on former towpaths.

Among anglers, the Saône near Mâcon enjoys a legendary reputation. The river is known for its gigantic European catfish (Waller). In this area, capital fish regularly get caught, which are well over 2 meters long and weigh over 100 kilograms.

The Maison de Bois (Wooden House) is located at Place aux Herbes in the center of Mâcon. It is the oldest and most famous residential building in the city. It was built between 1490 and 1510. The ground floor is made of masonry, while the three floors above are built entirely of wood. The wooden structure is famous for its countless, partly grotesque and suggestive carvings. Mythical creatures, monkey masks, and naked and winged figures can be seen. Today, a popular bar-restaurant is located on the ground floor.

The Berges de la Saône (the riverbank promenade of the Saône River) is a modernized riverbank section in the Burgundy region of France, near the road du Pont Vert. This paved riverside path is a popular section of the well-known La Voie Bleue cycle route (Moselle-Saône cycle route) and serves as a recreational and event area for both pedestrians and cyclists.

The picture shows the Mâcon-Ville train station (Gare de Mâcon-Ville) in the city center of Mâcon. The original historic 19th-century station building was destroyed in World War II. Today's building, with its distinctive, wave-like curved roof structure, was rebuilt in the 1950s as a combined train and bus station. The station has been extensively modernized. A new barrier-free pedestrian bridge with elevators ensures modern, accessible access to the platforms.

The Saint-Laurent Bridge (Pont Saint-Laurent) is a historic stone bridge that spans the Saône River. It connects the town of Mâcon in the Saône-et-Loire department with the municipality of Saint-Laurent-sur-Saône in the Ain department. Initial wooden structures were already built by the Romans. The current stone bridge dates back to the 11th century in its core and is considered the oldest bridge over the Saône. The structure consists of twelve stone arches. On one of the pillars, there is a statue of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of boatmen. It is one of the few historic structures in the region that survived the demolitions of World War II unscathed.

The Voie Verte (Green Way) is a former, paved railway line. At the starting point in Charnay-lès-Mâcon is the Vélo-Gare du Mâconnais - a former train station, which today serves as a tourist office and bicycle rental.