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The Saône intimate and mellow
With moors, vineyards and forests, with sleepy villages where the residents drink their café au lait in the shade in the squares – and above all with the white and cream-coloured Charolais cattle on the meadows, the landscape of the Saône seems almost biblical. There are at least as many romantic churches as Charolais cattle on the Saône – Christianity was and still is very present.
Along the Saône
One of its strongholds at that time was the pretty village of Cluny with its abbey, from which a monastic reform emerged in the 10th century, making the village a spiritual centre in Europe. Only the bell tower remains of what was once the largest church in the world, which is framed by 200 Middle Ages houses of the village. The Saône is a somewhat smaller river with little freight traffic. The French don’t call it a “fleuve” but describe it as a “rivière”. It joins the Rhône in Lyon, the Mecca for gourmets. Simply enchanting.
Mâcon
France
With colourful old town houses and the old church of St. Vincent, with vineyards and meadows, Mâcon is a charming little town. If you walk through the city and come to Place aux Herbes, you should stop in front of the Maison de Bois wooden house. While looking at the façade, you will discover magical grotesques and mythical creatures. Incidentally, the French international footballer Antoine Griezmann was born in Mâcon.
Mâcon
France
With colourful old town houses and the old church of St. Vincent, with vineyards and meadows, Mâcon is a charming little town. If you walk through the city and come to Place aux Herbes, you should stop in front of the Maison de Bois wooden house. While looking at the façade, you will discover magical grotesques and mythical creatures. Incidentally, the French international footballer Antoine Griezmann was born in Mâcon.
Chalon-sur-Saône
France
Quelle surprise! The beauty of Chalon-sur-Saône begins right at Quai Gambetta, where the boat docks. Walk upstream and discover this pretty town, where Julius Caesar left his mark, and whose museum focuses on the invention of photography. In Chalon-sur-Saône, you can see pretty half-timbered houses and façades in an Art Nouveau style. The Théâtre Piccolo was modelled on the royal opera in Versailles.
Chalon-sur-Saône
France
Quelle surprise! The beauty of Chalon-sur-Saône begins right at Quai Gambetta, where the boat docks. Walk upstream and discover this pretty town, where Julius Caesar left his mark, and whose museum focuses on the invention of photography. In Chalon-sur-Saône, you can see pretty half-timbered houses and façades in an Art Nouveau style. The Théâtre Piccolo was modelled on the royal opera in Versailles.
Tournus
France
So beautiful. So tranquil. Yes, the town of Tournus is almost idyllic. The old town is cosy, and you should definitely see the former abbey with the façade of the massive Saint Philibert church – the oldest preserved large Romanesque building in France. A variety of vault shapes makes it particularly exciting. Another exciting detail is also the Hôtel-Dieu – a former hospital with fully preserved historical furnishings and a hospital pharmacy from the 17th century.
Tournus
France
So beautiful. So tranquil. Yes, the town of Tournus is almost idyllic. The old town is cosy, and you should definitely see the former abbey with the façade of the massive Saint Philibert church – the oldest preserved large Romanesque building in France. A variety of vault shapes makes it particularly exciting. Another exciting detail is also the Hôtel-Dieu – a former hospital with fully preserved historical furnishings and a hospital pharmacy from the 17th century.
Trevoux
France
In Trevoux, numerous ateliers will surprise you time and again with arts and crafts. Until the 18th century, Trevoux was the capital of the independent principality of Dombes. The city wall, the large houses in the city centre and the ruins of a castle still bear witness to this glorious time. From the castle ruins, the view over the Saône is incredibly impressive.
Trevoux
France
In Trevoux, numerous ateliers will surprise you time and again with arts and crafts. Until the 18th century, Trevoux was the capital of the independent principality of Dombes. The city wall, the large houses in the city centre and the ruins of a castle still bear witness to this glorious time. From the castle ruins, the view over the Saône is incredibly impressive.
Our ship on the river Saône
Riverside Ravel
His music was known for its elegance, exquisite detail and exemplary finish. No wonder the Riverside Ravel bears his name. Sail the Rhône and Saone rivers aboard a ship that is bespoke. The design, the details, the sweet service, it all adds up to a perfectly honed experience that will make you smile for many years to come. We are meticulously crafting cruises that will match the splendor of the landscapes through which you will sail.
