Activities
While Burgundy is justifiably famous for its wine and food, there are plenty of other activities on offer. The area is rich in architecture, from the extensive and impressive roman ruins in Autun to the abbeys of Cluny, Paray-le-Monial and Tournus. Although many of the monasteries and abbey churches were badly damaged in religious wars and during the Revolution, they are still awesome in their size, dignity and beauty and well worth visiting.
The Château de Cormatin is just one of the lovely châteaux in the area which is open to the public. The interior is gradually being restored, and the gardens are a delight with traditional French vegetable gardens, beautiful rose beds and a maze.
The Château is situated just off the voie vert, roughly an hour’s cycle from St Gengoux, making it a perfect day trip without taking the car.
For the more energetic, the voie vert, which runs through St Gengoux, offers 117km of cycle paths which stretch from Chagny to Macon. The paths, which are laid out in tarmac along former railroad tracks, are used for cycling and walking and have plenty of shady picnic places to stop on route. Bikes, of all shapes and sizes including electric ones, can be hired in St Gengoux.
The area is also criss-crossed with numerous marked walks, including the GR7, which takes you to the Mont Saint Vincent, the highest village for miles around with superb views. However, there are many local walks around St Gengoux varying in length from a few kilometres upwards. Information can be found in the gite and at the local tourist office.
For those who enjoy ‘messing about on water’, Burgundy’s waterways are extensive, with over a 1000km of navigable waterways, which provide a wonderfully alternative view of the countryside. You can hire boats in the major towns along the Canal du Centre and on the Saône.
For a lovely day out, visit La Trouchère, where the river Seille meets the Saône, and from where you can hire boats, join guided cruises or walk round the old fashioned canal locks. The Lac de Laives, just a few kilometers from St Gengoux, offers a beautiful lake with sandy beaches where you can swim, rent a pedallo, or just relax in the sunshine!
Perhaps not so well known are the many golf courses in Saone-et-Loire, the closest, Chateau d’Avoise at Montchanin, is less than half an hour’s drive from St Gengoux and offers a beautiful 18-hole course laid out over 300 acres amongst mature woodland.
For more information you may like to visit the following sites: