Azé

Azé is in the centre of the triangle formed by Cluny, Mâcon and Tournus, caught between the Clunysois region and the plain of the Saône. It nestles in an amphitheatre of hills and stretches out along the Mouge River, accompanying the passage of the water as if it were the passage
of time. The village plays an intermediary role in the heart of a region divided between history and wine-growing. Its origins are marked by history; from prehistoric times, the” La Balme” caves near the hamlet of Rizerolles provided shelter for man. The name “Azé”, “Aziacum” comes from
the name of the villa that was later built by the Roman colonists.

Berzé-la-Ville

A village of 520 inhabitants, is mainly a wine-growing area. Nestling at the foot of the Roche Coche, this blooming village conceals an interesting heritage. Visitors are first attracted to the priceless fresco in the monks’ chapel, dating back to the 12th Century and belonging to the Academy of Macon. Its gypsum deposits were mined until the late 19th Century and have left some very interesting remains, including 9 plaster ovens, which have been restored by the Friends of the Old Berzé Association. From the Roche Coche promontory you can admire the
magnificent Lamartine Valley site.

The village of Bussières is closely linked to the memory of Alphonse de Lamartine, an eminent poet and politician. It owns a Romanesque church, built in the late 12th to early 13th Centuries and listed as a Historic Building. Nearby is the tomb of Abbé Dumont, who inspired the poem
“Jocelyn”, written by Lamartine.

The village of Charbonnières covers 410 hectares, of which 117 are forest and has 340 inhabitants. It nestles in a green setting on the banks of the Mouge River and is surrounded by the Mâconnais hills. Its hiking trails allow visitors to discover its green countryside and wonderful views over the Saône Valley. A sight not to be missed is the imposing monument with the captive breaking his chains, which was erected to the memory of Captain Maurice GENEVES at the junction of the CD103 and 86 roads. The stele is the work of the Mâcon sculptor Maxime DESCOMBIN. 

Gateway to the Grand Site leading to the rocks of Solutré and Vergisson, Charnay offers both city and country living, with its typical wineyards lansdscape. Starting from the “Voie Verte”, you will find several strolling itineraries, including a very pleasant loop called "Landscape and Heritage” that leads you to several beautiful wash-houses, a Roman church and panoramas giving you a great overview of the Lamartinian Valley.
A must see : the “Domaine de Champgrenon”. This landscaped park is a showcase for historic buildings and structures including its former entrance, a 17th century pavilion and a 19th century ice cooler, built at the request of the earl of Rambuteau, chamberlain to Napoleon the 1st and prefect of the Seine district. The old farm presents a restored oil mill, open to visitors (photo), which mechanisms are regularly set again in motion to produce oil. During summer, the outdoor theater is a place for concerts and shows, including movies.

16th Century Gothic style church. The bell-tower is topped by a spire made of flagstones and decorated with elegant skylights. As a result of a strange personal whim, the tower was built a few degrees out of perpendicular and has an inclination of 60 cm. This can be seen most
clearly as you enter the village from the south, near the Town Hall and the Washhouse.

The village of Davayé sits on the banks of the Denante and the little Grosne rivers, right at the foot of the Solutré Rock and its sister Vergisson, Rock, offering a charming picture postcard view. Take a walk round the village to breathe in all its charm: fields of vines, dry stone walls, a wineproducing college, historic châteaux, a 19th Century church with 12th Century origins, roadside crosses, wells, mills and, of course, the “eight washhouses” trail…
Who knows? Somewhere along the road, a Davayouti (inhabitants of Davayé) may offer you a glass of Saint Véran!

The village came into being as a result of its abundant Romanin spring, which was no doubt deified during Antiquity: The Roman lord Fussiacus is thought to have settled nearby. From the Middle Ages, it was protected by the little Romanesque church nearby, which was replaced in 1872 by another, more imposing one, the flagship of the prestigious Fuissé vineyards (see the frieze in the porch). The Romanin spring washhouse (1722/1848) is worth a visit. It has heard many stories, such as those of the grape harvests (Pouilly-Fuissé), and will no doubt hear many more from walkers.

A village 6 kilometres from MACON along the RD 82. You can admire a prestigious site with a 18th Century château and outbuildings. It was built by an uncle of Alfonse de Lamartine and the poet often stayed here. The château and its outbuildings are surrounded by 10 hectares of grounds planted with three hundred years old trees and fitted with outdoor games.

The Domange chapel, a treasure of Romanesque architecture, was built by the Benedictine monks ,of Cluny in the latter half of the 11th Century. The adjoining building was the tithe barn. The church is representative of the period in the details of its construction: apse, small windows, columns, capitals, choir and bell-tower. Following major works to restore its lava-stone roof, it was given a special mention in the “Heritage Ribbon” scheme and was ,awarded 1st prize by the Departmental Council and ,5th prize by the Regional Council.

The Perceval Tower in the hamlet of Saint Laurent ,in Laizé. An elegant 16th Century fortified house made up of a tower built with mullioned windows and a four-sided roof sitting on a cornice of moulded modillions. It was a small fiefdom with no judicial or land-owning rights and belonged in 1604 to Philibert Perceval. It was situated at the junction of the roads to St Maurice de Satonnay and La Salle and watched over the ford over the Salle stream, from which you can admire the Cluny priory with its high tower and Renaissance lodge, perched on the other side of the
hill. Note the open washhouse built in the bed of the stream.

The La Lie Quarries: “The La Lie Quarries are limestone quarries that have been exploited since the Gallo-Roman period. They were also exploited by the Merovingians and were in operation right up to the beginning of the last century. They are a reminder of 2,000 years of history and harbour some fascinating discoveries.”Montceau Hill": The Montceau Hill contains a number of dry-stone constructions: 15 toolsheds, known as cadoles, over 4 km of walls… This is not unique in the department. The cadoles are silent witnesses of the work of the wine-growers of the past and form an integral part of the wine-growing landscape in the Burgundy hills: vines, soil and stone – with a very human face”.

Come and visit LA SALLE, a rural village in the Mâconnais. Here, in its wonderfully green setting, you’ll find the golf course and its surroundings, the tower, listed as a Historic Building, the gate of the château grounds, etc.

“Welcome to Milly Lamartine. Between “Mont Sard” and the” Montagne de Cras” (503m) you are right in the heart of the hills that inspired some of A. de Lamartine’s finest poems. You can visit the house where he spent his childhood, stroll through the narrow streets in bloom with flowers, visit the 12th Century church or hike along the waymarked trails that meander through the hillsides. And to round off your visit as pleasantly as possible, why not stop off for a meal at the “Chez Jack” restaurant or taste some Mâcon Blanc in a wine-grower’s cellar?”

The Péronne church, traces of which have existed since the year 1000. Part of the current construction dates back to the 11th Century. Its south side wall contains two listed lintels: one is of oriental inspiration, showing two lions facing each other, separated by a tree, while the other shows a Gallic cockerel, which was probably the object of Celtic worship. The latter is one of the few «ancient stones” in the Mâconnais. Opposite the church is a boundary stone engraved with the arms of Cluny Abbey showing the importance of the rights and temporal powers held
by the clergy. The stone was initially sited in the Ondelaine wood, but was moved here to perpetuate its existence.

Château de Monceau and “La Solitude” Pavilion The home of Alphonse de Lamartine, a 19th Century poet and politician, MP for the Mâconnais, who put forward a liberal programme for the time in an address to the French parliament. His contemporaries called him a utopian.
When the time came to write “the history of the Girondins”, he needed to cut himself off from the hustle and bustle of the château and had a small octagonal pavilion built, covered in a simple thatch (thatched cottage). Also known as the “Girondins Pavilion”, it is more familiarly called “La Solitude”.

You are in the Rhône-Alpes region and the Ain department, on the border between two departments ,and two regions, as only a river separates us from our Burgundian neighbour, Mâcon. The commune lies on the left bank of the Saône River. It has 1750 inhabitants and covers 53 hectares. The village has all the attractions of a town, with local shops and a large number of restaurants. Of particular interest are the banks of the Saône River, which are enhanced by the magnificent medieval bridge. We hope you will have an enjoyable stay.

The village of Saint-Martin- Belle Roche, which lies to the north of Mâcon, has 1200 inhabitants and is ,admired for the quality of its buildings made of stone, taken from quarries in the commune. It has a finearchitectural heritage, including the old 12th Century bell-tower, the medieval château and the Saint Joseph Carmelite monastery. The surrounding countryside is made up of all the features that make the Mâconnais, so interesting. In addition, the Saône and its recent development projects (“Blue pathway”) considerably add to the commune’s attractions, to the great satisfaction of fishermen, yachtsmen and walkers.

is a rural wine-growing commune of 426 inhabitants. It is situated 15 km north of MACON, amidst the hills of the Mâconnais, famous for their white wines made from the Chardonnay grape. The village is made up of old stonebuilt houses; these were once the homes of wine-growers. They are typical of the style of Mâconnais homes, with their outbuildings on the ground floor, the living area on the first floor and a gallery, known as the “Mâconnais gallery” running along the facade to protect against sun and rain.

Along with the châteaux of Chatenay, du Parc and Lapalus, the Saint Paul Church is one of SANCÉ’s oldest monuments. The 12th Century Romanesque church was a priory belonging to Ainay Abbey in Lyon. Inside is a fine Gothic chapel built in the early 16th Century by Jacques Mareschal, lord of the Châteaudu Parc, who dedicated it to Our Lady of, Loretto. It is said that Charlemagne’s grandsons drew up the Treaty of Verdun here in 843, with the future of Europe at stake. Take a walk through SANCÉ and see the many restored washhouses built along the Tariaudin stream.

A commune of 1123 inhabitants, covering nearly 500 ha, its eastern side backing on to the mountain, which rises to 370 m. Senozan has a church that was completed in 1729. It was built on the foundations of the Romanesque church, with a facade of Doric pilasters and a quadrangular
porch with a double bay which is thought to have been the former chapel of the Château de Senozan. The commune also has two magnificent washhouses, one in Chemin des Bourdons and the other in the Lower Village.

A commune in the Lamartine Valley, covering 1,065 ha and made up of a number of hamlets ,spread across the area. It lies 13 km west of Mâcon along the RD 17. It is part of the Mâcon North Canton and has a population of 469 inhabitants. The landscape is made up of vineyards, pastureland, woodland and crops. It has a rich and varied heritage: 11th Century Romanesque church, which is in the “Historic Buildings” inventory - three châteaux - 7 washhouses – a number of hiking trails.

A prehistoric site in the heart of the Great Solutré-Pouilly-Vergisson Site, the imposing “Solutré Rock” overlooks the village. From the top there is a magnificent view of the vineyards, the Mont de Pouilly, Vergisson Rock and the Saône plain all the way to the Jura and the Alps. At the foot of the Rock, the Departmental museum of prehistory presents the collections from one of Europe’s most valuable prehistoric sites and is a “must” for visitors.

You’ll love Vergisson from wherever you’re standing: at the top of the rock with its panoramic view of the whole region, all the way to the Alps, on the natural cirque in which the hamlets and vineyards of the famous “Pouilly-Fuissé” appellation all blend together, or in the narrow streets
where the houses are built in the typical architectural style with galleries. ,In the 1920s, the village was recognised as a commune representative of the “real Mâconnais” and has managed to preserve its picturesque character. Vergisson is now involved in the “Great Site” operation and aims to give you the very best possible welcome.

The commune of Verzé lies fifteen kilometres north-west of Mâcon. Its houses are grouped in a series of hamlets built amongst vineyards very typical of the Mâconnais. Verzé, formerly VERCIACUM, has been mentioned since the 10th Century and has an evocative past: prehistoric burial ground (La Bergère tumulus), Saint Criat de Verchizeuil chapel, the 14th Century Château d’Escolles, Château de Vaux Verzé and its “tinailler” and the Chapel and Tithe Barn in Les Tardys. There is some interesting, protected plant life, such as the calcicolous orchid meadows, known as “teppes” and the oak grove and hornebeam forests.