The best road cycling routes around Bissy-La-Mâconnaise

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.

An old church ruin with Gothic elements on a farmstead that also appears largely abandoned.

The Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Burgy (Church of St. John the Baptist), a small, charming village church, is a typical Romanesque building from the 11th to 12th century. It is known for its stocky, solid construction. It has a massive square bell tower and a roof covered with traditional limestone slabs (laves). Inside, the church has a single nave. Due to its historical significance, it was officially protected as a French historical monument (Monument Historique) in 1979.

The Romanesque church originally dates from the 11th to 12th centuries. It is a classic example of the early Romanesque art of the Haut-Mâconnais region. The nave, the choir, and the distinctive square bell tower are entirely preserved in this style. Over the centuries (in the Gothic period as well as in the 19th century) there were minor architectural changes. Monument protection: The building has been classified as an official French cultural monument (Monument historique) since 1979.

The caves were already used by humans and animals around 250,000 years ago. It is mainly known for the huge number of found bones of cave bears and cave lions. Visitors can explore a prehistoric cave full of bone finds as well as a second cave with an impressive underground river. Right on site, there is an archaeological museum that displays the finds.

The tour leads through a picturesque, typically Burgundian landscape of rolling fields, dense forests, and vineyards. It connects the small, historic communities of Bray, Cortambert, and Blanot. In the listed historic village of Blanot, you will find, among other things, the famous Grottes de Blanot (a cave that reaches over 80 meters deep into the earth) as well as a historic Romanesque church. www.burgund-touri... +1

The Abbey Church of Saint-Philibert in Tournus is one of the most important examples of early Romanesque architecture in Central Europe. The mighty west facade, with its embrasures and massive walls, is reminiscent of a medieval fortress. The nave features unique, transversely running barrel vaults, which create an extraordinary play of light inside. An ancient crypt lies beneath the choir, while the upper church, dedicated to Saint Michael, is located above the narthex.

The Saint-Laurent Bridge (Pont Saint-Laurent) is a historic stone bridge that spans the Saône River. It connects the town of Mâcon in the Saône-et-Loire department with the municipality of Saint-Laurent-sur-Saône in the Ain department. Initial wooden structures were already built by the Romans. The current stone bridge dates back to the 11th century in its core and is considered the oldest bridge over the Saône. The structure consists of twelve stone arches. On one of the pillars, there is a statue of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of boatmen. It is one of the few historic structures in the region that survived the demolitions of World War II unscathed.