The best traffic-free bike rides around Curtil-Sous-Buffières

The Tour des Fromages is a preserved defensive tower from the 11th century, which originally belonged to the ramparts of the powerful Abbey of Cluny. In the Middle Ages, the structure was still called Tour des Fèves (Bean Tower), as supplies were stored there. It got its current, curious name in the 19th century because a merchant used the tower to dry her homemade cheeses. Today, the tower is a popular attraction. Visitors can climb the 120 steps to the top. From up there, you have a beautiful 360-degree panoramic view over the entire medieval monastic city and the surrounding Burgundy landscape. Access to the tower is directly through the local Cluny tourist office.

A route through a green corridor, that brings joy.

The abbey was founded in 910 by Duke William I of Aquitaine. In the Middle Ages, Cluny was the starting point of a huge monastic reform (the "Cluniac Reforms"). At its peak in the 11th and 12th centuries, around 1,500 monasteries and over 20,000 monks throughout Europe were under its jurisdiction. The main church of the abbey (Cluny III or Major Ecclesia), over 187 meters long, was the largest house of worship in Christendom until St. Peter's Basilica in Rome was built. During the French Revolution, the monastery was closed. Under Napoleon's rule, the gigantic church was almost completely demolished and used as a quarry. Today, only about 8% of the original vast complex remains.

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.

Great route through picturesque hilly cultural landscape.

The church of Saint-Valentin de Jalogny is a historic Roman Catholic church in the municipality of Jalogny in the Saône-et-Loire department. Built in the Romanesque style, the structure was erected in the 12th century. It replaced an earlier place of worship from 969, which had been built by the famous monks of the nearby Cluny Abbey. The striking, four-story bell tower with a pyramidal tent roof was built directly next to the choir. The lower part is preserved in its original state, while the upper floor was raised in the 19th century.

The former Cluny-Chalon-sur-Saône railway line has been decommissioned. The old station grounds now serve as the central bus stop ("Cluny Gare") for regional buses. Lines 701 and 709 of the Mobigo network connect the town to the TGV station in Mâcon in about 30 minutes. Directly at the old station runs the Voie Verte (an asphalted railway path cycle route). There is a large e-bike and bicycle rental service on site for tourists.

Founded in 910, the Benedictine abbey developed into the starting point of the Cluniac reform movement. In the High Middle Ages, it was one of the most influential religious and political centers in Western Europe. At its peak, the Cluny congregation comprised around 1,200 monasteries with over 20,000 monks across the continent. Cluny was independent of secular rulers and local bishops. It was directly subordinate to the Pope in Rome.