In the vineyards
22,20 Km
1 h 28 min
I begin / Family
22,20 km cycling route from Chalon-sur-Saône to Santenay
The way through the outskirts of Chalon-sur-Saône is well laid out for cyclists, allowing you to reach the Canal du Centre comfortably. Once you start pedalling along the green ribbon formed by the canal, signs of human presence are rare. You may notice the sound of barge engines, or of saws at the Bois de Curney sawmill. The hills stand out as you come to the renowned vineyards of the Côte Chalonnaise and Côte de Beaune wine-making areas. At the level of La Plaine de Rully’s canal port, or escale nautique, a splendid link leads to the château and wineries of Rully. Next comes Chagny’s port, followed by that of Santenay, below a lovely village built around its château, the whole place surrounded by vine-covered slopes.
Elevation of the stage
0 m 42 m
Waytypes of the stage
Cycle path: 19,80 km By road: 2,39 km
Surface of the stage
Smooth: 2,52 km Unknown: 19,67 km
The Route
From the centre of Chalon-sur-Saône, EuroVelo 6 guides cyclists out of town via bike lanes and paths guiding them to the Canal du Centre… which will eventually join up with the Loire River. The atmosphere along this stage is particularly calm and enjoyable, the canal itself used by boats heading to and from Digoin, the waters favoured by anglers. The stage is easy, exclusively on greenways, except for the stretch leaving Chalon-sur-Saône.
Link
At the level of La Plaine de Rully, there’s a cycle link leading up to the Château de Rully and several wineries.
SNCF train stations
- SNCF train station of Chalon-sur-Saône
TER regional services Dijon > Beaune > Chalon > Mâcon
TER regional services Chalon > Montchanin > Nevers
TGV high-speed services Paris (from either Gare d’Austerlitz or Gare de Lyon) > Chalon, with spaces for bikes, to be booked and paid for in advance
Practical information
Tourist information
- Office de Tourisme et des Congrès du Grand Chalon: 03 85 48 37 97
- Chagny: 03 85 87 25 95
Don't miss
- Chalon-sur-Saône: the lovely façades along the Saône quays; the Cathédrale Saint-Vincent quarter; île St-Laurent (an island on the Saône in the centre of town); several museums, including that on photography, the town closely associated with its beginnings.
- Mellecey: Château de Germolles summer residence of the Dukes of Burgundy
- Fragnes: its Porte verte halte fluviale, a canal boat stop open to cyclists (cross at the lock, the Écluse de Fragnes, via Rue du Quart)
- Chagny: the lively canal port, and lovely locks between Fragnes and Chagny
- Santenay: the elegant Burgundy village; the thermal spa; a dozen wine climats (very specific Burgundy geographical, graded, small-scale wine areas) classed as premiers crus (producing top-notch Burgundy wines); the Moulin Sorine, a mill; the Mont de Cène hill; the église Saint-Jean de Narosse (a church)
Travellers’ reviews