Montceau-les-Mines / Paray-le-Monial

At the point where the areas of the Charolais, the Autunois and the Clunysois meet, EuroVelo 6 continues on through what has been nicknamed the Vallée de la Céramique, which begins at St-Léger-sur-Dheune. There are two remarkable industrial sites along this stage, the Lavoir des Chavannes (a massive disused coal washing house) beside the Bourbince at Montceau-les-Mines and the Briquèterie de Ciry-le-Noble (a brickworks). The atmosphere changes at Génelard, with a museum dedicated to the major watershed here. Then you need to tackle the slope towards the architectural gem of the Charolais area, the Château de Digoine. The final highlight is in Paray-le-Monial, a town dominated by its staggering Romanesque Sacré Coeur basilica. All told, this stage ends with an exceptional heritage display.

The Route

Two options for cyclists to choose from, leaving from Montceau-les-Mines: 
the official route, via roads shared with motorized traffic, going across hilly terrain from Montceau-les-Mines to Palinges; 
the alternative route via the D974 road running alongside the Canal du Centre, avoiding slopes. In the town of Montceau-les-Mines, past Rue de Roanne, much of the motorized traffic shifts to the bigger N70 road.

Link
To la Véloire near Paray-le-Monial

Don't miss

• Montceau-les-Mines: the Parcs Miniers Maugrand et Saint-Louis, two adjoining public gardens created over former mine shafts; the Musée de l’École, on schools of yesteryear; the Lavoir des Chavannes, an industrial coal washing house being restored
• Ciry-le-Noble: la Briquèterie (brickworks)
• Palinges: the Château de Digoine; the Plan d’Eau du Fourneau (a lake); the Musée de la Ligne de Démarcation (on the watershed here)
• Paray-le-Monial: the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, plus the cloister and the Chapelle de la visitation; the Parc des Chapelains and Parc du Moulin Liron (public gardens); the Musée du Hiéron (an art museum); La Maison Jayet (a French Renaissance gem, now the town hall)