The best gravel rides around Solutré-Pouilly

The Rock of Solutré is a world-famous, 493-meter-high limestone rock in the south of the Burgundy region. It is located amidst the picturesque vineyards of the municipality of Solutré-Pouilly. The region is officially designated as a Grand Site de France. The hike to the summit is easy to moderate and very doable for families. It takes about 1 hour for the entire loop (approx. 4 kilometers round trip). The elevation gain is around 100 to 140 meters from the official parking lot on well-maintained paths with information panels, although there are many steps.

Although the pass is located in France and is not extremely high, its name translates to "Siberia Pass". The name goes back to the often very cold, snow-rich winds and the harsh weather conditions in winter.

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 Esplanade Lamartine forms the green heart of the Mâcon waterfront, directly on the Saône. The area is named after the famous French poet, writer, and politician Alphonse de Lamartine, who was born in Mâcon in 1790. A striking bronze statue in his honor dominates the square. The large, white "MACON" lettering from your photo is a very popular photo motif for tourists. It stands on a green strip directly on the Esplanade and offers the river as well as the rows of houses opposite as a backdrop.

The ruins of the former cathedral Vieux-Saint-Vincent (Old Saint-Vincent) in the historic Saint-Vincent quarter in Mâcon. The structure originally dates from the 11th century (Romanesque) and was extended in the 13th century in the Gothic style. It was the main church of the historic Diocese of Mâcon. During the French Revolution, the cathedral was declared national property. The nave and choir were subsequently methodically demolished and the stones sold as building material. Essentially, the two striking towers of the west facade, the narthex, and an artful Romanesque tympanum have been preserved.

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.

The Col de Gerbet (612 m) is an idyllic mountain pass in the French wine-growing region of Beaujolais. Depending on the starting point, various roads with little traffic lead up to the pass via the D137. From Juliénas (south-east approach): This route is 7.3 kilometers long. It overcomes 342 meters of altitude with a steady, moderate gradient of 4.7% on average. The road winds through shady forest sections. From La Croix Blanche (west approach): A tougher variant 4.5 kilometers long. Here you conquer 270 meters of altitude with an average gradient of 6% and ramps of up to 11%.

Great welcome, even just for a coffee, filling up with water and disposing of our waste. Looking at the menu, the dishes seem delicious.