The best cycling routes around Saint-Ythaire

The Saint-Martin church in Chapaize is a beautiful, old church. Its huge, 35-meter-high tower can be seen from afar. The church was built almost 1000 years ago in the Romanesque style, it has thick stone walls and round arches.

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.

Peaceful village with a lake and campsite, a detour that is worth it.

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).

The Crainseny Viaduct (French: Viaduc de Crainseny) is a historic railway bridge in the south of the Côte Chalonnaise region. The viaduct was built in 1882. It has a total length of 246 meters, spans the valley at a height of around 23 meters, and features a distinctive curve with a radius of 400 meters. The masonry bridge consists of 16 elegant round arches, each with a span of 12 meters. Originally, the railway ran here on the Étiveau-Montchanin line, connecting the towns of Saint-Gengoux-le-National and Montchanin. Train services were discontinued in 1969.

The imposing church was originally built in the 12th century by the monks of the Abbey of Cluny. It officially belongs to the Cluniac sites and is on the candidate list for UNESCO World Heritage. The building combines different architectural eras. While the striking transept and the octagonal bell tower date from the Romanesque era, the three-aisled choir visible in the background shows Gothic features. A central eye-catcher in the sanctuary is the large, colorful neo-Gothic church window, which casts a soft light into the elongated interior. Along the mighty pillars of the nave, detailed sculptures and reliefs on the capitals can be seen in the foreground.

The recreational facility is located directly on the popular Voie Verte de Bourgogne du Sud, a scenic cycling route on a former railway line. The area offers numerous amenities for cyclists, hikers, and families: There are several shaded picnic tables and benches in a green setting. Directly at the old train station, there is a bicycle rental for classic bicycles and e-bikes, as well as a small repair station. A children's playground with 15 play structures, installed in April 2024, provides entertainment for younger visitors. Public toilets, a water point, and a large, free car park are available.

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.