The best MTB trails around La Vineuse

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 time of Louis XIII 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 maze, an open-air baroque theatre, water features, and a historic vegetable garden.

The station no longer serves trains. The historic site has been transformed into a vibrant leisure zone (Aire de loisirs de la gare). The building is located directly on the Voie Verte de Bourgogne du Sud, a well-known 77 km cycle path on a former railway line. Travelers will find a bicycle rental service for regular and electric bikes, a tool station for repairs, picnic tables, public restrooms, and a children's playground. It also serves as a starting point for excursions, for example to the nearby Château de Cormatin.

The historic town of Cluny, located in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, can best be admired from the viewing platform of the famous Cheese Tower (Tour des Fromages), from which you can enjoy a striking 360-degree view over the historic rooftops and the gentle, green hills of Southern Burgundy. Cluny is world-renowned for its Benedictine abbey, founded in 910 AD. In the High Middle Ages, the abbey was the starting point of the pioneering Cluniac reform movement and developed into the head of a Europe-wide monastic order with over 1,200 monasteries.

The large work of art on the narrow building facade directly above the fountain is a monumental, historical sundial (cadran solaire). The faded, artistic lines and Roman numerals show the classic grid system of an old vertical sundial, which the townspeople could use to read the time of day. Such large astronomical mural paintings were widespread in the Burgundy region as well as on the outbuildings of the powerful abbey, in order to synchronize the monastic and urban daily routine.

The neoclassical fountain directly on the building wall was built in the 18th century and is also known today as Fontaine Prud'hon. It was named in honor of the famous French painter and draftsman Pierre-Paul Prud'hon, who was born in Cluny in 1758. The fountain is integrated into the wall like a "water cabinet" (buffet d'eau) and features a fluted basin on a pedestal. In the past, a lion's head spout fed the basin. Today, a modern tap serves cyclists and pedestrians as a public drinking water source.

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.

The Abbey Park of Cluny, located on the grounds of the once most powerful Benedictine abbey of the Middle Ages. The park and the surrounding ruins are the remains of the Abbey of Cluny, founded in 910, which was the religious center of Western Europe as the starting point for significant reforms. The church Cluny III (Maior Ecclesia) built there was considered the largest house of worship in Christendom for over 400 years, until it was surpassed by St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

The Abbey of Cluny (Abbaye de Cluny). This former Benedictine abbey was one of the most influential religious centers in Europe during the Middle Ages and had one of the largest churches in the Christian world. It was founded in 910 AD by Duke William I of Aquitaine. Cluny was the starting point of the Cluniac Reforms, which called for stricter adherence to the Rule of Saint Benedict. At its peak in the 12th century, it oversaw approximately 1,500 monasteries throughout Europe. The third abbey church (Cluny III) was the largest house of worship in Christendom until the construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.