The best traffic-free bike rides around Chevagny-Sur-Guye

The ancient church of Ameugny fascinated me on my first visit to Taizé in 1974. The church of St. Pierre in Brançion is similarly interesting.

This place and its atmosphere have been a magnet for millions of people for decades. I was there for the first time in 1974 and am always fascinated by the surrounding landscape. I was particularly taken with the small Romanesque churches in the villages of the region and places like Cluny and Brançion.

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.

La Butte de Suin is a 593-meter-high viewpoint hill in the Saône-et-Loire department, near the small French municipality of Suin. From the summit, there is an impressive 360-degree panoramic view. In clear weather, you can look far over the hilly landscapes of Southern Burgundy (including the Charolais and Clunysois regions, and as far as Beaujolais). At the summit, there is a striking statue of the Virgin Mary, an orientation table for hikers, and the remains of an old fortress that was used from the Celtic period until the 16th century.

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.

The historic Romanesque parish church of the municipality of Ameugny. The first documented mention dates from the year 1050, with the Romanesque west portal visible today having been built in the 12th century. A typically Burgundian hall church with three bays and a pointed barrel vault, which appears very massive and is covered with lava stones. The tympanum above the portal shows a cross in a circle and bears the rare signature of the sculptor Seguin. The church has been a listed historic monument since October 22, 1913.